BitcoinWorld Former Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka launches AI-native IT services startup with $32M seed round Vishal Sikka, the former CEO of Infosys, is betting that artificial intelligence can reshape the $500 billion IT services industry. His new startup, Hang Ten Systems, launched Wednesday with $32 million in seed funding led by Mayfield, with strategic participation from Aramco Ventures and angel investors. The company aims to help enterprises build, modify, and operate software using AI-driven development and automation — a direct challenge to the traditional outsourcing model that made Infosys and its peers industry giants. What Hang Ten Systems does differently Hang Ten describes itself as an enterprise AI services company built around agentic code generation, reusable AI skills, and domain expertise. Unlike traditional IT services firms that scale by adding more engineers, Hang Ten claims its AI-native model allows leverage to grow with each project. Mayfield Managing Partner Navin Chaddha told Bitcoin World the startup already has customers, despite having launched only a month ago. Early clients include Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy and Fresenius, where Hang Ten is delivering AI-native projects. The startup’s board includes Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang, signaling strong industry confidence. Sikka, 59, brings deep enterprise software experience from 12 years at SAP and later as an Oracle board member. In a blog post, he described the venture as helping enterprises “hang ten on the biggest wave of our lifetimes.” The team and vision Hang Ten’s leadership includes executives who have worked with Sikka for years across SAP, Infosys, and his previous AI startup, VianAI. Co-founders include CTO Navin Budhiraja, chief design officer Sanjay Rajagopalan, and senior vice president of forward deployed engineering Tao Liu. The company is headquartered in the Bay Area and is actively hiring across delivery, engineering, sales, and leadership roles, with plans to expand globally. Sikka’s previous venture, VianAI, raised $190 million before pivoting to enterprise AI applications and analytics. Mayfield clarified that Hang Ten is distinct, focusing on AI services rather than analytics tools. The firm backed Hang Ten because of Sikka’s track record and the belief that AI-native services can scale differently from traditional firms. Why this matters for the IT services industry Hang Ten enters a market undergoing rapid transformation. Traditional IT services firms like Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, and Wipro are racing to adapt through partnerships with AI companies such as Anthropic and OpenAI. Analysts at Jefferies argued earlier this year that IT services may be among the first sectors to face meaningful AI disruption. Infosys chairman Nandan Nilekani, however, said AI could expand the industry’s addressable market, with Infosys projecting AI-first services could represent a $300 billion-$400 billion market by 2030. The debate comes as investors reassess the outlook for traditional IT services firms. Infosys shares are down over 35% this year, reflecting uncertainty about how AI will affect the economics of outsourcing. Hang Ten’s launch represents a bet that AI will not just augment but fundamentally alter how enterprise software is built, maintained, and delivered. Conclusion Vishal Sikka’s Hang Ten Systems is a high-profile entry into the AI-native IT services space, backed by experienced investors and early enterprise customers. The startup’s success will depend on whether its AI-driven model can deliver the efficiency and scalability it promises, and whether traditional IT services firms can adapt quickly enough to compete. For enterprises evaluating their software development strategies, Hang Ten offers a glimpse of a future where AI handles much of the customization, integration, and maintenance that has long been outsourced to human engineers. FAQs Q1: What is Hang Ten Systems? Hang Ten Systems is an enterprise AI services startup founded by former Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka. It uses AI-driven development and automation to help enterprises build, modify, and operate software, challenging the traditional IT outsourcing model. Q2: How much funding has Hang Ten raised? The startup raised $32 million in seed funding led by Mayfield, with strategic investment from Aramco Ventures and participation from angel investors. The round closed in early 2025. Q3: Who are Hang Ten’s early customers? Hang Ten is working with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy and Fresenius on AI-native project delivery. The company says it already has paying customers despite being only a month old. This post Former Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka launches AI-native IT services startup with $32M seed round first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
