Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji after coming to power and assuming office in 2014 announced the ‘Make in India’ initiative with the major objective to focus on job creation and skill enhancement in 25 sectors of the economy. But just about decades before this initiative, a first-generation entrepreneur had the same vision, and over the course of a few years he managed to not only realize this vision, but far exceed it. Jignesh Shah who went on to be more popularly known as the “Exchange Man” of India has inspired many more like himself to continue to dream and achieve.

Jignesh Shah’s story began in the early 90s when he pioneered technology for trading in financial exchanges across multiple asset classes. Today, 63 moons – the company he founded is the number 2 market leader globally by licensing volume of the trading software. 63 moons operates the largest financial distribution network in India through its ODIN suite of trading terminals with close to one million licensees across 600 cities, towns and villages.

Next, Jignesh Shah sets his sights on creating greenfield financial markets and ecosystem ventures across India, Middle East, Africa and South-East Asia. The result of his relentless pursuits led to the Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited (MCX), Singapore Mercantile Exchange (SMX), Indian Energy Exchange Ltd. (IEX), Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DGCX) and Bourse Africa Limited (erstwhile Global Board of Trade, Limited); which are amongst the most renowned institutions in their respective regions.

This organic growth story did not stop with just technology for trading and the setting up of exchanges. Jignesh Shah’s vision also included transforming the entire commodity trading ecosystem. His aim was to revolutionize all the tertiary businesses that included warehousing, collateral management, bulk handling, information vending, digital payments as well as developing the spot market to ensure an underlying trading system for financial markets. With companies such as NBHC, Tickerplant, Atom and many others, Jignesh Shah’s vision of evolution had reached the next milestone. Over the course of about a decade, Jignesh Shah’s institutions went on to provide over a million jobs and opportunities, paid over Rs 2,000 crore in taxes and paid a dividend to its shareholders for 38 quarters straight. A true success story of evolution through organic growth.