Dr. Viren Shah | Mos Utility Limited
Did you know that India’s digital payments market is projected to reach a staggering $1 trillion by 2026? This sector, filled with innovation and greater financial inclusion, is seeing intense competition as various players vie to connect with the vast and diverse Indian populace. Companies are constantly pushing boundaries, using cutting-edge technologies to provide seamless, secure, and accessible digital services. In this fiercely competitive landscape, one company, MOS Utility Limited, has built a niche by helping micro-entrepreneurs and underserved communities with essential digital tools. Their technological advancements is led by Dr. Viren Babulal Shah, the co-founder & CTO, a visionary leader with a deep understanding of how technology can bridge societal gaps.
Dr. Viren Babulal Shah’s journey is a witness to the power of with continuous learning and a passion for technology. Armed with a Bachelor of Commerce, a Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Studies, and an MBA, his academics culminated in a doctorate (Ph.D.) exploring the complex security mechanisms within cyber-physical systems. His intellectual curiosity goes beyond the technical realm, as seen in his authorship of “Virus A High-Tech Disease,” “The Future of Marketing,” and the insightful “Life Mantra—‘What You Have Missed in Your School & College.”
Dr. Shah’s extensive corporate journey includes leadership roles as CEO at Software Clinic, COO at Boston Education & Software Technologies Limited, and CIO at top organizations like TVC Skyshop Limited and Adora Diamond Jewellery before co-founding MOS Utility Limited and Dove Soft Limited. Founded with the vision of bridging the digital divide, MOS Utility Limited works as a leading fintech company, providing a comprehensive suite of digital services, including banking, bill payments, insurance, and e-governance solutions, for the underserved and rural populations of India.
MOS Utility Limited achieves its mission with a robust and scalable digital platform that empowers a huge network of over 150,000 retailers. These retailers are transformed into digital service hubs, giving essential services directly to local communities. The company uses advanced technologies such as AI for real-time fraud detection and risk management, cloud computing for scalability and efficiency, and an API-first architecture for seamless integration with various financial and governmental institutions.
In the spotlight is Dr. Viren Babulal Shah, co-founder & CTO, in an interview featured in our prestigious “India’s Most Dynamic CTOs Shaping the Future of Technology 2025” edition. Learn from his insightful perspectives and valuable lessons as an entrepreneur to build a best company. Stay tuned to know his inspiring tale of success.
Prime Insights: Can you provide an overview of your organization and its primary technological focus? What sets it apart from others in the industry?
MOS Utility Limited is a leading fintech company dedicated to bridging the digital divide in India. We focus on helping micro-entrepreneurs, retailers, and underserved communities by providing them with access to essential digital services such as banking, bill payments, insurance, and e-governance solutions.
Our primary technological focus is on building scalable, secure, and inclusive digital platforms that can deliver real-time services across urban and rural India. We use AI, cloud computing, and blockchain technologies to improve user experience, transaction security, and operational efficiency.
What Sets Us Apart?
Last-Mile Digital Connectivity: We bring digital services directly to rural areas through a vast network of over 150,000 retailers, transforming them into digital service hubs that provide essential services like banking, mobile recharges, and bill payments to local communities.
AI-Powered Solutions: Our real-time fraud detection, transaction scoring systems, and AI-driven risk management provide secure, fast, and reliable services, even in remote areas.
Inclusivity at the Core: By focusing on financial inclusion and helping ing women entrepreneurs and small business owners, we are making technology accessible to everyone, especially those who have been traditionally excluded from digital progress.
API-First Architecture: Our open API architecture helps in seamless integration with banks, fintech companies, and government platforms, making sure that we are adaptable and future-proof in a fast-growing tech ecosystem.
Sustainable Innovation: We are building green technologies and adopting cloud-native solutions that reduce energy consumption and improve our operations’ environmental impact.
In short, MOS Utility stands out by focusing on accessibility, scalability, and innovation, always intending to create a digital ecosystem that serves all of India.
Prime Insights: What motivated you to pursue a career in technology, and how did your journey lead you to becoming a CTO?
From a young age, I was intrigued by how technology could simplify complex problems and create efficiencies at scale. Growing up in a world where digital transformation was just beginning to take shape in India, I saw huge potential in using technology not just for innovation, but for inclusion. That early curiosity, with a passion for problem-solving, helped me to pursue a career in engineering and computer science.
Over the years, I had diverse experience across product development, system architecture, and digital transformation projects in the fintech domain. What always kept me motivated was the challenge of building scalable platforms that could serve the real Bharat—the underserved and underbanked population of India.
My journey to becoming a CTO has been less about titles and more about impact. It’s been shaped by a focus on user-centric design, operational resilience, and technology that fills gaps. At MOS, I’ve had the privilege of leading the development of a unified digital commerce and utility platform that now powers thousands of entrepreneurs across the country.
Being recognized as one of India’s Most Dynamic CTOs, Shaping the Future of Technology 2025 is not just a personal milestone — it’s a testament to the hard work of my team, the trust of our retail partners, and the purpose-driven culture we’ve built at MOS Utility.
Prime Insights: As a CTO, how do you manage the demands of driving innovation while balancing your personal and professional life?
As a CTO, the responsibility to drive innovation, look after scalability, and maintain security never pauses in fintech. However, I believe that sustainable leadership comes from balance, clarity, and discipline.
I manage this balance through four guiding principles:
Prioritization with Purpose: Not everything needs to be done at once. I focus on what moves the needle — be it customer impact, platform resilience, or team capability. Clear prioritization helps me to give maximum value without constant firefighting.
Building Strong Teams: Innovation doesn’t thrive in isolation. I mentor and empower my teams to take ownership.
Scheduled Downtime: I treat personal time with the same respect as board meetings. Whether it’s spending time with family, reading, or fitness, disconnecting from the screen helps me return sharper and more creative. It’s not a trade-off; it’s a necessity.
Constant Learning: In the ever-evolving tech landscape, staying relevant is key. I give time to learning, be it through reading, exploring new technologies, or engaging with the startup ecosystem. Continuous learning keeps me grounded, inspired, and ahead of the curve.
Balancing innovation and personal life is not about perfection — it’s about intention, discipline, and lifelong curiosity. At MOS Utility, we’re building a future where technology empowers people, and that starts with empowering ourselves as leaders.
Prime Insights: Do you believe your problem-solving approach or leadership differentiates you from other CTOs? If so, how?
I believe my problem-solving approach, rooted in grassroots realities rather than boardroom theories, truly distinguishes me. I lead with empathy, build with a clear purpose, and do open collaboration. My core aim is to simplify technology, making it an empowering tool.
At MOS Utility Limited, my technological solutions primarily serve financial services, utility payments, travel, insurance, and digital commerce, with a strong emphasis on last-mile delivery across India. Our platform empowers local retailers and underserved communities to become digital service providers. We proudly support sectors like banking through AePS and micro-ATMs, utility payments via BBPS, and travel with IRCTC bookings. We’ve added major banks, built a network of over a lakh partners, and are supporting financial inclusion initiatives. Our greatest achievement is helping millions in underserved India in accessing digital services.
Prime Insights: How do you and your team stay ahead of changing technological trends and make sure your solutions are cutting-edge?
At MOS Utility, staying ahead of tech is ingrained in our DNA with continuous innovation. Our R&D team tracks global and local trends like AI, blockchain, and API banking, piloting relevant solutions. We use agile development to test and launch quickly, keeping our services responsive. Regular upskilling with sessions and hackathons makes sure our teams remain sharp. We strategically work with fintech startups and tech bodies, using best solutions. Crucially, user feedback drives our innovation roadmap. With curiosity, speed, and purpose, we make sure our solutions are not just cutting-edge but also relevant, scalable, and inclusive.
Prime Insights: What role does research and development play in your organization’s growth strategy, and how do you foster a culture of innovation?
At MOS Utility, research and development are key to our growth, with a commitment to solving real, everyday problems for millions in India, not just technological novelty. R&D helps us to adapt new trends for last-mile delivery, build scalable platforms, and improve speed, security, and user experience for competitiveness. We build a culture of innovation by giving teams the freedom to experiment through hackathons and sandbox environments. Cross-functional collaboration between product, tech, and business teams helps in our co-creation process. Every idea is valued, evaluated, and celebrated. We believe true innovation stems from understanding user behavior, especially in underserved markets, and our culture fosters curiosity, ownership, and the conviction that innovation must lead to inclusion, driving our growth as a company and as agents of digital change in India.
Prime Insights: What initiatives have you used to nurture a thriving tech workforce?
At MOS Utility, a motivated team fuels innovation. We empower our tech professionals through weekly Tech Learning Fridays, Innovation Sprints & Hackathons, and transparent roadmapping that fosters ownership. We recognize contributions with “Tech Star” awards and bonuses. Flexible work timings and mental wellness initiatives prevent burnout. Above all, we build a culture of trust, curiosity, and collaboration, where inspiration naturally drives innovation.
Prime Insights: Which individuals or philosophies inspire your leadership style and decision-making approach?
My leadership blends inspirations: Dr. Kalam’s inclusive growth and humility, Design Thinking’s empathy-driven problem-solving, lean startup’s agility, and rural entrepreneurs’ resourceful innovation. These influences shape my purpose-driven approach, understanding needs and building effective solutions with clarity and intent.
In every decision, I ask, Does this simplify life? Does it empower someone? Is it scalable and ethical? If the answer is yes, we move forward.
Prime Insights: How are CTOs shaping the future of technology and creating global digital transformation?
As a CTO today, I am a strategic enabler of digital transformation, not just a technology head. I shape the future by bridging business and tech to build scalable, secure, and user-centric platforms. I get inclusion and accessibility, champion sustainable innovation with ethical considerations, and build cultures of continuous learning, designing how people live and connect in our digital world.
Prime Insights: What advice would you give to new technologists and aspiring CTOs who may be facing challenges in their professional journeys?
In the fast-paced tech world, timeless principles guide success. Stay curious, always learning and experimenting. Focus on solving real-world problems with purpose. Communicate clearly, connecting ideas and inspiring teams. Lead with humility, helping your team. Be patient; growth takes time, and resilience is key.
Prime Insights: What vision do you have for your organization’s technological evolution in the next five years?
Our five-year vision for MOS Utility is to create India’s most inclusive and intelligent service delivery ecosystem, with accessible tech. We aim to deepen last-mile tech penetration, using AI and automation for improved user experience and fraud detection. We will have an open API architecture for smooth integration and scale sustainably with green practices. Groundbreaking projects have a voice-assisted transaction platform, an AI-driven retailer scoring engine, and a blockchain-based KYC system, all focused on digital empowerment at scale. Our focus is clear: Tech for Bharat. Tech for trust. Tech for tomorrow
Prime Insights: What milestones have marked the success of your tenure as a CTO so far?
As CTO at MOS Utility, my tenure has involved launching a scalable API-first platform supporting 100+ services, onboarding over a million retailers to digital services, and using an AI-led real-time risk engine for secure processing. I also spearheaded a cloud-native migration for improved resilience and built a tech team culture of learning and innovation. Each milestone reflects our mission to simplify digital access and help the underserved through purposeful technology.
Prime Insights: How does your organization contribute to societal good through technology?
At MOS Utility, technology is our tool for nation-building, bridging the digital divide to reach every Indian. We’ve empowered over 100,000 rural retailers as digital service providers, building financial inclusion and digital literacy. We motivate women micro-entrepreneurs. Our green tech initiatives prioritize sustainability. Through our CSR arm, we support rural education via digital classrooms and telemedicine. We believe true impact occurs where technology meets empathy, guiding every inclusive innovation.
Prime Insights: What message would you like to tell share with our readers about innovation, leadership, and the future of technology?
Innovation is no longer about big cities or big budgets — it’s about big purpose. As leaders, technologists, and changemakers, we have a responsibility to build not just for the future, but for everyone’s future.
India is positioned to lead the next digital transformation — not by copying the West, but by solving grassroots problems with world-class technology. The real innovation lies in simplicity, inclusion, and scalability.
To every aspiring leader reading this:
Stay curious, stay humble, and build with empathy. Because when technology meets intent, we don’t just disrupt — we uplift.
“The future belongs to those who innovate with impact and lead with purpose. Technology is not just about progress; it’s about progress that includes everyone.”
