Draft:Rajendran Vellapalath

Early Life and Education

Rajendran Vellapalath was born and raised in Kozhikode, Kerala, India. He completed his Bachelor of Science (BSc) from Calicut University in 1992. He pursued his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Indira Gandhi National Open University, graduating in 1995. Later, he earned another MBA in Aviation Management from Coventry University, London Campus, in 2001.

Career

Early Career and Aviation Industry

Rajendran began his career in the aviation industry, working in various roles at Emirates Airline from 1998 to 2004. He then joined Singapore Airlines, serving in marketing services from 2004 to 2006. He moved to South African Airways, where he held several leadership roles, including Manager for the Middle East and Regional Manager Commercial for East Africa and the Middle East from 2006 to 2010.

In 2010, Rajendran joined RAK Airways as Director of Sales & Distribution and later as Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Planning until 2012. He then became the Chief Commercial & Planning Director at Rotana Jet, a position he held from 2012 to 2017.

Entrepreneurial Ventures

Rajendran Vellapalath founded TPConnects Technologies LLC in 2012, an innovative travel booking and distribution platform based in Dubai. TPConnects was one of the first distribution platforms to receive dual Level 3 certifications from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Flight Centre Travel Group, an Australian Stock Exchange-listed company, acquired a majority stake in TPConnects in 2020.

In April 2022, Rajendran founded Voizzit, an Indian instant messaging, social media, and mobile payment app aiming to be a comprehensive super-app. Voizzit offers various services, including text messaging, voice messaging, video conferencing, location sharing, shopping, and travel booking. The app is scheduled for public launch by March 2024.

Media and Philanthropy

Rajendran is the founder of IndiaFirst, a subscription-based digital streaming and satellite service offering hyper-local news, education, entertainment, political pulse, and lifestyle content for the South Indian community. IndiaFirst is set to launch in Kerala by December 2024, with plans to expand to other regions in India.

He also serves as the Chairman of the Kerala Pravasi Association (KPA), a non-government organization aiming to make Kerala 100% self-sufficient and self-reliant by 2030. KPA focuses on various initiatives, including education, health, infrastructure, sanitation, renewable energy, and more.

Personal Life

Rajendran Vellapalath currently resides in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He is passionate about creating positive social impact and fostering innovation and collaboration in the media and tech sectors.