Sangeet Paul Choudary is a prominent figure in the field of platform economics and network effects. He is best known as the co-author of the international best-seller Platform Revolution and Platform Scale. His work has had a significant impact on the understanding of how platform-based business models transform industries and economies.
Sangeet's journey started with his education, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Technology from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, followed by an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore. He also attended the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, further solidifying his academic foundation.
After completing his studies, Sangeet embarked on a professional career that combined both entrepreneurship and academia. He began his career at Yahoo! in 2006 as the Platform Lead for Yahoo! Marketplaces in South Asia, where he was responsible for managing product and business strategies.
His work at Yahoo! laid the groundwork for his future contributions to the platform economy, particularly in the development of digital marketplaces and platform strategies. He was instrumental in the creation of a large searchable database of local advertisers in South Asia, contributing to Yahoo!'s strategic expansion in the region.
In 2008, Sangeet moved to Intuit, a global technology company, where he served as the Business Head for New Ventures and Innovation in Asia-Pacific. During his tenure, he led organic and inorganic growth initiatives in the region, focusing on new platform and marketplace ventures.
His leadership in setting up and scaling the company's marketplace operations was highlighted by the commercialisation of Project Agrinova, which was later featured as a Harvard Business School case study. This experience further honed his understanding of platform business models and their potential for creating large-scale enterprises with minimal investment.
In 2012, Sangeet founded Platformation Labs, a C-level advisory and executive education firm. The company works with Fortune 500 clients across North America, Europe, and Asia, advising them on platform strategies and digital transformation.
Through this venture, he became a sought-after expert in platform economics, helping major companies in industries like healthcare, financial services, heavy industry, logistics, retail, and energy transition to platform-based business models. His work with these companies helped them adapt to the rapidly changing digital economy and harness the power of network effects to build large, scalable businesses.
Sangeet's books, Platform Revolution (2016) and Platform Scale (2015), brought his ideas to a global audience. Platform Revolution co-authored with Geoffrey G. Parker and Marshall van Alstyne, explained how platform businesses like Uber, Airbnb, and Amazon were transforming industries.
It was a major success, ranked as a top 10 business book in 2016 by Forbes and 800CEOREAD. Platform Scale delves deeper into how emerging businesses can leverage platform models to build large empires with minimal investment. It was particularly influential for startups looking to scale their operations efficiently in the digital age.
Sangeet's work has been widely recognised in leading publications such as the Harvard Business Review (HBR), where his research on platform models has been featured multiple times.
In fact, his article Pipelines, Platforms, and the New Rules of Strategy was selected as one of HBR's top 10 management ideas for 2017, and his research on business model innovation has been highlighted in HBR's top 10 strategy publications. He has also contributed articles to MIT Sloan Management Review and MIT Technology Review, and his thoughts on platform business models have influenced industries worldwide.
In 2017, Sangeet was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, recognising his contributions to the field of platform economics and his impact on global business thinking. This honour placed him among a select group of leaders who are shaping policy, society, and the global economy.
He continued to serve on various high-level advisory boards, including the ING Bank’s Global Innovation Council, Standard Bank’s Global Business Board, and the board of Grupo Pao De Acucar, the largest food retailer in Latin America. His role on these boards allowed him to influence strategic decisions at some of the world’s largest and most influential companies.
Sangeet’s work expanded beyond corporate advisory as he became deeply involved in policy and regulatory discussions. He was appointed to the advisory committee of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs by the Government of India to implement a digital public goods strategy for urban innovation.
He has also contributed to international policy, advising the European Commission on digital policy and addressing issues like worker exploitation in the platform economy with organisations like the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
In addition to his advisory roles, Sangeet has been an active keynote speaker, addressing global summits such as the G20 Summit, the World Economic Forum, and the Australian Financial Review Summit.
His insights have shaped the strategies of Fortune 500 companies, and his speaking engagements have focused on the transformative power of platforms, the challenges of digital disruption, and the implications of new technologies for business and society. He has worked with major brands like Microsoft, AT&T, Huawei, and GE, and his speaking fees range from $50,000 to $100,000 per engagement.
Sangeet’s work on platform models has influenced not only businesses but also public policy and academia. He has been a Senior Fellow in Competition Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, and a Non-Resident Scholar at Dartmouth College.
His research at Dartmouth focuses on programmable energy ecosystems, a critical area for the future of energy and sustainability. He also served as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at INSEAD Business School and co-chaired the MIT Platform Strategy Summit, an annual event where leading executives discuss platform business models and strategies.
Sangeet's influence in the world of platform economics continues to grow as he engages with global leaders, advises major corporations, and publishes influential works. His latest book, Platform Scale for a Post-Pandemic World, reflects the changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and offers new insights into the future of platform businesses. His work remains a cornerstone in the field of platform strategy, helping companies and governments navigate the complex landscape of digital transformation.
Today, Sangeet continues to lead Platformation Labs and is involved in shaping the future of the platform economy. His contributions to research, policy, and business strategy have cemented his place as a leading authority on platform business models, and he remains an influential thought leader in the global economy.
