In this powerful episode of Founder Thesis, host Akshay Datt speaks with Kalyan Rao Konda, Co - founder of QualiZeal, a quality engineering firm transforming how global companies approach software testing and quality assurance.  

With over two decades of experience in QA, Kalyan shares his journey - from the early days of reactive testing to today’s proactive, “shift-left” quality engineering model. He unpacks what it takes to build a world-class IT services company, grounded in deep client-centricity, employee empowerment, and a willingness to sacrifice short-term wins for long-term trust.  

We also explore how AI is revolutionizing software testing, including: 

👉How QualiZeal’s proprietary “Humanities AI” platform augments engineers (not replaces them) 

👉Solving modern QA challenges like AI hallucinations 

👉Improving productivity by 25–30% with AI co-pilots  

Kalyan candidly breaks down the economics of IT services-from pricing, utilization, and accelerators to gross margins and client segmentation. He explains why value buyers win, how accelerators and COEs give firms a strategic edge, and how to stand out in a crowded, commoditized market. 

For aspiring entrepreneurs, Kalyan offers hard-won insights on: 

👉Founding a company at 45 

👉Sales strategies that emphasize relationships (“People buy from people”) 

👉Navigating legal challenges while scaling 

👉Finding your niche and staying the course  

This is a must-watch for anyone building in quality engineering, IT services, AI-powered testing, or enterprise SaaS.  

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Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel.