FROM Bastar, a region historically associated with Left Wing Extremism (LWE), Maoist violence and developmental challenges, to the competitive world of technology entrepreneurship, Mohit Soni’s journey offers a contrasting narrative. Born in Jagdalpur, with family roots in Dantewada, the 31-year-old entrepreneur envisions transforming Chhattisgarh into a destination for technology development serving national and international markets. In an exclusive face-to-face with The Hitavada Deputy Resident Editor Mukesh S Singh in Raipur, Soni, Director of Hackshade Technologies Private Limited, traces a professional journey shaped by curiosity, perseverance and unconventional learning.

 

His formative years were spent in Kirandul and Bacheli before he moved to Bhilai and subsequently Raipur for engineering. During college, he taught private tuition early in the morning, attended classes and travelled to Bhilai for specialised training in embedded systems and the Internet of Things. His exposure widened through IIT Kanpur’s Techkriti, where he participated in 2015 and became a campus ambassador in 2016. Cybersecurity subsequently emerged as another interest. Soni says he responsibly reported security vulnerabilities affecting Internshala and YouTube, obtained Certified Ethical Hacker credentials in 2018 and assisted Dantewada’s Cyber Crime Cell in 2019. A significant professional breakthrough came during the COVID19 period, when he secured government technology assignments continuing through 2026. According to Soni, his contractual responsibilities encompassed Chhattisgarh’s FireNOC and Emergency Services platform, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Home Guards and Civil Defence.

 

His work involved developing web applications and portals, implementing digital inspection processes, conducting cybersecurity audits, ensuring technical compliance, translating government policies into digital workflows, incorporating third-party audit features and resolving public-facing technical difficulties. He credits senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Mayank Shrivastava with encouraging his initial government engagement. His contributions subsequently received appreciation from Director General of Police (DGP) Arun Dev Gautam. Hackshade, according to its company profile, has completed nine years of operations, undertaken over 350 technology projects and assembled a team exceeding 12 professionals. Its commercial assignments encompass engineering costing, production management, payroll systems, inventory management and workforce automation. Another initiative involved developing a healthcare crowdfunding platform for Mitaan Foundation to facilitate donations towards treatment of rural and underprivileged patients. Soni also reports addressing more than 5,000 students through technology awareness sessions.

 

His company has recently become a Zoho consulting partner, expanding its focus on integrated business systems. Yet his larger ambition remains anchored in Chhattisgarh. “Instead of Exporting Our Talent, We Should Export Our Technology,” he says. He wants sophisticated assignments from Indian technology centres and overseas businesses executed by professionals based in Raipur.