From Open Source Enthusiast to Material+ Acquisition of Srijan: Rahul Dewan Speaks
Rahul Dewan is an entrepreneur, angel investor, open source software evangelist, blogger/writer, social activist, a Sadhaka (Yoga and meditation practitioner) and meditation coach to colleagues and friends. He is also the founder of Srijan, a company that needs no introduction to the Drupalverse. Established in 2002, Srijan was acquired by Material Plus, a US-based Consumer Insights and Data consulting firm in LA in September 2022. At DrupalCon Pittsburgh, The DropTimes had the privilege to interview Rahul Dewan and discuss his 22 years of experience in the free and open-source software industry.
Rahul’s journey into open source commenced in 2003 when he discovered PostNuke, an open-source CMS built on PHP. Fascinated by the collaborative nature of open source, Rahul, previously involved in hand-coding content management systems for several years, transitioned to building websites more rapidly using open-source tools.
Over the years, Rahul’s passion for open source led him to TYPO3, a popular CMS in Northern Europe, and later to Drupal in 2007, which marked the beginning of a new chapter in his career. By 2011, he strategically focused exclusively on Drupal and Agile software methodologies, steering away from fixed-cost projects. This shift in approach propelled Srijan’s growth, expanding its team from around 50-60 employees to approximately 600 by the time of its acquisition. Drupal remained a pivotal part of the company’s identity, contributing significantly to its success.
Rahul’s commitment to open source and Drupal is unwavering, evident through his active participation in the Drupal community and contributions in code and other valuable ways.
Throughout his journey, Rahul expresses deep gratitude to the Drupal community and the open-source ethos, emphasizing how they have shaped his company and his personal growth. His dedication to giving back to the community that played a pivotal role in his success is a testament to his unwavering commitment to open source and Drupal.