Engineer by craft, entrepreneur by passion—building products that matter | 150+ products built | Founder of Crayon’d | Innovator | Mentor | Venture studio in the making 🎯

I shipped my first edtech product on a floppy disk when I was just 17.

It was 2001, and as a student entrepreneur, I set out to solve a simple problem—

Helping my peers learn vocabulary faster.

Who knew that tiny floppy disk would spark a lifelong passion for:

Technology
Innovation &
Problem-solving

Today, with 150+ products built across 12+ industries, I’ve learned that building impactful solutions requires more than technical skills—

It’s about:

Resilience
Purpose
People

Every failure, every connection, and every opportunity has shaped me into four things:

𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘵. 𝘌𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘳. 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦-𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳. 𝘔𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘳.

✅ 𝐀𝐬 𝐚 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭

For over two decades, technology has been my craft and calling.

- Built 150+ products for startups, scale-ups, and enterprises.
- Led ERP implementations and created cutting-edge solutions.
- Delivered transformative products across North America, APAC, EMEA.

✅ 𝐀𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫

Entrepreneurship wasn’t a choice—it was a calling.

- Bootstrapped five startups in edtech, mobility, ERP, and digital transformation.
- Founded Crayon’d, partnering with startups and enterprises to create scalable products.
- Built strong, people-first cultures that drive organic growth.

𝘍𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴?

Well, I’ve had my share.

But as a first-generation entrepreneur from a humble background I learned to embrace failure. 

My mantra—

“𝘍𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧.”

✅ 𝐀𝐬 𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫

I believe in using technology to solve meaningful problems.

Some of the initiatives I’ve launched:

𝐔𝐝𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐦: A geo-based platform for blood donations.
𝐁𝐞𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐇𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫: An afforestation drive to fight global warming.
𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐦 108: A solution to help ambulances clear traffic efficiently.

I’m driven by the belief that—

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 5% 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 95% 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘵.”

✅ 𝐀𝐬 𝐚 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫

Early in my journey, I lacked exposure and mentorship. 

Today, I strive to give back by:

Guiding young talent, especially those overlooked by traditional systems.
Inspiring first-time founders and student entrepreneurs.

𝘔𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯?

To build the next generation of leaders.
To help them embrace entrepreneurship as a path to impact.

...

Bold ideas deserve world-class execution. 

Let’s collaborate to design, build & scale something truly extraordinary 🤝

Email: makesh@crayond.com

Makesh Gopalakrishnan

Gregory Jordan

Consultant Technologies

Provided consultancy to business start-ups in Information Technology and Services. Provide higher education consultancy regarding financial modeling, strategy, organizational alignment, recruitment, retention, and comprehensive marketing. April 2015 -present.Provide higher education consultancy regarding financial modeling, strategy, organizational alignment, recruitment, retention, and comprehensive marketing. April 2015 -present.  Skills: Communication · Software Industry · Problem Solving

Business Consultant

SeligoAI

Developed an SaaS-based software solution for Recruitment and Retention featuring probability analytics generated by machine learning.   Probability models, role-specific dashboards, and visualizations are designed to support Student Success interventions and to improve business intelligence and planning.  SeligoAI

Founder and President

King University

• Transitioned the institution to a University model based on the following schools: King College of Arts and Sciences; School of Business; School of Education; School of Nursing; School of Behavioral and Health Sciences; Peeke School of Christian Mission; and School of Applied Science and Technology;
• Increased programmatic offerings through the addition of 6 new schools and 18 majors and programs;
• Increased enrollment by 350% improving net tuition revenue;
• Increased enrollment 16 consecutive years, including 14 years of record enrollment;
• Received approval by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the University’s accrediting body, to offer master’s-level and doctoral-level programs;
• Developed of Graduate and Professional Studies programs, currently the largest sector of enrollment at the University;
• Transitioned the institution from King College to King University;
• Expanded programs and instructional locations to 13 campus locations spanning from Grundy, Va., to Nashville, Tenn.;
• Completed $50-plus million comprehensive capital campaign;
• Developed Hyde Hall, West Campus and Student Center Complex;
• Increased University endowment to more than $32.7 million in 2013, a 169% increase since 1998;
• Increase in average incoming-freshmen GPA from 3.23 to 3.44;
• Transitioned from NAIA to NCAA Division II Athletics and association in Conference Carolinas; 
• Expansion of athletics program from 9 offerings to 25;
• Development of articulation agreements with 11 community colleges throughout East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia; Recognition as the largest recipient of transfer students among TICUA institutions; also acknowledged for having the largest population of transfer students from public institutions in Tennessee; and
• Received U.S. News & World Report rankings for 24 consecutive years as a “Best Regional Universities” in the South. Designated “Military Friendly School” G.I. Jobs and the Guide to Military Friendly Schools®;

President

Provost and Acting President

Appalachia College Association (ACA). Served as secretary of the Deans’ Council between 1995-1996.

Vice President of Academic Affairs/Dean of the Faculty

Acting President

Chair of the Humanities Division, 1987-1989, King College, Bristol, Tennessee
Chair of the Department of Bible and Religion, 1984-1989, King College, Bristol, Tennessee
Adjunct Professor, July 1985, Jerusalem University College, Jerusalem, Israel, Short Term Program in Historical Geography

Member of the Faculty, Bible and Religion

Dr. Gregory D. Jordan is a founder and president of SeligoAI, a Student Relationship Management (SRM) solution that utilizes advanced analytics and data to guide the development of individualized learning plans and life services.  This software solution enables administrators, faculty advisors, and student success staff to select the student data they need, when they need it, to make confident decisions for student success and to reach enrollment goals.  SeligoAI empowers the institution to shape their student markets in alignment with their enrollment strategy.  It is a comprehensive recruitment and retention ecosystem designed to support student success.

He led and served King University, formerly King College, as President, October 1997-February 2014, now president emeritus, through the largest expansion program in its history, guiding its development from a baccalaureate degree granting institution to a doctoral degree granting institution. The University now offers an associate's degree, bachelor’s degrees, the MEd, MBA, MSN and DNP (2013) and is comprised of seven schools.    All of these initiatives led to increased enrollment, resulting in fourteen consecutive years of record-breaking enrollment.

Since 2004, the overall student body at King increased more than 1,000 students and has more than doubled since 2005 and exceeded 2700 students by 2014.  The sustained increases in enrollment were accompanied by the expansion of the institution’s technology infrastructure. Online programs represented the fastest growing platform of the institution.

Dr. Jordan served on SACSCOC, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, Peer Review Board, and served on the SACSCOC Competency-Based/Direct Assessment Committee, 2013. He also served on the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association Board of Directors, the Kingsport Center for Higher Education Advisory Board, the Kingsport Center for Higher Education Commission and the Board of Directors, King Pharmaceuticals, a publicly traded company on the NYSE. 2001-2010.

Developed an SaaS-based software solution for Recruitment and Retention featuring probability analytics generated by machine learning.   Probability models, role-specific dashboards, and visualizations are designed to support Student Success interventions and to improve business intelligence and planning.  SeligoAI https://www.seligoai.com/  April 2015-present.

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Makesh Gopalakrishnan

Gregory Jordan

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