About Us

Who We Are

DataGains was founded in the US over a decade ago with a simple mission: to empower organizations to unlock the value of their data. Since then, we have partnered with Fortune 500 companies, high-growth startups, and organizations across industries on mission-critical projects — designing and delivering scalable, practical, and outcome-focused solutions.

Building on our success in the US market, DataGains GmbH was launched in Germany in 2025 to bring our proven expertise to organizations across Europe. Our boutique, hands-on approach ensures that every engagement is collaborative, highly focused, and tailored to each client’s unique challenges.

Today, we help organizations transform their data, AI, and cloud initiatives into tangible business impact — enabling smarter decisions, greater efficiency, and accelerated innovation.

Our Journey & Philosophy

Founded in 2016, we’ve grown through long-term client relationships built on trust, transparency, and results. Today, we partner with global enterprises and high-growth companies alike — helping them harness data, cloud, and AI to build what’s next.

Our belief is simple: Technology should make decisions smarter, operations faster, and people more effective. Everything we build reflects that mindset.

Leadership Team

DataGains is led by a leadership team with an average of 20+ years of executive experience in big data and digital transformation across the US, Europe, and India. Prior to establishing DataGains, our leaders held executive-level roles in highly competitive markets such as New York and Berlin, where they led enterprise-scale data strategy at major organizations such as JP Morgan, Citigroup, and Zalando.

We lead by example — staying close to the code, the client, and the problem being solved.

Shardul Thakur

Founder and CEO

Shardul established DataGains GmbH in Germany with the goal of bringing DataGains’ proven expertise to organizations across Europe. He brings over 20 years of international experience leading data functions at global firms in New York and Berlin.

Prior to establishing DataGains, Shardul served as the Director of Data & Analytics at Zalando where he was also a part of the company’s core Senior Leadership Team (SLT).Before Zalando, he held Vice- President roles at J.P. Morgan and Citigroup in New York, leading enterprise-scale data initiatives and advising C-suite leadership on shaping data strategy.

Shardul is passionate about building data-driven cultures and mentoring the next generation of data leaders. He strongly believes in “Vision without Execution is Hallucination.

Naveen Gainedi

CTO (Partner)

Naveen leads data analytics and technology delivery for DataGains and is also the founder and Managing Director of DataGrokr US.

Naveen has 20 years of leadership and delivery experience in analytics, consulting and IT strategy, and has also led data and technology teams for large Fortune 100 companies in the U.S and India.

Naveen also has deep experience working with start-ups and private investors on data analytics initiatives and has proven experience in building engineering teams and products from the ground up. He is an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur and IIM Calcutta.

Shardul Thakur

Founder and CEO

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Naveen Gainedi

CTO (Partner)

Naveen brings over two decades of experience in data, cloud, and AI transformation. He founded DataGrokr with a simple goal — to build a company where engineering excellence and client outcomes go hand in hand. Naveen leads strategy, delivery, and growth, ensuring every engagement reflects the company’s ethos of trust, clarity, and technical depth.