Anand Manikutty - Chief Product Officer and InfoSec Architect

Chief Product Officer & InfoSec Architect

I’m a Chief Product Officer & Software Architect specialized in InfoSec-driven full‑stack systems, modern web development, scalable backends, and data platforms. After years in media and engineering management, and academia, I’ve returned to hands‑on development—building production-grade, security‑first software. Most recently:

• Fulmo: A community games hub built with secure authentication/authorization, protecting user data and fostering trust.
• Screens: An LMS platform under active development, featuring encrypted data pipelines, role-based access control, and ongoing vulnerability assessments. Leading design and implementation of Screens, writing code.

Over my career, I’ve designed secure full-stack systems—from hardened backend APIs (Python/Flask, PostgreSQL) to resilient cloud deployments (AWS, Render). I integrate infosec best practices across the lifecycle: threat modeling, secure architecture, incident response planning, and regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR).

I’m also a 10x‑author and educator—leading workshops on programming, strategic management, behavioral science, and security—bringing practical, real-world experience to the classroom. I’m currently working on breaking a world record in the field of poetry (details under wraps for now), adding an artistic dimension to my professional journey.

✅Career highlights include:

• Architected platforms that were secure, highly scalable, performant, and fault tolerant.
• Built systems that significantly reduced attack surface through secure authentication and authorization mechanisms.
• Mentored engineering teams on secure coding best practices, code reviews, and security-first coding.
• Inventor on 15+ patents (and author of 10+ peer-reviewed papers), including significant XML innovations —awarded patent plaques by Oracle that remain among my favorite possessions..
• Startup founder in programs like Google for Startups, Microsoft for Startups, and IIM Kashipur FIED.
• Member of a world‑record performance project at Microsoft—contributed to a project that broke the world record for the famed TPC-C benchmark. Worked on the Fulltext performance project, helping deliver leading transaction processing performance, earning a commemorative performance benchmark trophy that remains one of my favorite possessions.
• Member of the SQL Language Design Committee—the highest-level committee for the design of the SQL language.
• Conducted collaborative research in finance with a leading finance researcher at Harvard.
• Conducted collaborative research in computer science with multiple leading computer scientists.
• Presenting author at VLDB 2004, Toronto, Canada—an internationally recognized database systems conference.
• Presenting author at ICDE 2005, Tokyo, Japan—a premier IEEE data engineering conference.
• Presenting author at the Fourth Conference on Advanced Computing, 1996, Bangalore, India.
• Contributor to the South Asian edition of a leading strategic management textbook, considered a classic in its field.

My experience spans the entire product lifecycle—from designing robust backend architecture and crafting interactive frontends, to deploying and scaling cloud-native applications. I’ve contributed in both startups and large enterprises, mentored engineering teams, and taught courses and workshops on database systems, operating systems, software development, as well as happiness‑ and productivity‑focused behavioral science, in the U.S. and India. 

Currently, I ship code daily or weekly, and I’m eager to collaborate on teams or projects where I can add value both technically and strategically. Some of the technologies I’m working with include React, Python, Flask, and PostgreSQL.

🔧 Technical Expertise

• Full‑stack development – React.js frontends with Python/Flask backends, built with **security-first architectures**.
• Backend & API development – Designing and scaling robust, secure microservices and RESTful APIs.
• Cloud deployment – Hands-on production deployments using AWS and Render, with emphasis on secure, fault-tolerant infrastructure.
• Database design & development – Schema design, performance tuning, data integrity, and secure data models (PostgreSQL).

💼 Domain Areas of Focus

• Web Development, Database Systems & Cloud Technologies – Engineering, research, and patents in SQL, XML, and Internet tech.
• Secure Software & InfoSec – Building systems with threat modeling, encryption, and secure design principles.
• Mentorship & Academia – Leadership in workshops, curriculum design, and teaching.
• Agripreneurship & Sustainability – Hands-on experience in an agri-tech venture.

🏆 Professional Achievements

• Founder of a startup accepted into incubation programs (Google for Startups, Microsoft for Startups, IIM Kashipur FIED, Wadhwani Foundation's Ignite program).
• Published 10+ research papers and awarded 15+ patents—awarded patent plaques that remain among my favorite possessions.
• Presenting author at major conferences: VLDB 2004 (Toronto), ICDE 2005 (Tokyo), and Fourth Conference on Advanced Computing 1996 (Bangalore).
• Governor’s Medal (IIT Madras) for all-round academic excellence and extra-curricular performance, 1997.
• Motorola Prize medal recipient (IIT Madras, 1997) acknowledging all-round academic and extracurricular performance.
• Institute Blues award (IIT Madras, 1996)—a prestigious recognition for outstanding contribution to campus life and sports.
• Member of the SQL Language Design Committee—contributing to evolution of the SQL standard.
• Member of a world‑record performance project at Microsoft—broke the TPC‑C benchmark world record.
• Conducted collaborative research in finance, strategic management and computer science with leading academics.
• Contributor to the South Asian edition of a classic strategic management textbook.

🔧 Software Architect | 🔒 InfoSec Advocate | 🤝 Product Leader | 🚀 Startup Founder | 🎓 Educator & Researcher

Building secure, scalable, and performant systems that empower teams and protect users.