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{{about||the cricketer|Rituraj Singh (cricketer)|the actor|Rituraj Singh (actor)}}
{{Infobox person
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| honorific_suffix = Ritu Raj
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| image = Entrepreneur_Ritu_Raj.jpg
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| occupation = [[Entrepreneur]]
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| known_for = [[Organizational founder|Founder]] and [[CEO]] of Avasta, OrchestratorMail, Objectiveli and Wag Hotels
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'''Ritu Raj''' is an entrepreneur based in [[California]]. Raj is the founder of Avasta, OrchestratorMail and Objectiveli, as well as Wag Hotels, a chain of luxury hotels for dogs and cats.

== Education and early career ==
Ritu Raj graduated from [[Kirori Mal College]] at [[Delhi University]], and worked for IT consulting firms in [[Delhi]] before moving to the US in 1994.<ref>Doley, Kunal (February 8, 2008). "Owners not allowed in doggie hotel". ''Mail Today'', p. 16-17.</ref> Upon his arrival in the US, he worked for a small startup, AT Systems, and was later an executive with [[TMP Worldwide]].<ref name="technet1">{{cite web|author=BizSpark Online |url=http://blogs.technet.com/b/bizspark_featured_startups/archive/2011/06/27/bizspark-startup-of-the-day-orchestratormail.aspx |title=BizSpark Startup of the Day - OrchestratorMail - BizSpark Featured Startups - Site Home - TechNet Blogs |publisher=Blogs.technet.com |date=2011-06-27 |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref>

== Chapter 2/Avasta ==

In 1999, Raj founded Chapter 2, an [[application service provider]] (ASP) that supports the business applications for companies as an outsourcing company running the companies' existing networks.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rogers |first=Amy |url=http://www.crn.com/news/channel-programs/18821739/avasta-not-asp-but-outsourcer.htm |title=Avasta Not ASP, But Outsourcer |publisher=Crn.com |date= |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref> The company based its name on the idea that chapter one of the internet was web site hosting, with chapter two being business application hosting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.internetnews.com/asp-news/article.php/423621/Chapter+2+Launches+ASP+Hosting+Service.htm |title=Chapter 2 Launches ASP Hosting Service - InternetNews |publisher=InternetNews. |date= |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref> In 2000 the company secured $9.5 million in funding.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.internetnews.com/asp-news/article.php/408971/Chapter+2+Raises+95+Million.htm |title=Chapter 2 Raises $9.5 Million - InternetNews |publisher=InternetNews. |date=2000-07-06 |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref> That year they also opened offices that provided back-office operations, security management and call center operations services.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rohde |first=David |url=http://www.networkworld.com/news/2000/0718edgechapter2.html |title='Chapter 2' hosting is for ASPs, start-up says |publisher=Networkworld.com |date=2000-07-18 |accessdate=2013-10-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426232217/http://www.networkworld.com/news/2000/0718edgechapter2.html |archivedate=2014-04-26 }}</ref> As of 2001, the company had raised $50 million from investors.<ref>{{cite web|author=Edward Cone |url=http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Enterprise-Applications/Same-Game-New-Name/ |title=Same Game, New Name |publisher=Eweek.com |date=2001-02-12 |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref> That year Chapter 2 was renamed Avasta - a name based on the Sanskrit word "vasta," meaning "to stand and remain" - in order to reflect the company's new services.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.internetnews.com/xSP/article.php/586521/Chapter+2+Becomes+Avasta.htm |title=Chapter 2 Becomes Avasta - InternetNews |publisher=InternetNews. |date=2001-02-12 |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref> In 2003, Avasta was acquired by [[NaviSite]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insideview.com/directory/avasta-inc |title=Avasta, Inc. - Company Profile by Insideview |publisher=Insideview.com |date= |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref>

== Wag Hotels ==
Following Avasta, Raj was a partner with the information technology consulting firm [[Accenture]]. He was away from home and his dog frequently.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2007/12/17/daily11.html?page=all |title=Wag Hotels sniffs out Oakland location - San Francisco Business Times |publisher=Bizjournals.com |date= |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/news/bizarre/article/Luxury-hotel-caters-to-pampered-pets-1672344.php |title=Luxury hotel caters to pampered pets - Houston Chronicle |publisher=Chron.com |date=2007-05-10 |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref> This was the inspiration behind his venture Wag Hotels, a California-based line of luxury hotel for dogs and cats.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dogchannel.com/dog-news/san-francisco-dog-hotel.aspx |title=New Dog Hotel Opens in San Francisco |publisher=Dogchannel.com |date= |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref><ref name="bizjournals2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2007/01/29/story12.html?page=all |title=Bay Area is next frontier for West Sacramento-based Wag Hotels - Sacramento Business Journal |publisher=Bizjournals.com |date=2007-01-28 |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref><ref name="doeswhat1">{{cite web|url=http://doeswhat.com/2012/10/09/interview-with-ritu-raj-objectiveli/ |title=Interview with Objectiveli founder and CEO Ritu Raj |publisher=DoesWhat |date=2012-10-09 |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref> In 2005, Wag opened its first location in [[West Sacramento]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2005/11/14/story4.html?page=all |title=For lapdogs of luxury - Sacramento Business Journal |publisher=Bizjournals.com |date=2005-11-13 |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref><ref>Bonilla, Rachel (August, 2007). "The Suite Life". ''Bark Magazine'', p. 59-62.</ref><ref>May, Meredith (June 17, 2007). "SF's Best Friend". ''San Francisco Chronicle'', p. A8.</ref> The company also operates Wag Store, a hotel-affiliated store.<ref>{{cite web|author=Nancy Davis Kho, Special to The Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Pets-in-America-have-40-billion-spent-on-them-by-2498053.php#page-1 |title=Pets in America have $40 billion spent on them by doting owners |publisher=SFGate |date=2007-10-09 |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref> In 2007, Wag opened a location in [[San Francisco]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Meredith May |url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/S-F-S-BEST-FRIEND-Where-pooches-outnumber-2555688.php#page-2 |title=S.F.'S BEST FRIEND / Where pooches outnumber kids, impassioned, doting owners and hounds dressed to the canines treat all days like dog days |publisher=SFGate |date=2007-06-17 |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref> In June 2007, the company also bought a stake in the Modesto-based pet quarterly publication, ''Wag Magazine''.<ref name=bizjournals2007 />

== Other Ventures ==
In 2010, Raj co-founded OrchestratorMail, and serves as the company's CEO.<ref name=technet1 /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abilitysuccessgrowth.com/tag/ritu-raj/ |title=Ritu Raj |publisher=Ability Success Growth |date=2011-09-29 |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref> An application that works on top of an existing user's email platform, OrchestratorMail organizes email into a set of categories.<ref>{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.managementexchange.com/hack/productivity-increase-through-bringing-efficiency-email |title=Corporations can increase productivity by bringing efficiency and collaboration to email communication | Management Innovation eXchange |publisher=Managementexchange.com |date=2011-06-22 |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref> Users then use this differentiation to determine what emails to reply to first.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://currents.michaelsampson.net/2011/06/om.html |title=OrchestratorMail - Bringing Structure and Clarity to Email Communication - Michael Sampson on Making Collaboration Work |publisher=Currents.michaelsampson.net |date=2011-06-07 |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref>

From 2011 to 2012, Raj was an Entrepreneur in Residence at Spring Ventures, LLC, a [[venture capital]] firm in San Francisco.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://buzzsparks.org/financial-organization/spring-ventures |title=Spring Ventures |publisher=BuzzSparks.org |date=2011-11-10 |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref> While there, he helped launch SideCar, a ride-sharing app that connects drivers with people looking for rides.<ref>{{cite news |title=A Ride Home That's Not a Taxi, Maybe |author=Joshua Brustein |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/31/nyregion/sidecar-a-new-ride-share-app-offers-an-alternative-to-cabs.html?_r=0 |newspaper=New York Times |date=March 29, 2013 |accessdate=1 October 2013}}</ref> In exchange, passengers can give drivers a financial donation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/06/12/new-sidecar-app-turns-strangers-cars-into-cabs/ |title=New Sidecar App Turns Strangers' Cars Into Cabs - Digits - WSJ |publisher=Blogs.wsj.com |date=2013-06-12 |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref> The apps were initially banned, however new regulations have since allowed them to operate.<ref>{{cite web|last=Farivar |first=Cyrus |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/09/california-finally-legalizes-lyft-sidecar-and-other-rideshare-app-firms/ |title=California finally legalizes Lyft, SideCar, and other rideshare app firms |publisher=Ars Technica |date=2013-09-19 |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref>

In 2012, Raj co-founded Objectiveli with Jonathan Yankovich.<ref name=doeswhat1 /> Objectiveli is a [[web application]] designed for companies to set and manage objectives and goals and track the outcomes in real-time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.killerstartups.com/startup-spotlight/interview-with-ritu-raj-manage-goals-with-objectiveli/ |title=Interview With Ritu Raj - Manage Goals With Objectiveli |publisher=Killerstartups.com |date=2012-09-14 |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref>

==Artistic career==

Ritu Raj began painting in 2020 during the COVID lockdowns in San Francisco, and began to paint on increasingly larger canvases and moved his practice to Phoenix, Arizona. His improvisational abstract art is based in various inspirations, such as the philosophy of Heidegger.{{cn|date=November 2025}} Raj became a full time fine artist in 2024,{{cn|date=November 2025}} after founding RituStudio in 2022. He has stated of his work that, “In my creative process, I let my intuition guide me, allowing images in my mind to take on a life of their own on the canvas. Foregoing sketches, I allow the colors to form their language - dynamic, unrestricted, and honest. This approach, coupled with my relentless pursuit of experimentation and medium exploration, gives my work a unique touch that defies pattern or style.”<ref>https://www.artistcloseup.com/blog/interview-ritu-raj</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
* [http://rituart.com Official artist website]
* [http://www.waghotels.com/ Wag Hotels]
* [http://www.orchestratormail.com/ OrchestratorMail]
* [http://objectiveli.com/# Objectiveli]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Raj, Ritu}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from California]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Delhi]]
[[Category:Delhi University alumni]]
[[Category:American people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Ritu Raj - Revision history

Gurushivam: created a pg