Big data innovator Mu Sigma wants to help businesses see how to connect the dots

Big data analytics innovator Mu Sigma, based in Chicago and Bangalore, just launched a new product that allows decision-makers at companies to navigate complex sets of interconnected problems they face in all areas of their businesses, from sales, finance, and risk analysis to supply chain issues.

The product, called muUniverse, is like a Google Maps for business decision-making. It uses technologies to help leaders get a complete overview of their business to make better decisions.

Traditionally, problem-solving meant drilling down and tackling issues one by one. But as businesses grow issues overlap and complexities multiply. “In the age of big data, companies often lack the tools they need to appreciate and understand the complexity of problems they face. A new art of problem-solving is needed to address this. The big goal of our new platform is to automate dynamic thinking that is often baked into the DNA of innovators like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk, making this available to any major corporation,” Dhiraj Rajaram, CEO and founder of Mu Sigma, said in a company statement.

A former consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton, Rajaram sold his house in Chicago to start Mu Sigma in 2004. The idea was to bring together talent in mathematics, economics, and data for integrated solutions. Now, Mu Sigma is one of the most successful Indian tech startups with a billion-dollar valuation. Backed by Sequoia Capital and General Atlantic, it has raised more than US$200 million in funding so far.

Currently, it counts more than a quarter of Fortune 500 companies, including Microsoft, Pfizer, and Wal-Mart, among its customers. Its unique selling point is to combine data from multiple sources – people and machines, processes and platforms – to help its clients make intelligent decisions in critical areas. In short, it turns data into actionable steps for companies. For example, pharmaceutical companies can use the Mu Sigma technology to determine the best price point for drugs, while a telecommunications company can identify the best ways to retain customers.

Mu Sigma employs over 3,500 data scientists with experience across 12 verticals like airlines, finance and insurance, pharmaceuticals, and so on.

See: Mu Sigma acquires Singaporean social media analyzer Webfluenz