Meet Vijay | Founder at Quanten Media

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vijay and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vijay, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Honestly, entrepreneurship has never been easy. Building a business is tough, and building a startup takes that to another level.

But even back in school, I loved creating things that made a difference. I actually started my first company in 10th grade—helping a local business manage their inventory software. Seeing how something I built could solve a real problem for someone else was incredibly rewarding.

In university, I built my second company—partly as a way to make money doing something meaningful, instead of interning at a big company. We eventually landed on a product that truly solved a problem, and that experience deepened my love for building things from scratch.

After that, I spent nearly 20 years helping other founders—running an incubation center that supported early-stage tech startups. Four of those went on to become billion-dollar companies. Eventually, though, I came across a problem I just couldn’t shake. It kept me up at night—and that’s what pulled me back into starting something of my own again.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Sometimes you go looking for a problem. Sometimes, the problem finds you. My current business came about because I said “yes” to something small, a long time ago.

I used to have an open office space, and a group of filmmaker friends asked if they could use it once a month for their film club. I assumed they’d just be watching movies late into the night—but instead, they watched films, broke them down, showcased their own work, and had deep discussions about the craft and the magic behind the scenes.

That experience opened my eyes to the world of filmmaking. I went down a rabbit hole learning what makes a great film succeed and why others don’t connect with audiences. What struck me most was that about 93% of films and shows made never truly resonate with their intended audience. That insight led to the creation of Quanten Media.

At Quanten, we build tools and content intelligence systems that help storytellers and studios understand how well their stories connect. We work with studios and distributors to help them see, in real time, whether their content is resonating — and if not, where and why.

It hasn’t been easy, of course. Working at the intersection of technology and creativity comes with constant learning and iteration. But every challenge reinforced one big lesson for me: when you focus on solving a real problem and creating genuine value, the right opportunities follow. Working with Neon, for one of their films, within a year of launch was a big moment for us.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Honestly, I don’t actually live in LA, but I’ve been spending a lot of time here lately—and what I love most is how it feels like an archipelago of different cities, each with its own energy and rhythm. Burbank, West Hollywood, Venice, Downtown—they all have completely different personalities.

If a close friend were visiting for a week, I’d plan each day around a different part of the city. We’d probably start with a day in Venice—walking along Abbot Kinney, grabbing brunch at The Butcher’s Daughter, and catching the sunset at the beach. Then maybe a Downtown day for the arts scene, stopping by The Broad and ending the night at Perch for the skyline views.

We’d definitely spend a day in Burbank, especially if they’re into film or media—there’s something special about being close to where stories come to life. And I’d save West Hollywood for the weekend: good food, good music, and that lively, creative energy that makes LA what it is.

A week wouldn’t be enough to see it all—I’m still discovering new corners and hidden gems every time I’m here. That’s the magic of LA: no matter how long you’ve been around, there’s always something new waiting for you.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I realized a while back that no one truly achieves anything alone. There’s no such thing as a self-made man or woman — we all stand on the shoulders of giants. Whether we recognize it or not, there are always people who help clear the path for us.

Looking back, I was incredibly lucky to have teachers who spotted my entrepreneurial streak early on. Even back in high school, they saw my love for technology and problem-solving not as a distraction, but as something worth encouraging. My physics teacher, Mr. William — whom I still keep in touch with today — played a huge role. He even wrote my university recommendation letter, which opened doors I wouldn’t have reached otherwise.

In university, I had two amazing roommates, Peter and Tom. From them, I gained not just technical knowledge, but also friendship, camaraderie, and the reminder that when you’re a small fish in a big ocean, having good friends makes all the difference.

And of course, I owe the biggest shoutout to my parents — especially my mother — who sacrificed so much and has always stood by my side, cheering me on as I chased one dream after another.

Website: https://www.quanten.co

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/vijayanands

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/vijayanands

Twitter: http://www.x.com/vijayanands