Fourteen Years of Codoid: Built Through Testing

In an industry where companies often rise and fade with technology cycles, completing fourteen years speaks of something more fundamental than growth alone. Codoid Innovations has reached that milestone by taking a route grounded in learning, discipline, and a long-term view of software quality. At the centre of that journey is Asiq, whose own career choices shaped the company’s character from the very beginning.

Chance Meets Preparation

Asiq’s entry into the IT industry was marked by uncertainty. After completing his B.Sc. in Computer Science from New College, he struggled to secure a job. Looking back, he recognised the gap to be not in effort, but in preparation. He was academically qualified, but not ready for the expectations of the industry.

On the advice of a close friend, he pursued an M.Sc. in Information Technology to strengthen his foundation. Even then, the struggle continued as nearly eight months passed without a job offer. His eventual break came in the most unexpected way. A casual conversation with a stranger he met at a hospital led to a referral, an interview, and his first role in IT. 

The Stepping Stone

Like many aspiring engineers, Asiq wanted to be a software developer, but his career started in software testing. Those around him reassured him that he could transition into development after a year or two. At the time, he believed that was the natural path.

That assumption began to change with experience. His first assignment involved testing an HRMS application. He was introduced to automation scripting through training in QTP, which was a leading enterprise test automation tool. Writing automation test scripts and complex SQL queries offered the satisfaction of coding, while testing revealed how software truly works and how quality affects business outcomes.

What he once assumed would be a stepping stone toward software development gradually became the foundation for building his own company.

Choosing Work Over Titles

Asiq was never particularly drawn to the traditional corporate ladder or to promotions within large organisations. Nor did he find satisfaction in remaining on a single project for extended periods. What held his interest instead was the work itself: solving problems, delivering value, and then moving on to the next challenge.

That way of working gradually set him apart from conventional career paths. In 2012, after just four years in employment, he founded Codoid as a fully bootstrapped venture. Over time, Asiq recognised that while entrepreneurship is not for everyone, finding a career path aligned with one’s curiosity and values matters deeply.

Built Through People, Not Capital

The first two years of the entrepreneurial journey were particularly demanding. Asiq worked as a freelance consultant across multiple client engagements while gradually building a team. Being in a services-led industry, where the people, not products, form the primary engine of value, work culture was treated as the foundation of the company from the outset. 

Recruiting fresh graduates became both a practical and cultural choice. It allowed skills to be developed internally while creating an environment where learning was unavoidable. Engineers were continually exposed to new tools, new ideas, and new ways of thinking about quality. Over time, this approach shaped not only the company’s technical capabilities but also its continuity. Several of the employees who joined during that formative phase continue to be part of Codoid today.

Asked about the company’s growth, Asiq often speaks first about the people who built it with him. He says:

“Running a company for more than a decade is deeply fulfilling, but this journey was never a solo effort. Every milestone belongs to the people who believed in the vision and walked alongside me.”

Shaped by the Work

Over fourteen years, this people-first approach has translated into a company defined by depth rather than size alone. Headquartered in Chennai, Codoid today is a team of more than 150 employees. Its work has ranged from supporting young startups finding their footing to collaborating with large global organisations operating at scale.

Across these engagements, the company has been involved in many forms of software testing, including functional and non-functional testing, complex test automation initiatives across platforms, and a growing focus on accessibility testing to support inclusive and compliant software. This variety of engagements has helped Codoid develop a practical, well-rounded view of quality, shaped by real-world constraints rather than any single methodology, tool, or trend.

What Endures

At the core of this journey lies a distinction shaped by experience rather than theory. Having an idea does not automatically translate into success or scale. Building something that lasts demands discipline, honesty with oneself, continuous learning, and the ability to turn intent into sustained execution.

That discipline has also defined his approach to innovation. Alongside building the company, Asiq has remained closely involved in engineering work, personally leading the development of several free tools at Codoid, including Fillo, VisGrid, Gyra, and Tester Companion. He continues to code, having recently learned Rust to build Gyra and Tester Companion, and sees himself first and foremost as a technologist.