Founder Spotlight: Jobin Ephrem, Co-founder of Origin
Background & Story
Early Roots
Jobin was born and raised in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), a city roughly the size of Chicago but home to ten times the population. Growing up in that environment taught him resilience, adaptability and the importance of seizing opportunity. Even with a comfortable upbringing, he pushed himself to stand out among peers in school, sports and everyday life. That ambition and steady determination would ultimately shape his path as a leader.
Choosing the Entrepreneurial Path
After years helping large organizations navigate digital and data transformation, Jobin felt a pull to build something from nothing. He wanted to create a company with a distinct culture, a clear mission and a way of working that inspired people. The goal wasn’t just to deliver great projects. It was to build something lasting — a company that could make a real impact on clients, team members and the broader industry.
Seeing the Opportunity
With experience building teams, scaling delivery and integrating acquisitions, Jobin saw an opening in the market. Enterprises were moving aggressively toward data modernization and AI adoption, but most service providers weren’t built for that shift. Partnering with 367 Ventures, he set out to build a company that could meet this moment — one that operated with agility, focused exclusively on data and AI, and delivered strategic guidance while executing with precision. Origin was designed to be that firm.
The Origin Journey
What Origin Does
Origin is a technology services firm focused on data modernization, AI and application modernization. The team helps organizations transform how they manage, analyze and act on data — creating a foundation for intelligent decision-making and long-term innovation. The company specializes in designing modern data platforms, operationalizing AI responsibly and modernizing legacy systems for greater agility.
The “Aha” Moment
As enterprises began making significant investments in data and AI, Jobin and his partners at 367 Ventures recognized a rare moment of parity. No firm — not even the biggest consultancies — had a meaningful head start. The playing field was level. That clarity was enough to move fast and build something that could compete from day one.
Early Challenges
In the beginning, the hardest problems weren’t technical. They were about focus. The AI wave was rising quickly, and every client conversation opened a dozen new paths. The work was to define where Origin could truly differentiate, how to position its value and how to build credibility quickly in an emerging and noisy market.
Shifts & Adaptation
The AI services landscape has been moving faster than any previous technology wave. Staying ahead required constant learning, early bets and strong partnerships — often without perfect information. Those decisions shaped the culture and DNA of Origin: agile, curious, grounded in execution.
Building & Leading
What Makes Origin Different
Origin was born in the AI era. The company has focused exclusively on data and AI from the start — no competing practice areas, no diluted attention. With a singular focus, the team stays deep in the technology and ahead of the curve.
Culture at Origin
Jobin describes Origin as a technology-first company where people love solving hard problems together. The culture emphasizes experimentation, collaboration, continuous learning and mutual support. It’s a place where people are encouraged to grow both professionally and personally — and to have fun while doing high-impact work.
Leadership Principles
Jobin sees himself as a servant leader. He works alongside the team on the toughest problems, sets the tone, then steps aside so individuals can excel. Origin defined its core values early, and he makes sure those values aren’t just words on a slide — they guide decisions, interactions and expectations every day.
Milestones & Traction
Origin has notched several wins in a short amount of time, especially with enterprise customers who trust the firm to lead critical data and AI initiatives. One milestone stands above the rest: being selected as a managed partner by Microsoft. For a company of Origin’s size, it’s a rare recognition — and validation that the team has achieved mastery in a competitive space.
Vision & Future
Looking Five Years Ahead
Jobin expects Origin to be the data and AI services partner in the Microsoft and Databricks ecosystem. He envisions becoming a sought-after brand for top talent and a recognized name in the Chicago tech community with a national reputation for differentiated execution.
What Excites Him About the Future
He believes we’re still in the early innings of what data and AI will unlock. As hype gives way to real-world impact, the opportunity to transform industries will only grow. He expects the next generation of consumer and business applications to emerge from this shift — with cloud, data and AI at the center.
Changing How Businesses Operate
Origin starts every project with the “why.” Jobin’s philosophy is that true transformation happens when technology aligns to business objectives and measurable outcomes. He wants Origin to help organizations operate with more clarity, more intelligence and more strategic focus.
Personal Side
Life Outside Work
Jobin’s world outside of Origin revolves around family — his wife and two daughters. Together they share a passion for travel and are slowly working through a list of all 193 countries. In the summer, golf is the hobby of choice. Music is another constant, with playlists that span multiple genres.
Staying Motivated
Founding a company comes with a constant pressure to anticipate what’s next. Jobin stays grounded by focusing on the journey itself. Small wins create the momentum that fuels the next step.
Advice for Founders
“It’s a marathon, not a sprint.” He emphasizes the importance of reassessing strategy continuously. The world moves fast — founders have to move with it.
Closing Thoughts
“Surround yourself with people who are better than you in every dimension — delivery, operations, tech, finance. My job is to create clarity and unlock the full potential of my team, not to have all the answers.”
You can connect with Jobin on LinkedIn and learn more about Origin at www.origindigital.com.
