Engineer to luxury housing king: How Venkat Naveen Gadde reshaping skylines

An electronics engineer, by training, he went on to become a trailblazer in the intricacies of civil engineering, drawing inspiration from the observation that housing infrastructure lacked innovation, quality, and true luxury. Before founding Navanaami, for almost a decade, he had had a roller-coaster journey exploring various entrepreneurial avenues and establishing various businesses, ranging from food processing, infrastructure, IT and agricultural inputs. And then, he, many in real estate circles, believe, disrupted the real estate landscape in Hyderabad and subsequently in Bangalore, by launching trend-setting luxury segment villas in the state capital, pioneering a segment that has since become a hallmark of Navanaami.

Speaking to Bizz Buzz exclusively, Venkat Naveen Gadde, Founder & Managing Director of Navanaami, explains how he pioneered building 800 square yards villas in Hyderabad and thereby, went on to become part of reshaping Hyderabad's skyline, blending innovation with elegance. He attributes Navanaami’s success to their commitment to quality, design, and luxury

How did Navanaami's journey start in 2005 and with what vision you started this?

It was floated in 2005. A first generation entrepreneur, I had quickly gauged the conventional, formula-driven approach taken-on by most developers. In founding Navanaami, I always wanted to depart from mediocrity in the emerging property projects in the region, and envisioned to redefine the real estate landscape in Hyderabad by infusing transparency, innovation, and sustainability in our projects. I have always believed in offering customers the taste and experience of sustainable, luxurious living, breaking conventions and appealing to the rising aspirations of the city and its people.

How has Navanaami evolved over the years and what values have remained at the core of its operations?

Since its inception, Navanaami has completed 10 unmatched luxury projects worth over Rs 1000 crore, spreading over 1 million square feet of developed area. The company has been on a journey of sustained growth, weaving a rich legacy grounded in the principles of integrity, transparency, and quality. The company has focussed on establishing partnerships and strengthening bonds, with the aim of delivering greater and differentiated value to the projects.

Navanaami is known for its unique value proposition. Could you elaborate on what sets Navanaami and its projects apart from other real estate developers in the region?

Navanaami's unique value proposition lies in its thoughtful approach and emphasis on functionality. The organization believes in departing from existing conventions and formula designing to adopting a more functional approach to real estate and developing designs with purpose. In the real estate landscape, which is marked by delays and under-delivery on promises, Navanaami projects have focussed on adhering to stringent quality measures and have consistently ensured on delivery on timelines and commitments to its customers. Over the years, the company has formed strategic partnerships with organizations like DesignHaaus, Arup, Tierra, HBA and Elliot James, etc. to deliver the highest value and quality of experience to its customers. Beyond adhering to Vaastu principles, Navanaami's projects resonate with nature and sustainability. The company's projects have received green building certification (IGBC), showcasing a commitment to environmental responsibility. Navanaami's projects stand out for their careful design, functionality, and consideration for the well-being of its residents.

As you mentioned, Navanaami has successfully completed 10 luxury projects worth over Rs 1000 crore. Could you highlight some key projects and their impact on the real estate landscape in Hyderabad and Bangalore?

Navanaami launched its first premium Hyderabad Metro Development Authority project in 2005 and began building its first residential apartment in 2009. The organization expanded to Bangalore in 2016 and completed 1 million square feet in 2019. It forayed into developing commercial real estate with first IT/ITES building in 2020, building premium grade A office space EON Hyderabad. Valued at over Rs 1000 crore, these ventures have left an indelible mark on the real estate panorama in Hyderabad and Bangalore. Navanaami's key projects include ultra-luxury, Mallikharjuna Krinss Villas project, which boasts of 47 villas seamlessly integrated with nature. It is currently invested in constructing its flagship, ultra-luxury residential project, Navanaami’s Megaleio in Hyderabad. It has built premium boutique residencies Lavender, Platina, and Willow Greens. Over the years, Navanaami has pushed boundaries to redefine standards for opulent living, setting new benchmarks along the way.

Sustainability seems to be a key focus for Navanaami. How does the company integrate sustainability into its projects?

Navanaami is deeply committed to sustainability, evident in its projects having green building certification (IGBC). Its projects have begun incorporating rainwater harvesting and rooftop solar measures. The company has been harnessing approximately 2 MW of solar power, 1 MW from its commercial project and 1 MW from two other villa communities.

Navanaami has established partnerships with national and international experts in various domains. How have these collaborations contributed to the success and uniqueness of Navanaami's projects?

Navanaami believes in leveraging strategic partnerships to offer differentiated value to its customers. Having collaborated with esteemed partners such as DesignHaaus, Arup, Tierra, HBA and Elliot James have helped the company in presenting customers with a stronger product, building unique brand value, and establishing the company in becoming a industry leader. These partnerships contribute to the uniqueness of Navanaami's projects by incorporating expertise in design, architecture, sustainability, landscaping, and interiors.

Beyond developing properties, how does Navanaami contribute to the communities it serves? Are there any community-centric initiatives or projects that stand out?

Navanaami is deeply committed to community-centric initiatives, steadfast in its pursuit to elevate the well-being of residents. Our engagement extends beyond the boundaries of conventional development. Recognizing the pivotal role education plays in societal development, we are dedicated to providing essential infrastructure that empowers and enriches the learning experiences of students in pursuit of knowledge. Through these initiatives, we aim to create a lasting positive impact on the educational landscape, fostering a brighter future for generations to come.

Navanaami expanded to Bangalore in 2016. Can you discuss the journey and milestones achieved in this new market? Are there plans for further expansion into other regions?

The expansion to Bangalore in 2016 marked a significant milestone for Navanaami, as it was the first project outside the more familiar Hyderabad grounds. The move was aimed at sharing Navanaami’s Hyderabad vision, experience and learnings with potential customer base in India’s Silicon Valley. The idea was to reimagine the traditional landscape of residential infrastructure in Bangalore and present the city with something new. It boutique residences, Platina and Lavendar have been well received by its newfound customer base. .

Every industry faces challenges. What challenges has Navanaami encountered, and how has the organization demonstrated resilience in overcoming them?

Being a first generation entrepreneur, I navigated the steep learning curve in the initial years of building my career in the real estate landscape in Hyderabad. The transformation from being an electronics engineer to that of a civil engineer was challenging. My biggest challenge during those years were to showcase properties value to potential partners and noncustomer stakeholders, who were mostly trailblazers in the industry, of the products that I intended to build. At a time when I had begun foraying into real estate sector, the industry was marked with conventional designing and building practices. One of the biggest challenge for me was to convince internal and external stakeholders of my vision to provide customers properties that are new-age, have functional approach, and are thoughtfully designed. After having executed few projects, while demonstrating successful and timely delivery, the stakeholders have become more accepting and understanding of the new-age design thinking that Navanaami adopts.

As a member of Credai, how does Navanaami actively contribute to the development of the real estate industry, and what role does it play in shaping industry standards and practices?

Navanaami is proactively engaging in collaborative efforts with Credai, contributing invaluable insights that play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of the real estate industry in Hyderabad. These substantive inputs not only enrich the discourse within Credai but are also shared directly with policymakers, serving as a crucial influence in the formulation of policies that contribute to the overall development and growth of the real estate sector in the region.

From a team of 10 employees to over 100 experts, how has Navanaami nurtured a work environment of teamwork, creative thinking, and resilience? What values are emphasized in the company culture?

Navanaami has cultivated a workplace ethos that thrives on the synergy of teamwork, promotes creative thinking, and builds-in agility and adaptability by encouraging continuous learning. Values such as transparency and commitment to quality are integral to the company culture.