This is the compelling story of MetaHive Design Consulting Pvt Ltd, a dynamic startup that has taken a distinctive and purposeful path in India’s sophisticated AV consulting landscape. More fundamentally, it’s the inspiring story of Raguvaran and Arun Kumar—two visionary individuals whose unconventional entrepreneurial journey has demonstrated a refreshing alternative approach to building a successful AV consultancy from the ground up, combining technical expertise with creative vision and client-focused service delivery.

Their story represents more than just business success; it’s a testament to the power of innovation, dedication, and the belief that exceptional service and technical excellence can create lasting impact in an industry that shapes how people experience spaces, communicate ideas, and connect with technology in their lives.

Every transformative story has an unexpected genesis, for Raghu—as his friends and colleagues profoundly call Raguvaran—it began on the cricket pitches of Tamil Nadu, where he competed at state level before transitioning to audiovisual technology—a shift born from necessity, curiosity, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

In 2005, Raghu joined Genesis IT Innovations as a field technician, mounting CRT projectors and troubleshooting systems with primitive tools. But in those early days, he was developing an understanding of AV technology from the ground up, learning how every component contributed to the final user experience.”I had no formal design training,” Raghu recalls, “but I had the willingness to get my hands dirty and understand how things actually worked.”

This approach resonated with industry veterans and senior professionals who recognized exceptional potential. Under the mentorship of respected leaders and experienced practitioners, Raguvaran evolved from technician to designer, eventually becoming part of Genesis’s core design team, unlocking his creative potential and setting the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey.

Meanwhile, Arun Kumar was carving his own path in the AV industry. Beginning his professional journey in backend support roles with Reliance  in the early 2000s, Arun learned the value of troubleshooting and system-level thinking. In 2010, he stepped into AV by joining Crestron as a technical trainer, eventually expanding into techno-commercial roles. He handled major projects including the massive Sun TV lighting integration in Chennai and was instrumental in setting up Crestron’s Chennai office, overseeing operations across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and parts of Hyderabad. Despite being perceived as a video expert, Arun was fundamentally an audio aficionado—a passion that would profoundly influence MetaHive’s technical approach.

Where Two Minds Met

In 2015, both founders’ paths converged at Lightware Visual Engineering India. Both shared genuine commitment to clean execution and aversion to industry superficiality. Their chemistry was cemented by mutual passion for audio-video technologies, with both known for technical advocacy—digging deep into product capabilities and tailoring innovative applications for consultants and integrators.

At Lightware, they proved their philosophy worked. Even amid COVID-19’s global semiconductor crisis, they quadrupled the business by focusing on complex projects demanding precision and creativity. While others struggled with disruptions, they thrived by delivering solutions clients couldn’t find elsewhere.

Success at Lightware ignited an entrepreneurial vision that both partners had been nurturing. What possibilities would emerge from creating their own consultancy built entirely around innovation and design excellence? Could they establish a practice that would allow them to explore the full creative potential of AV consulting while delivering transformative solutions for clients?

The Birth of a Vision

The seeds for MetaHive were planted during COVID lockdown in 2020, when travel restrictions sparked demand for home studios and hybrid AV setups. The duo experimented with new design solutions, sparking the question: Why not build something of our own?

In what Arun recalls as a “one-hour decision,” they chose to embrace entrepreneurship and launch MetaHive. Their bold move was powered by decades of combined experience, unwavering confidence in their vision, and the financial foundation they had built through their successful careers. In June 2023, MetaHive Design Consulting Pvt Ltd was officially launched with a mission that perfectly captured their aspirations: deliver AV consulting that prioritizes innovation, client success, and design excellence above all else.

With no marketing budget or sales team, MetaHive relied entirely on work quality to build reputation. Within their first year, operating purely on referrals, MetaHive consulted on projects worth over ₹140 crores—validation that the industry hungered for genuine, independent consulting.

Their inaugural major assignment established MetaHive’s signature approach. A leading technology company’s ₹40 crore innovation lab became an eight-month journey in meticulous planning, user experience design, and technical excellence. Every decision reflected their commitment to serving end users’ needs with creative solutions.

Engineering the Extraordinary

One of MetaHive’s most visible achievements came through their work on Bangalore International Airport’s Terminal 2. The project involved consulting on Asia’s largest LED wall—a staggering 112-meter display capable of playing large content in seamless flow. Equally significant was their eight-month journey with  Innovation lab project, where meticulous planning and user experience thinking drove every decision. Both challenges extended far beyond AV specifications.

This project required collaboration with civil engineers, spatial planners, architects, and digital content creators to ensure not just technical functionality, but visual harmony and structural integrity. More than half the design effort went into understanding heat dispersion, structural loading, and aesthetic integration—proving that modern AV consulting has evolved far beyond traditional boundaries.

In Karnataka, they designed a professional-grade studio for high school education with a ₹10 lakh budget, delivering the complete implementation for only ₹8 lakhs while achieving broadcast-quality online education capabilities. This project exemplified their core philosophy: exceptional AV environments become accessible and scalable through thoughtful design.

From experience centers for the Indian Air Force to corporate spaces for Infosys, PWC, Renault Nissan, Alphawave, and General Motors to name a few, each MetaHive project reflects the same underlying principle: design with integrity, execute with empathy.

Creating a Culture of Impact

What truly sets MetaHive apart isn’t just its project credentials—it’s the culture of purpose it’s building. In a field often influenced by hierarchy and credentials, MetaHive has chosen a people-first, engineering-led approach. Arun’s philosophy of technical depth over brand names or specs has shaped the firm’s DNA, ensuring every client engagement is solution-focused and impact-driven. Rather than following conventional hiring practices, MetaHive deliberately recruits fresh talent, often from diverse backgrounds, and invests significantly in comprehensive training. Their selection process values curiosity over credentials, potential over polish. They maintain inclusive hiring practices and provide intensive mentorship, creating an environment where talent flourishes regardless of background..

This ethos, rooted in the founders’ personal experiences, emphasizes humility over polish and potential over pedigree. Gender-balanced hiring, a strong mentorship ecosystem, and a deep focus on ethics and user impact define their work culture. As Raghu puts it, “We don’t just train engineers to design systems—we help them understand what those systems mean to the people using them.” With a team now operating almost autonomously, MetaHive stands as a model for how values can drive innovation.

Redefining Consultant Value

MetaHive also represents a broader argument about the role and value of AV consultants in the industry ecosystem. In a sector where consultants are often viewed as dispensable or interchangeable, Raghu and Arun are pushing for fundamental cultural change.

They reject square-foot billing models, arguing that consulting should be based on complexity, effort, and innovation rather than physical space. “You can spend a crore in 100 square feet or a lakh in 1,000 square feet,” Raghu observes. “The size of the room shouldn’t define the scope of intellectual work required.”

This philosophy doesn’t always align with traditional procurement practices. Many clients are accustomed to fixed pricing models and resist paying for design thinking and creative problem-solving. But those who engage MetaHive quickly understand the value proposition. Several have become repeat clients, choosing to bypass typical bidding processes in favor of the trust, transparency, and reliability that MetaHive consistently delivers.

Staying Students of the Craft

Despite growing recognition and success, both founders remain dedicated students of their field. Their approach to professional development exemplifies this mindset. At industry gatherings and technical conferences, they prioritize deep learning over networking—focusing on understanding new technologies and engaging with technical experts who can share practical insights. Their philosophy centers on quality over quantity, preferring focused, meaningful conversations that enhance their technical expertise.

They draw inspiration from diverse market segments, particularly valuing collaborative approaches, results-oriented thinking, and operational excellence wherever they encounter it.

Thoughtful Evolution

MetaHive isn’t attempting to dominate the industry through aggressive expansion or flashy marketing campaigns. Instead, they’re staging what might be called a quiet revolution—one where values matter more than valuation, and reputation is earned through outcomes rather than awards. For them, success is not defined by flashy launches but by lasting impact, technical excellence, and building a sustainable team.

In doing so, they’re taking on the responsibility of healing an industry that too often fails its best talent. They approach AV consulting as a sophisticated craft requiring clarity, independence, and relentless focus on user experience. They invest in talent development, continuous learning, and ethical practices.

As MetaHive enters its Third year, their focus remains on purposeful evolution rather than growth for its own sake. They’re exploring XR integrations, developing long-term AV planning models for hybrid workplaces, and fostering tighter collaboration between spatial design and content creation.

But at the foundation of all future plans remains the same belief that launched the company: design excellence must be backed by ethical practice, and real innovation lies not in tools but in intent. In an industry often chasing trends and noise, MetaHive has found a way to be quietly powerful.

A Model for Success

The MetaHive story represents entrepreneurial vision and leadership rooted in humility, experience, and purpose. For emerging AV professionals entering this dynamic field, MetaHive offers an inspiring example: a blueprint for practicing consulting with excellence. MetaHive, under Arun’s technical leadership and Raguvaran’s design vision, exemplifies modern AV consulting at its finest. It’s a vision born from extensive hands-on experience, passion for audiovisual innovation, and deep belief that exceptional consulting begins with exceptional listening—something both founders have always demonstrated.

The journey from cricket fields to control rooms shows how transformative leaders can emerge from unexpected paths. Their success demonstrates that the AV industry rewards those who build their practice on strong values and unwavering quality commitment. The most impactful approach often lies in consistently delivering excellent work with complete integrity.

As the Indian AV industry continues expanding and maturing, MetaHive represents something inspiring: a demonstration of how consulting can be practiced with vision and purpose. In an industry full of opportunities, they’re pioneers, thoughtfully building the future one project, one team member, and one excellent decision at a time.