Forty Under 40: Aayush Thakur

Aayush Thakur never intended to live and work in the United States. In 2010, he attended the University of South Florida seeking a master’s degree in civil engineering with an emphasis on transportation.

Both of his parents, back in Munger, India, ran businesses, and once he completed his degree, he thought he would return home to help run those family businesses.

That didn’t happen.

Thakur took a series of consulting jobs that eventually landed him in Tennessee, and by 2017, he started to transition into the technology side of his industry. In 2018, he decided, along with his wife Deme, to start his own company, FR8relay in Memphis, Tenn. Two years later, the couple relocated their business to Bentonville.

“My parents are hustlers,” he said. “I admired watching how hard they worked. I decided to start my own hustle. … They inspired me. … Moving to Bentonville seemed to be the right fit.”

FR8relay is a logistics company that provides services in the trucking sector. The software that Thakur developed helps trucking companies schedule their trucks and drivers. Pinpoint coordination and efficiency are the goals of the company, he added.

The software also helps trucking companies reduce empty miles, retain drivers and cut shipping times.

The company has a five-person team that works out of its Bentonville office. Thakur said he also owns a technical staffing company in India.

When he’s not running his businesses, Thakur said he enjoys spending time with his daughter Aanya. They do a myriad of science experiments together and enjoy game nights.

“I love family time,” he said. “I love to cook. It’s a great stress reliever.”