‘Everyone leaves a footprint’: How I used my rough upbringing to build a career tracking criminals

Quantexa founder Vishal Marria speaks to Andy Martin about the moment he realised big data was the key to catching money launderers, fraudsters and sex traffickers

‘I learned early on to spot patterns of behaviour’ (Quantexa)

Young Vishal Marria went to “the roughest school in south London”. He was surrounded by a lot of knife-wielding delinquents and criminals in the making. But he always turned up early at school. And he always did his homework. And he never got individual detention either. He still has the certificates at home to prove it. He’s got stacks of GCSEs and A-levels.

Amazingly, he managed to keep out of harm’s way. How? “It’s all a question of anticipating trouble before it hits you. You have to spot patterns of behaviour. I learned that early on.” Now, aged 37, as CEO and co-founder of Quantexa, he has made a career out of spotting patterns of behaviour – or misbehaviour – around the world.

His father came by boat from India in 1961 and landed in England with only one shilling in his pocket, but worked 20-hour days to acquire a number of cash-and-carry shops across London. “While other kids went home from school,” says Marria, “I went to the cash-and-carry.” He started work aged six or seven, stacking shelves and talking to customers.