EPISODE · Jul 26, 2023 · 35 MIN
Saagar Govil: Reinventing the world of security with AI
from Scouting for Growth · host Sabine VdL
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Saagar Govil, Chairman and CEO of Cemtrex Incorporated. With a tenacious spirit and an unwavering focus, Saagar has led Cemtrex from its initial days of making under $3M in revenues to a thriving powerhouse raking in over $100M, with over 350 employees in 6 offices worldwide. Under Saagar's vision and leadership, Cemtrex is a diversified technology company relentlessly driving innovation across sectors, including smart technology, virtual and augmented realities, advanced electronic systems, industrial solutions, and, most intriguingly, intelligent security systems powered by AI. In this episode, they dive into the world of AI and security and explore Saagar's inspiring journey, mission, and passion for technologies, from IoT to space tech. KEY TAKEAWAYS Cemtrex started out as a small family business, and over the last 10 years, we’ve focused on driving growth. We started out as a small environmental technology company, and we struggled to grow in that industry because market appetite for it only emerged recently. I figured out the best way to grow was through the acquisition of businesses with greater potential, because you get a bigger reward for the hard work you put in. We’re seeing a transformation of the security industry as we adopt and implement AI systems. The unique thing about what’s happening today is that for the first time ever, computers can now see better than humans. What that allows is for companies to use and leverage technologies in ways never before possible to drive better security outcomes. That could be from preventing incidents from happening to responding to them more effectively in real time, and to more accurately apprehend suspects after an event occurs. In the past, CCTV cameras with advanced features were triggered by motion and would trigger events, alarms, etc. The challenge is that if a tree is swaying in the background, it can trigger these alarms, which is frustrating for operators. With the advent of AI, you can track specific objects more accurately and clearly, so that if a certain asset in the frame is moved, then send an alert. That solution is really easy to implement out of the box today. Unfortunately, the world is becoming increasingly dangerous. 90-95% of schools have CCTV, and yet we’re still hearing about mass shootings taking place all the time, and it’s a tragedy. This tells me that a) the basic tools are already installed and b) they are actually not that effective. The ways we can implement AI today to drive better outcomes is apparent in that we can do better with identity management using facial recognition, we can track who should be at school at a certain time, we can send out the right alerts if there is a disgruntled person on the premises or tap into sex offender databases to alert the authorities that they’re on the perimeter. BEST MOMENTS ‘Sometimes it’s not about how hard you work, it’s about where you’re spending your time and your effort.’ ‘AI is definitely going to make businesses and specific assets safer.’ ‘When you have a security co-pilot that can understand what’s going on on the video feeds, you can start to interact with that GPT/co-pilot, you can manage security needs much faster or in real time, that’s where we’re going to see the industry moving in the next couple of years.’ ‘There are ways to build these types of technologies that maximise people’s privacy but also ensure the safety of those that are occupying the space at any given point in time.’ ABOUT THE GUEST Saagar Govil is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cemtrex Inc., a company that owns and operates multiple businesses building industrial solutions and intelligent security systems. Saagar is a serial entrepreneur interested in IoT, Wearables, Robotics, Advanced electronics, and Space Tech. In his leisure time, he enjoys watching the Knicks, golfing, travelling, and sailing. ABOUT CEMTREX Cemtrex, Inc. is a diversified technology company that's driving innovation in a wide range of sectors, including smart technology, virtual and augmented realities, advanced electronic systems, industrial solutions, and intelligent security systems. Cemtrex Inc. owns and operates multiple businesses, including those that build industrial solutions and intelligent security systems. ABOUT THE HOST Sabine VanderLinden is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur and the CEO of Alchemy Crew Ventures. She leads venture-client labs that help Fortune 500 companies adopt and scale cutting-edge technologies from global tech ventures. A builder of accelerators, investor, and co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, Sabine is known for asking the uncomfortable questions—about AI governance, risk, and trust. On Scouting for Growth, she decodes how real growth happens—where capital, collaboration, and courage meet. If this episode sparked your thinking, follow Sabine VanderLinden on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram for more insights. And if you’re interested in sponsoring the podcast, reach out to the team at [email protected]
What this episode covers
What if the next leap in security isn’t about adding more cameras—but about giving them intelligence, context, and judgment? In this episode of Scouting for Growth, Sabine VdL sits down with Saagar Govil, Chairman and CEO of Cemtrex Inc., to explore how AI is transforming security from passive surveillance into proactive protection—and how disciplined leadership turned a sub-$3M family business into a $100M+ global technology company. This is not a conversation about futuristic concepts. It’s about real-world scale, real risks, and real outcomes. Saagar’s journey with Cemtrex is a study in focus and strategic leverage. The company began as a small environmental technology business, long before market demand fully materialised. Growth was slow—not because of effort, but because of timing. The turning point came with a clear-eyed decision: scale through acquisition. By acquiring businesses with stronger market pull, Cemtrex could apply the same hard work to far greater returns. The result is a diversified technology group with more than 350 employees across six global offices. The heart of the episode lies in the AI-driven transformation of the security industry. For the first time, Saagar argues, computers can now see better than humans. That shift changes everything. AI-enabled systems don’t just record incidents—they interpret environments, identify threats, and respond in real time. From preventing incidents before they escalate to supporting faster, more accurate responses after the fact, security moves from reactive to intelligent. Saagar offers a practical example many leaders will recognise. Traditional CCTV systems rely heavily on motion detection, triggering false alarms when trees sway or shadows move. AI changes the equation by enabling object-specific tracking—alerting only when defined assets move or behaviours deviate. These capabilities, once complex and expensive, are now deployable out of the box. The conversation also takes on a harder truth. Despite widespread CCTV adoption—particularly in schools—violent incidents continue to occur. For Saagar, this isn’t a failure of infrastructure, but of effectiveness. AI introduces new possibilities: identity management through facial recognition, perimeter alerts linked to offender databases, and real-time intelligence that can flag anomalies before harm occurs. The goal isn’t surveillance for its own sake—it’s meaningful safety outcomes. Privacy, however, is non-negotiable. Saagar is clear that AI systems must be designed with safeguards that balance protection and personal rights. Intelligent security doesn’t have to mean intrusive security. With the right architecture, organisations can enhance safety while respecting privacy boundaries. Looking ahead, Saagar paints a compelling picture of security co-pilots—AI systems that understand video feeds and allow operators to interact conversationally, accelerating decisions when seconds matter. This is where the industry is heading, and fast. This episode is essential listening for enterprise leaders, city planners, educators, and security professionals navigating a more volatile world. It’s a reminder that technology alone doesn’t create safety—intentional design and leadership do. Because in a world that’s only getting more complex. The real advantage isn’t watching more—it’s understanding better. And that’s exactly what Scouting for Growth is here to uncover.
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Saagar Govil: Reinventing the world of security with AI
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