Vijayaraghavan Venugopal
Co-Founder. Marathoner. Mentor. Builder
From being a professional to co-founder of a nutrition brand, life has been a journey of interesting moments. Not fully by design but the road was well taken.
About me
A few things that define me
I am Vijayaraghavan, also called Vijay aka Vira to many — co-founder of Fast&Up, a sports nutrition brand I was part of building from the ground up and now sell in more than 35 countries. This journey still continues and there are more horizons waiting! I have had my moorings in the pharmaceutical world with stints in some of the leading Indian pharmaceutical companies.
Sports is a passion, and since 2013, I have taken to running. I have run 13 marathons under 3 hours, including sub-3 finishes at all six original World Marathon Majors — Boston, Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York. ( The first Indian to do so) I am a masters athlete, which means I compete in the 40+ age category, and I take that seriously.
A couple of years back, born out of the interest to give back some of my learnings in the area of running, I started coaching a few people — from first-timers to competitive athletes. I am a VDOT-certified coach and I care deeply about helping people run smarter, not just harder.
Outside of work and running, I'm a husband and father of two daughters. That's the part that keeps everything else in perspective.
What I do
Three things I spend my time on
Fast&Up
I founded Fast&Up in 2015 with a simple idea: sports nutrition that actually works, made with clean ingredients, and accessible to athletes everywhere. Today we're in 30+ countries, with a full range of products trusted by professional athletes and weekend warriors alike. I lead the company as CEO — strategy, product, culture, growth.
fastandup.inSports Unlimited
Coaching is personal to me. I started Sports Unlimited because I wanted to share what I've learned from years of competitive running — the training science, the mental side, the recovery, the race-day execution. I'm a VDOT-certified coach and I work with runners one-on-one and in small groups. If you want to run your first marathon or break a personal best, let's talk.
Speaking & Partnerships
I speak on entrepreneurship, building a brand in a competitive global market, the discipline of endurance sport, and what running has taught me about business and life. I'm open to brand partnerships that align with sport, health, and performance. If you have something in mind, reach out.
13+ sub-3 marathons. All six World Marathon Majors.
Currently exploring
What's on my mind right now
Expanding Fast&Up into new markets
We're pushing deeper into Southeast Asia and the Middle East. New markets, new partnerships, new challenges.
Training for the next major
Always in a training block. Right now building base mileage and working on my lactate threshold ahead of the next race.
The intersection of nutrition and performance
I'm fascinated by the science of how what you eat affects how you perform — not just in sport but in work and life. Reading, experimenting, learning.
Get in touch
Let's talk
Whether you're interested in coaching, a brand partnership, a speaking engagement, or just want to connect — I'd love to hear from you.