The Mumbai-headquartered company would hire another 150 people this year, mainly at a newly-established centre in Chennai, its CEO Subrat Mohanty said.

Currently, Hurix Systems' Mumbai centre employs about 100 people while Chennai accounts for another 50.

"The company has recorded 100 per cent growth in the last financial year and we are looking to repeat the performance this year. Chennai would be our growth driver in the coming years," Mohanty said, adding the company evaluated othercities such as Pune, Kolkota and Mumbai, before selecting Chennai for the expansion plans.

"Chennai fared well in terms of attrition rates, attitude of the people and work-culture," he said. The closely held private company, where Kotak Venture Fund holds a significant stake, expects to post a revenue of $5 million at the end of this financial year.

Hurix Systems, Mohanty said, has acquired 10,000 square ft facility in Chennai city, which would house the existing staff and the new recruits. "We are looking for software engineers, creative writers and visual designers," he said.

"The global e-learning market is expected to reach $23.7 billion by 2006. We are preparing ourselves towards becoming a major player in this segment," Mohanty said.

The company, which has offices in Chicago and San Francisco, would also open offices in London and in the West Coast of US in the short-term, he said.