I was born and brought up in Nagpur, the vibrant Orange City. Growing up in a Marwadi family with my mom and dad both managing their businesses, I learned the value of discipline and ambition early on. However, I wasn’t extraordinary in school. For the longest time, I was a mediocre student, especially in Class 11. But everything changed when I set my sights on IIT.
Like many aspirants, I spent countless hours watching videos on “Life at IIT.” The access to state-of-the-art machinery, the brilliance of places like the Center for Innovation (CFI) where students built robots and drones, and the sheer number of startup founders emerging from IITs captivated me. I wanted to be a part of this exclusive club, to experience this place where ideas become reality. IIT has a mythical status in Indian society, and I knew getting in would open doors I couldn’t even imagine.
I joined a coaching class in Nagpur and juggled six hours of self-study daily apart from classes. By the time I entered Class 12, I picked up momentum. My dream was to make it to one of the top three IITs — Madras, Bombay, or Delhi. After clearing JEE Advanced in 2020, I faced a choice: civil engineering at IIT Madras or metallurgy at IIT Bombay. Civil was more familiar to my parents, and for me, the branch mattered less than the institution. My ultimate goal was to build a business, so the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras became my home.
Due to the pandemic, we came to the campus late in December 2021. It was my first time living away from home, but surprisingly, I adjusted quickly. I had yearned to be here, and the energy of the campus, the friends I made, and even the hostel food felt comforting. Socialising was initially a challenge – having grown up as a self-proclaimed nerd, I lacked the easy camaraderie many of my peers had developed in Kota or Mumbai. But over time, friendships formed, and life became vibrant. I am now in the fifth semester of my BTech studies at IIT Madras civil engineering department.
Discovering my passion at IIT Madras
In my first two years, I joined the Entrepreneurship Cell (E-Cell), hosting sessions with inspiring startup founders. These interactions planted the seed of ambition in me. By my third year, I was deeply involved in the Centre for Innovation (CFI), where I worked on building drones and robots. I even created a medicine delivery drone and developed lightweight drone components from scratch — components that are rarely built by Indian companies. Using my civil engineering knowledge, I designed a drone frame five times lighter than what was available in the market.
It was here that I discovered my passion for creating. CFI gave me the tools, guidance, and confidence to believe I could build anything. My professors were incredibly supportive, ensuring we had the freedom to explore beyond academics. IIT didn’t just teach me technical skills; it shaped my personality. I went from being a shy, transactional person to someone who could confidently interact with others.
In February 2023, I participated in the Inter-IIT Tech Competition. It was an entrepreneurship-based event, and my team won a silver medal. Moments like these reinforced my decision to choose IIT Madras.
I have been building startup since 19 years of age. I started by selling AR food software to restaurants that didn’t pan out which was not solving a real problem for restaurant, I then published a consumer app for personal finance which solved the “Where to invest problem” problem for long-term investors but was not capable of making money and then made a claim automation software for health insurance companies to solve the problem of slow health claim bill reimbursement process. This problem was real but the market for it was very small.
Finally, I am now helping banks to recover more loans and we have a paying client and 15 NBFC’s piloting with us.
A day in my final year
Now, in my final year, life has taken a new turn. I’ve completed all my courses and am entirely focused on my startup, which is pre-incubated at Nirmaan, IIT Madras’s entrepreneurial hub. My day starts at 8:30 am with breakfast, and by 9:30 am, I am in the office. I work until lunch, catch up with friends in the evening, hit the gym at 8 pm, and then return to the office, often working until 2 am.
It’s not all work, though. I’ve developed a slight addiction to chess and spend hours strategizing and playing. Sundays are my break days, filled with movies, dinners, or simply enjoying cultural events like Garba and Holi. Life here is a mix of work, play, and endless learning.
Looking ahead
IIT Madras has been the best thing to happen to me. It has given me the tools to dream big and the confidence to pursue those dreams. My startup is my next step, but my vision extends far beyond. I want to build economic engines through businesses, inspired by giants like Tata and HyperVerge. The idea of building enterprises that not only generate wealth but also drive societal progress fuels my vision. IIT Madras has been the best thing to happen to me – it has equipped me with the mindset, skills, and ambition to aim for this big picture. IIT has given me the foundation, the network, and the belief that anything is possible.
This journey, from being an excited teenager watching IIT videos to living the life I dreamed of, has been nothing short of transformative.
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