Inspired by her father’s encouragement and her innate passion for technology, Awasthi embarked on her entrepreneurial journey at a tender age. Beginning her coding lessons at seven, her family’s relocation from India to Florida at eleven proved transformative. The move introduced her to a plethora of opportunities, including participation in competitive math programs and immersion in computer science studies, further fueling her aspirations.
At just 16 years old, Pranjali Awasthi has already made waves in the tech industry as the owner of AI startup Delv.AI. Speaking at a Miami Tech Week event, Awasthi disclosed that she founded her company in January 2022 and has since achieved significant milestones, including raising nearly Rs 3.7 crore in funding. Impressively, the Delv.AI LinkedIn page now showcases a team comprising up to ten talented individuals, underscoring the rapid growth and success of the venture.
Pranjali Awasthi, the young entrepreneur behind Delv.AI, leads a team of about 10 employees, propelling the company to a valuation of Rs 100 crore. Delv.AI’s primary mission is to streamline academic research by assisting scholars in quickly accessing specific information amidst the vast array of online resources.
A key turning point for Awasthi was her participation in an accelerator program, which played a pivotal role in securing funding from prestigious entities like On Deck and Village Global. Currently valued at approximately $12 million (nearly Rs 100 crore), Delv.AI has successfully raised $450,000 (almost Rs 3.7 crore) in funding.
Despite her young age, Awasthi oversees a dynamic team at Delv.AI, taking charge of operations, customer support, and coding duties. She attributes her entrepreneurial spirit to her father, an engineer who instilled a passion for computer science education from a young age. Inspired by her father’s guidance, Awasthi began programming at the age of seven, laying the groundwork for her remarkable journey in the tech industry.
After relocating from India to Florida, Pranjali Awasthi embarked on a remarkable journey in the tech industry. Following two years of studying computer science and mathematics, she secured an internship at the machine learning lab at Florida International University. In this role, Awasthi conducted searches, extracted data, and created literature evaluations, honing her skills in data analysis and research.
In 2020, Awasthi seized a significant opportunity when OpenAI launched the ChatGPT-3 beta version. Recognizing its potential, she envisioned leveraging this technology to simplify the process of extracting and summarizing research data.
Awasthi’s journey took a pivotal turn when she joined the AI startup accelerator in Miami, led by Backend Capital’s Dave Fontenot and Lucy Guo. Her acceptance into the program underscored her unwavering commitment to her entrepreneurial goals, even if it meant temporarily pausing her high school coursework. She highlighted the success of Delv.AI’s beta launch on Product Hunt as a testament to the program’s impact.
Despite her Indian parents’ belief in the importance of education, Awasthi has chosen to prioritize her responsibilities and dedication to her organization over immediate college goals. However, she plans to return to school in the future to acquire essential business expertise to further enhance her entrepreneurial endeavors.
Sources: dnaindia.com