Global Indianstory EntrepreneurMeet Rajat Bhageria, serial entrepreneur and budding VC

Meet Rajat Bhageria, serial entrepreneur and budding VC

Compiled by: Darshana Ramdev

(July 06, 2023) At 26, Rajat Bhageria is already well on his way to establishing himself as a socially-conscious serial entrepreneur and an astute investor. Born in India Rajat has lived in four countries, speaks four languages and works, according to his LinkedIn bio, “to build lasting 100-year businesses around 10x solutions to the world’s most pressing problems, while simultaneously empowering fellow entrepreneurs to do the same.” Currently, he heads Chef Robotics a venture that landed him in the Forbes USA 30 Under 30 list and is the Founder and Managing Partner at Prototype Capital, a distributed $5MM fund investing in 10x comanies around the world. He’s also a prolific author, writing his first book soon after high school – What High School Didn’t Teach me: A Recent Graduate’s Perspective on High Schools are Killing Creativity. His columns have also appeared in TechCrunch, Forbes and HuffPost.

The first attempt at entrepreneurship

In 2013, Rajat Bhageria founded what he calls his “first ever real startup.” CafeMocha was a platform for writers to share their creative work. He was still in high school then, preparing for university. Rajat and his friends had spent their weekend studying for the SATs, memorising terms and taking mock exams. It was something they had to do, certainly not something they enjoyed. It got Rajat thinking: “Schools are truly killing creativity. High School basically shuns them from taking risks and rather teaches them to follow a set formula.” That made people afraid of their own creative spirit and the few who still expressed it, at least as writers, poets, essayists and researchers, had limited means to share their work.

As a writer himself, he felt the pinch. Blogging was definitely a way but came with a one-in-a-million chance of getting noticed. Tumblr was not academic whatsoever. He decided to create CafeMocha, the “only social-network that is truly aimed at high school students.” What LinkedIn is to job seekers, Flickr to photographers and Spotify and Soundcloud to musicians, CafeMocha was to budding teen writers. In just a month after it was founded, the platform had about 30,000 page views and hundreds of unique visitors. “I learned then that one person really can make a difference,” he explained.

Life at PennState

The Global Indian headed to Pennsylvania State University as an undergraduate and although he didn’t know then, met two people with whom he would go on to collaborate – Ben Sandler and Joe Cappadona. “I can personally say with a lot of certainty that my classes were by no means worth 60k/year,” he wrote, in Huff Post. “But I can also say that the act of simply being in college taught me more than any class ever has.” When he first arrived, he was struck with the idea that hundreds of young people had come before him and hundreds more would follow. How could he stand out? Could he leave a mark? It was the start of an “existential crisis” in which he discovered “the real power of college: it forces you to find yourself and ask yourself what you want to accomplish not only in the next four years but also in life.”

A weekend hackathon with Sandler and Cappadona resulted in the team building a prototype to help the visually-impaired recognise objects. They chose the non-invasive method, joining giants like IBM and Apple in those early days of wearable technologies. Rajat Bhageria joined, both fellow computer science undergrads and together, they built the prototype in a weekend hackathon. Their model was a hit and even landed them on the cover of UPenn newspaper.

Challenges

“I had no background building an intuitive product,” he writes, in Forbes. And commercialising the product, it turned out, was another story entirely. First, they had to test the market: Was their product worth the effort in the first place? Is it something that the blind actually needed? The team cold-emailed organisations in and around Philadelphia. They received only two responses, out of which only one turned into a viable lead.

It meant reaching out to a wide circle of people, from CEOs to investors to NGOs. “I was able to learn from venture capitalists who had funded Fortune 500 companies, founders who had IPOed their companies, and CEOs leading massive 500+ person companies,” he wrote.

It wasn’t so much about the advice that he received but the insight it gave him into the minds of extremely successful people. How did they grow? What did they prioritise?

In 2018, having learned the many struggles of entrepreneurship, Rajat Bhageria decided he wanted to empower others like himself. He went on to found Prototype Capital, which is in existence still. According to the company website, Prototype Capital “believes in getting down in the trenches and being there right alongside the most ambitious founders in the world as together, we fund and found lasting 100-year businesses around products that change the status quo by 10x.”

Chef Robotics

From wearable technology, Rajat moved on to Robotics and AI. It was a timely start- months before the pandemic struck. This time, he addressed assembly line cooks, “an extremely dull and dangerous job,” as the website describes it, “leading to massive turnover rates as people try unsuccessfully to find more fulfilling work.” Food companies remained woefully understaffed, in some cases by up to 25 percent.

Rajat’s solution: Put robots in assembly lines instead. The idea was also inspire the next generation of founders, engineers and investors to design intelligent robots.

You can follow Rajat’s work on his website

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EE 30 Under 30 Ajay Sawant: The marine conservationist saving our oceans

(November 23, 2024) Growing up near the sea in Mumbai, Ajay Sawant spent hours collecting shells as a child. He was in love with the ocean, and always wanted to give back to it. But little did that young boy know that years later, he would be recognised by the North American Association of Environmental Education (NAAEE) as one of their EE 30 Under 30 honourees for his dedication to educating coastal communities on the importance of marine conservation and climate resilience. "I was stunned because such recognitions keep you motivated and reaffirm that you are on the right path," Ajay tells Global Indian. He is among the 30 passionate and forward-thinking leaders from 19 countries committed to meaningful change. "It was a chance for me to reflect on my journey as a coastal kid who loved collecting shells and then aspiring to become a marine conservationist. It also makes me realise that every small step grows into something impactful. It also reinforces that my commitment to advocating for the ocean is equally important," adds Ajay, who is excited to connect with people who are creating an impact. This community is a valuable resource and I am excited about exchanging

ople who are creating an impact. This community is a valuable resource and I am excited about exchanging ideas, collaborating, and creating an impact.

[caption id="attachment_40542" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Ajay Sawant at Our Ocean Conference[/caption]

The 23-year-old, who is pursuing his bachelors in veterinary medicine, adds that such recognition also brings a sense of responsibility as there is no going back. "For me, it has always been a personal story as I have a special connection with the ocean."

Giving back to the ocean

Growing up near the Arabian Sea in Mumbai, Ajay Sawant loved spending hours on the beach and would often see driftwood, sea shells, and corals, the "treasures that the ocean brought with it." But over the years, he began noticing that the sea brought different gifts - "plastic bottles, tangled nets, and foreign things that didn't exist on the beach." That was Ajay's big moment when he realised that the ocean that he loved was under threat and he needed to do something about it. "My journey that began with collecting seashells transitioned to collecting plastic and soon became a larger cause which propelled me into becoming a marine conservationist."

However, he was keen to combine activism with art. Even as a child, art held a special place for him so when he saw plastic on the beaches, he wanted to create awareness through art. "Picking up plastic and converting it into art was my way of rebellion against marine plastic. Ocean gave me a lot and I wanted to give back to it, even if it meant taking small steps." He chose the path of artivism, using art for activism. "Art is powerful as it transcends languages and directly connects with emotions." Being a shy kid himself, he found art as the perfect means to express himself. "For many youngsters, activism can feel intimidating or inaccessible as not everyone is an extrovert. So I felt combining art with activism was a better way."

[caption id="attachment_40543" align="aligncenter" width="536"] Ajay Sawant[/caption]

Blending art and activism for ocean conservation

One balmy morning Ajay, who was creating art from plastic collected on the beach, met a person who introduced him to the Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest. "I was intrigued and did some research. It's an organisation that educates and engages young people in ocean conservation through the arts." Despite trying for three years, he couldn't make it to the contest but he did end up earning the post of a young advisory council who would help grantees as mentors. "It was a turning point for me that changed the trajectory of my marine conservation journey."

His early days at the program introduced him to a pool of young people from across the world, all dedicated to mentoring the grantees funded by Bow Seat. He recalls a 16-year-old fellow from Mexico who creates sustainable plastic from seaweed, which he found inspiring. "This motivated me to do something for the ocean. Especially in a country like India, we have many young climate activists but not many ocean advocates. My journey was lonely but becoming a part of an organisation helped me connect with like-minded people who were particularly interested in working towards the ocean. Especially, since Bow Seat works in artivism, it was a perfect match for me," he adds.

Having found his calling in artivism, Ajay founded Generation Artivism in 2022 - a platform empowering young people to channel their environmental concerns through art. "I wanted youngsters to use art to convey complex issues like climate change, coral degradation, plastic pollution, or any other cause," says Ajay, who conducted workshops where participants created thought-provoking art installations inspired by beach waves. "Ocean pollution is a crisis that we can solve and art provides a powerful way for them to express themselves."

Generation Artivism works closely with Bow Seat, one of the largest youth-led creative arts programs for the environment. In the last two years, they have impacted nearly 5000 people through intergenerational art exchange and cross-art exchange. "It helps shift perspective as water or ocean means different to different people. We use such art exhibits to create awareness without being too preachy," says Ajay, who has conducted art exhibits in parts of India and Bali in Indonesia. "Our program is designed for critical thinking and problem-solving" says Ajay, who is also the President of Think Ocean Society.

[caption id="attachment_40544" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Ajay at High Seas Artivism Activity[/caption]

Inspiring youth to protect marine ecosystems

Think Ocean Society is a youth-led nonprofit based in Boston, which is currently active in five countries - India, the US, Cameroon, Uganda, and Nigeria - and works on all aspects of ocean conservation, ocean literacy as well as direct intervention. "We empower local people to take action for themselves by collaborating with regional organisations." In Cameroon, they have planted 5000 mangroves bringing a positive impact on biodiversity and return of fish species that had almost become extinct. "We involve young kids or marginalised women in plantation and restoration of mangroves. In India, we run a podcast on sustainability," reveals Ajay.

Promoting ocean literacy has been a priority for Ajay Sawant, who in 2022 began developing the Youth Action Ocean Toolkit. This initiative aims to educate young people about marine protected areas and inspire them to get involved in safeguarding these crucial ecosystems. The toolkit aligns with the 30 by 30 goal—also known as Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework—a global effort to protect 30 percent of the planet's land and ocean by 2030 to ensure a sustainable future for life on Earth.

Funded by National Geographic through their $75,000 youth program, the toolkit showcases the impact of conservation on marine life worldwide. Ajay shares an example from California, where efforts revived a struggling marine ecosystem. "Fish were nearly extinct," he says. "Now, a decade later, fishermen scuba dive for sustainable livelihoods. It shows how marine ecosystems can recover with proper care."

Highlighting the role the local communities can play as the protector of their waters, Ajay says, "In Hawaii, community-based fishing areas help protect marine life. When fish populations decline, the community turns to a traditional practice called kapu, which limits how much fish can be harvested. Since reintroducing kapu, fish stocks have grown, helping the local community sustain their livelihoods."

Looking forward to a positive change

The marine conservationist believes that his generation is positively working towards fighting climate change. However, he feels the ocean is largely ignored. "Even SDG 14 - Life Below Water is the most underrated and underfunded of the SDGs. Moreover, land-based systems to combat climate change aren't working anymore. In 2023, trees and land absorbed almost no carbon dioxide. It is shocking as we have been working on land-based systems so much but it was the ocean that has been absorbing about 30 percent of the carbon dioxide released in the atmosphere. It is the best nature-based solution and we need to divert our attention towards it."

Sharing his plans, the young marine conservationist, who has till now reached 11,200 people through webinars, seminars, and workshops, reveals that he wants to empower young people to take action for their communities rather than indulging in direct intervention. "With Generation Artivism, I want to help young people find their voice in advocacy," says Ajay, who loves reading books and making cartoons. Ajay is hopeful about the future of marine conservation in India. "Change is happening but needs to be faster," he signs off.

Follow Ajay Sawant on LinkedIn

Zooming past podiums: Indian-American Yuven Sundaramoorthy is racing’s new rising star

(August 5, 2023) Growing up, he loved watching racing sports on his TV. Recognising his love for the tracks, his father would take him to go karting parks and in 2017, Yuven Sundaramoorthy made a shift from karts to cars. While it has just been six years since then, 20-year-old Indian American racer has been making waves in the world of racing cars. And now, embarking on his journey towards the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the young racer has inked a deal with Abel Motorsports, providing him with a golden opportunity to experience the INDY NXT by Firestone action while steering the No. 57 Dallara IL-15. The racer is all set to team up with Abel Motorsports for three INDY NXT events in the upcoming calendar. "I’m really excited to get the call from Abel Motorsports to drive the No. 57 Dallara in the INDY NXT by Firestone Championship. The team has really been coming on strong lately and showing that they have the pace to compete, so for me, this really gives me an opportunity to show what I can do in this series," the Global Indian said during a recent press conference. Inspired to dream Born in 2003, to

am has really been coming on strong lately and showing that they have the pace to compete, so for me, this really gives me an opportunity to show what I can do in this series," the Global Indian said during a recent press conference.

Inspired to dream

Born in 2003, to a young Indian-American couple in Wisconsin, Yuven was quite an enthusiastic child, who loved to be more outdoors than indoors. His family relocated to China and resided there for six years before returning to the United States, settling in upstate New York. When he was back in the US, the young racer would visit the go-karting parks, but shared that he didn't venture full-time into the sport until his teens. "I actually started fairly late compared to most racers my age. I didn't start racing cars until I was about 13 years old - which is still young, but many racers start before that age,” said the young racer.

However, the road wasn't an easy one. His parents had to walk the extra mile to support this young racer pursue his passion. "My dad had to make several sacrifices to get me on the tracks. He was in a corporate job, and to support me he quit his job. He would take me to various races and keep up with my schedule - especially when I was too young to go anywhere by myself. He had been my pillar of strength throughout my journey. My mother is still working hard to keep the finances going, supporting not just me but my entire family. I am pretty sure that I wouldn't be where I am today without my parents supporting and nurturing my dreams," the racer said during a recent interview.

But if you were thinking that racing is the only sport this champion excelled at, you couldn't be more wrong. Growing up, Yuven was a part of several teams at his school, and wouldn't shy away from taking part in various sports competitions during any event. Despite having a very busy schedule, the racer still finds time to indulge in other sports he loves. "When I am not on the racing track, I am always snowboarding. In fact, I am a snowboarding instructor, and love being up on the mountains," Yuven shared.

Going beyond his dreams

After shifting karts to cars in 2017, the young racer was quickly picked up by Pabst Racing. His real breakthrough, however, came in 2021, when he was moved up to compete at the Indy Pro 2000 Championship with Pabst Racing. In that season, the racer had three podiums and end up finishing 10th in the standings. Speaking about this change from karting to racing cars, he said, "The car that I am driving now is about three times heavier than what I am used to. I am very thrilled though, and hoping to make some progress soon enough. Communicating with my pit crew and driving instructor hasn't really been different from what I used to do. But I am having so much fun here. I am used to not being able to see more than two corners on the track, so it’s really great to be able to see the whole track from one spot."

Currently competing at the ongoing 2023 USF Pro 2000 Championship with Exclusive Autosport and in the 2023 Indy NXT with Abel Motorsports, the racer is looking to broaden his horizon beyond his dreams. " I know the learning curve is going to be there switching to a bigger car with more power, but I think having the teammates I do with me at Abel Motorsports will help shorten that curve. I can’t thank S Team Motorsports LLC, One Motorsports Management, and OMP enough for their help and partnership in making this happen," he recently said after finishing the podium at Indianapolis.

While many in his place would have already set huge future goals for themselves, this humble champion believes in building his empire one stone at a time. Working on getting the techniques correct, the racer is focussed on setting short-term milestones to ensure his future victories. "My aim, right now, is to just work on my skills and improve. I want to explore my opportunities. I am very young in this career and have some room to move and various ways to guide my journey. So, I really want to see where I stack up," the racer explained.

Follow Yuven Sundaramoorthy on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and his website

Reading Time: 6 mins

Tanya Elizabeth Ken: Helping underprivileged kids reach their ‘lakshya’ through equal education

(July 27, 2022) At her home in Chennai, a young Tanya Elizabeth Ken was perplexed seeing a 16-year-old girl clean her house. Upon enquiring, she was informed that the teenager had to fend for her family, at an age when she should have been studying. This was her first encounter with "inequality in education." "She loved playing Sudoku, and had the aptitude, but education eluded her because she had to provide for her family. That's when my parents stepped in and started teaching her to read and speak in English," says Ken, who learnt at an early age that anyone has the power to make a change. The changemaker did so by launching LakshyaShala at the age of 14 to help underserved kids to have a fair chance at studying. Having created a difference in the lives of 700 underprivileged students so far by helping them step out of poverty, Tanya is handholding them towards a profession of their choice. It began with her struggle in finding a path to a career in cybersecurity. "Our education system is not equipped enough to help us reach our goals, even for students like me who are privileged enough. If this is the

lp us reach our goals, even for students like me who are privileged enough. If this is the plight of students in top schools, what about the students in underserved communities? That made me start LakshyShala to help connect the dots and lead them to their goals," Tanya tells Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_19917" align="aligncenter" width="408"] Tanya Elizabeth Ken is the founder of LakshyaShala.[/caption]

Personal struggle leads to a mission

The passion for video games led the Chennai-raised towards a path that's set at the intersection of technology and education. Her love for tech began in grade four when she decided to become a video game developer. "I wanted to code my own video game, and even learnt C++ (a programming language)," smiles the 20-year-old. Her interest in technology translated into a mission when she was in grade eight with her sudden curiosity in cybersecurity. "My dad's an HR manager and my mom is a web designer, and they couldn't help me with the field of cybersecurity. Even school wasn't able to guide me properly. That's when it dawned upon me that despite being a part of the privileged society, I had trouble figuring out my way. How are students in underserved communities treading this path?" This question kept gnawing at her consciousness, and it was at Technovation Challenge in the US in 2017 that the changemaker came up with a possible solution.

"I realised it was a deeply-rooted problem that affected students across the globe, so we decided to match a student with an alumnus who has actualised the aspiration, and can handhold the student in his/her journey towards realising this dream. This gave birth to LakshyaShala in 2017 with the aim of equality in education," says the Iowa State University student.

On her return to Chennai, the changemaker interacted with the students of a government school in Tirusulam and found that most were only exposed to a few professions. "They idolised police officers and teachers and had no aspiration to see beyond these professions. It was unfair that the education system wasn't giving them exposure. Making a career in arts like music was unheard of. I asked myself how we can break the cycle of poverty if they are not getting an equal chance in education," says Tanya who registered the edtech firm LakshyaShala with the seed money she won at the Technovation Challenge. This propelled her to engage with 2 NGOs - The New LEED Trust in Perungudi and Paadhai Home in Valasvaravakam - and a government school in Trisulam, wherein LakshyaShala developed a unified component model that "creates an ecosystem for actionable solutions that cover 11 out of 17 UN SDGs."

Edtech firm with a difference

While the Baton app, which won the first position at the Technovation Challenge in 2019, is a masterstroke for social impact - passing on the incomplete social initiatives from one social worker to another after their term expires, without halting the progress of the project, the DNI Funnel helps to recruit talent from the underserved communities. "We realised that all stakeholders - social workers, corporates, government, and NGOs - need to come together to solve the problem, and not work as separate entities," says the changemaker.

The Technovation Challenge 2020 planted the seeds of the goal-shadowing app, which helps an underprivileged kid goal-shadow the tasks done by a privileged child. "The app then matches them with a mentor, and both of them can get the same exposure as each other," adds Tanya who is happy with the impact that LakshyaShala has made in the last few years. "Stella and Ishwarya, children in a home run by an NGO called Paadhai in Chennai, were the finalists in Technovation Challenge which help them win $12000, a sum they are now using for their education. LakshyaShala helped both of them realise their interest in the STEM field, and I cannot be happier," beams Tanya.

[caption id="attachment_19927" align="aligncenter" width="488"] Tanya with the team that I mentored for the Technovation Challenge in 2019.[/caption]

The patchy road

Making LakshyaShala a success was a journey full of trials and tribulations. The initial skepticism of parents was a hindrance that LakshyaShala had to deal with. "We had to be very patient. Since everything was new for the kids - from learning to use the computers to speaking in English, we had to work on creating a safe environment for them to learn. Helping them understand that making mistakes is a part of the journey," adds the girl who is driven to learn more about AI and Machine Learning to solve social-related issues. A computer science undergrad in the US, Tanya found it initially difficult to settle in their education system. "In India, it's a very theory-based system but there they focus on practical and application. Also, since I home-schooled in my Class 11 and 12 to focus on LakshyaShala, it was hard to get back to a structured environment and to not study at my pace," smiles the changemaker who is currently in Chennai after wrapping up her first-year exams.

She is now focused on building the team, funding, networking, and creating proper technology for the key modules. "I now want to expand LakshyaShala to the US, of course, with some tweaks," says the girl who loves skateboarding, cycling, and mountain climbing. The young changemaker calls "winning by failure" her biggest lesson in the journey. "I have learnt that failures are never a setback. There is always another way to solve it."

Follow Tanya Elizabeth Ken on Linkedin and Twitter

Reading Time: 5 min

Bishal Dutta: Unearthing Indian American experiences and ghostly tales

(Aug 13, 2023) Indian-origin filmmaker Bishal Dutta boasts an impressive creative repertoire spanning diverse mediums, including short films, digital series, music videos, and broadcast commercials. His short film 'Life in Colour' gained recognition as an official selection at the American Pavilion’s Emerging Filmmaker Showcase during the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. With his cinematic accomplishments celebrated at nearly two dozen international film festivals - including esteemed events in Italy, Austria, and France, Bishal has secured six Best Director awards for his proficiency in both narrative and documentary filmmaking. Adding another milestone to his career, the US-based filmmaker marked his debut feature film 'It Lives Inside' with a world premiere at SXSW 2023, receiving rave reviews and an audience award. The horror movie, set to hit theatres in September, has ignited intrigue with its trailer. In an interview, Bishal shared, "Horror is the most expressive of all the genres." [caption id="attachment_32523" align="aligncenter" width="566"] Bishal Dutta[/caption] As both the director and writer of the film, he draws inspiration from a blend of sources. The twenty-six-year-old has included elements of Indian folklore, a ghost story that he heard from his grandfather, and his own Indian American background, to shape the film's thematic essence. Making an Indian

inspiration from a blend of sources. The twenty-six-year-old has included elements of Indian folklore, a ghost story that he heard from his grandfather, and his own Indian American background, to shape the film's thematic essence.

Making an Indian horror film in America

'It Lives Inside' is not solely about ghosts but also a reflection of the Indian American experience. The narrative revolves around Sam, a young girl of Indian American descent, navigating the challenge of harmonising her cultural identity with the dynamics of her peers. The plot takes a darker turn when her close friend, Tamira, falls under the sway of a Pishach (a mythological demonic spirit). "Making this movie was a surreal experience. I was fortunate to have incredible collaborators and partners throughout the entire process," the Global Indian revealed in an interview.

The filmmaker artfully incorporates elements of his upbringing and cultural heritage, including the unique superstitions prevalent in Indian society, into his debut feature. Through the horror genre's prowess, he makes his film a medium to establish cultural connections while highlighting the distinctive aspects that set cultures apart.

Among the film’s cast are actors such as Megan Suri from 'Never Have I Ever,' Betty Gabriel, known for her breakout role in 'Get Out,' and Indian Canadian actress Neeru Bajwa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5xUbuYHdi8

Inspired by his grandpa’s ghost story

In interviews, Bishal has credited the story idea to his grandfather, who used to narrate stories to him when he was a child. Many scenes of 'It Lives Inside' stem from his favourite ghost story, which was based on his grandfather's actual experiences. The tale involved encountering a young girl who carried a jar and appeared to converse with an unseen presence in it. Bishal reminisces, "This story was a favourite of mine growing up.”

The jar and other elements like eerie noises, the sound of a galloping horse, and other unsettling occurrences in the darkness of the night have all found a place in Bishal’s cinematic narrative.

As a filmmaker, he has used the concept of being influenced by an evil spirit to metaphorically depict inner turmoil. The Pishach embodies the inner conflict of Indian-origin teenagers growing up abroad. "They feel torn between their Indian culture and their new life in America," Bishal remarks.

The spirit symbolizes a hidden aspect of the protagonist Sam's identity that she conceals, mirroring her apprehension that being from a different culture might hinder her acceptance.

[caption id="attachment_32526" align="aligncenter" width="511"] Poster of 'It Lives Inside'[/caption]

Love for horror

“After I moved to North America from India at the age of four, a lot of my social education came from watching American horror films,” the filmmaker shared.

He watched his first horror movie ‘Terminator 1’ as a five-year-old. In it, I saw a guy’s heart getting ripped out in the first two minutes. That really stayed with me.” Later movies like ‘Alien’, ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’, ‘Poltergeist’ and ‘The Conjuring’ built his appetite for horror movies in his growing-up years.

Now as a horror filmmaker himself, Dutta even managed to scare his parents with his own film. “They watched the whole thing and now my dad doesn't go in the basement anymore when it's too dark. But it's a dual experience because while they're scared, this film in so many ways is so personal, and I think it meant a lot to them to see these moments that are really from our life.” Bishal shared adding, "It Lives Inside’ is a story about what happens when you change who you are to fit in. It makes you think while also giving you chills.”

The filmmaker holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film and Media Studies from the University of California, Berkley.

Follow Bishal Dutta on Instagram

Reading Time: 5 mins

How 19-year-old Josh Roy’s AI-implemented solution for tackling Cassava Mosaic Disease is winning international praise

(September 13, 2024) When 19-year-old Josh Roy presented his AI-implemented solution for the genetic modification of whiteflies, at the 2024 TKS Focus Hackathon, it emerged as the global winner, beating over 400 competitors from 300 cities and 80 teams. His solution aims to combat the devastating impact of Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) on cassava plants, an essential food staple in the tropics, and address food insecurity. This groundbreaking project, validated by leaders such as the Global Head of Data Science at GSK, was showcased at London Tech Week 2024, which attracted over 45,000 attendees. It also earned Josh a scholarship to the prestigious Villars Institute's inaugural ecopreneurship program. Josh is in active discussions with researchers, NGOs, and technology companies to bring his solution to market and positively impact millions of lives. This November, the US-based youngster would be flying to West Africa to receive the prestigious Global Entrepreneurs Award. “I am due to collect the award in-person in the world's first entrepreneurship village in Akure, Nigeria, where the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu and billionaire Mrs. Folorunso Alakija would be present as guests of honour,” he tells Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_39224" align="aligncenter" width="508"] Josh

would be present as guests of honour,” he tells Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_39224" align="aligncenter" width="508"] Josh Roy at the London Tech Week[/caption]

There’s more to Josh’s personality. A passionate musician and host of The CapitalTycoon Podcast, where he engages with successful innovators, he was also the first student in the UK to complete a music GCSE in tabla. 'Tabla is one of the main focuses in my life alongside entrepreneurship. If you think about it, the two go hand in hand, as both require the ability to think creatively,' he remarks.

Dabbling in AI-powered innovation, music and podcasting

The British-born innovator describes himself as ‘a design engineer at the intersection of business, tech, and product design’ and is passionate about creating solutions to make the world a better place. As the developer of AI-powered innovations, he also identifies as an AI ethicist and is working on an AI-powered tabla tutor prototype designed to train students at all levels, aiming to revolutionize tabla education.

When asked how he balances his academics, music and other interests he smiles, “I don't know if I balance it well, and I'm not sure I'm at the stage to offer advice on how to find balance in my work. As my mentor John Spence told me, "If you genuinely enjoy and are obsessed with what you're working on, that's what you should be doing." I believe it's this sense of enjoyment I get from these projects that keeps them from feeling tedious or time-consuming."

Josh looks at each aspect of his life as complementary rather than separate. For instance, he looks at his podcast as an avenue to explore new ideas while engaging with successful innovators who provide insights that often benefit in his own entrepreneurial ventures.

The Indian-origin innovator who was born and brought up in the UK, received training in Tabla by Kuljit Bhamra MBE. “My passion for the tabla offers a creative outlet that recharges me mentally, which is essential when juggling high-pressure projects,” he remarks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xxT7frsjtE

He has chosen an alternative education path through The Knowledge Society (TKS), where learning is deeply integrated with hands-on, real-world problem solving. “This flexible approach has allowed me to dedicate time to all my passions,” he mentions.

Josh got the opportunity to enroll in the two-year TKS programme after bagging the Unicorn Scholarship, which is only awarded to 20 students annually. He ranked in the top 0.06% of the 31,298 students who applied in the most recent batch. Its acceptance rate is far lower than that of the most prestigious universities in the world.

Combatting Cassava Mosaic Disease to address food insecurity

It all started with an upbringing that focused on seva. Even before he turned 10, Josh started volunteering with food banks and distributing meals to underprivileged elderly people. This sparked his commitment to tackling food insecurity. While he was still in school, the opportunities to attend tech conferences opened his eyes to technology’s potential. Later, a few Hackathon victories fuelled his desire to work on the problem of food insecurity all the more, and he came up with the AI-optimized tool for the genetic modification of whiteflies - engineered to combat the devastating impact of Cassava Mosaic Disease that has potential to benefit 35 million Nigerians.

Cassava is a calorie-rich vegetable and the third-largest source of carbohydrates in food in the tropics, after rice and maize, making it an important staple. In African Cassava Mosaic Virus is a plant virus that infects cassava plants, causing mosaic symptoms on leaves and leading to significant yield losses in regions where cassava is a major food source. It is primarily transmitted through infected cassava stem cuttings and by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. When Josh came to know how millions of people in Nigeria suffer from food insecurity due to the Cassava Mosaic Disease, the AI enthusiast got drawn to solve a solution to the problem, and came up with an AI-driven gene editing solution for the genetic modification of whiteflies that cause the Cassava Mosaic Disease.

[caption id="attachment_39225" align="aligncenter" width="512"] Josh during the Villars Institute's mentorship programme[/caption]

Later, the week-long mentorship he received from ecopreneurs and scientists — pioneers in their respective fields — as part of his scholarship to the prestigious Villars Institute broadened his horizons. “With guidance from experts like Sofia de Meyer and Sofia Khwaja-Horekens, I've refined my food insecurity project, focusing on key stakeholders. Meeting people like the chief economist of Mars Inc. Bruno Roche and my mentor Jini Sebakunzi was an honour, and the experience deepened my connection with nature, and problems in its realm,” he says.

Work in progress

“The next steps involve collaborating with agricultural institutions in Nigeria and across Africa to conduct field trials of the modified whiteflies. This will help demonstrate the tool's effectiveness in real-world conditions. We are also working on partnerships with government bodies and NGOs to create awareness and ensure smooth adoption of this innovation. Once proven in field tests, scaling the technology will involve aligning with policymakers, farmers, and supply chain partners to ensure it reaches the 35 million Nigerians who stand to benefit,” tells Josh.

For the youngster, the goal is to not only combat CMD but to create a sustainable model that can be replicated across different regions suffering from crop diseases, ensuring long-term food security.

“My Father was my support for me from the beginning of my unconventional path and encouraged me going against cultural expectations by working to solve humanity's biggest problems through entrepreneurship or should I say, ecopreneurship,” he remarks.

Other projects

Josh has worked on other AI projects like Project Dynamo while pursuing a consulting challenge with The Knowledge Society (TKS). “It's an initiative I launched to train NGO students in climate change problem-solving and systems thinking, partnering with SOS Children's Villages, India. This project also leveraged AI to translate educational content into regional languages, making it more accessible across diverse communities,” he informs.

Additionally, he has worked alongside Google for another TKS Challenge in AI-driven initiatives, for addressing problems like information overload that its employees face.

[caption id="attachment_39227" align="aligncenter" width="532"] Josh Roy[/caption]

Persistent in seeking mentorship

Josh Roy understands the importance of quality mentorship and has actively pursued it from business leaders.

Determined to reach out to John Spence, the Chairman of Karma Group Global, the youngster tried over 100 email variations until he successfully connected with Spence. “I was inspired by the experience he created at Karma so I was determined to get his mentorship for entrepreneurship. I tried 100 different variations of emails with trial and error as it was hard to find, until his personal hotmail email worked when I found it through a chrome extension,” he says.

This persistence led to a year and a half of valuable email exchanges, culminating in a phone call. “Since then, Spence has been reading my monthly newsletter where I update him and my other mentors on my personal growth. I consider him and his philosophies an influence in my projects and business endeavours. Persistence won at the end,” remarks Josh who loves speaking opportunities.

In addition to Spence, Josh has built strong relationships with other mentors like Kabir Mathur CEO and co-founder, Leen and Manoj Thacker, entrepreneur, and ambassador of Innovaud Swiss. He connected with Kabir during a family trip to Egypt and with Manoj through a friend's introduction. “Both mentors have been instrumental in guiding my journey, with Kabir even nominating me for The Diana Award and supporting my case for an O-1 visa in the US,” he says. Josh’s persistence to seek guidance have earned him mentorships that continue to shape his entrepreneurial path.

In the shoes of a mentor

One of the youngster’s moments of pride has been getting into the shoes of a mentor of 300 youngsters at Toronto in AI and gene editing for 1517 Fund's annual summit.

“I got the opportunity to mentor alongside a panel of 15 other mentors consisting of Zach Laberge (18-year-old founder of Frenter, who raised over three million CAD), Danielle Stratchman (co-founder, Thiel Fellowship) and Michael Patrick-Gibson (author of Paper Belt on Fire),” tells Josh adding, “I recall a Neuralink intern, Kyrylo Kalashnikov, attending the office hours I was hosting. Gaining exposure to some of the brightest minds in North America was both humbling and inspiring. It felt like they were the true mentors, even though I had the label of mentor for a day!”

[caption id="attachment_39228" align="aligncenter" width="497"] Josh during 1517 Fund's office hour[/caption]

The migration story and future

Born in Tooting, London Josh hails from a family with roots in Kolkata. He was raised in Ascot for most of his life, as well as in Lambeth. His mother is a singer-songwriter who was born in London, and did schooling both in India and the UK. His father is a corporate professional who was born and raised in Kolkata. This March, the youngster moved to the US along with his father who got a new job posting. “I decided to relocate with him and pursue my entrepreneurial dreams in the US,” he says.

In the short-term, Josh’s priorities are clear and twofold: "Radical collaboration with agricultural engineers, scientists and farmers to refine and implement my solutions, ensuring credibility and scalability. Secondly, to earn my O-1 Visa that will allow me to better pursue my entrepreneurial endeavours in the US." He is happy that he received his OCI last month.

With prestigious awards, recognitions, scholarships and mentorship the youngster is confident of making his entrepreneurial dream in America come true.

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