At just 16 years old, Pranjali Awasthi, an Indian tech prodigy, has made her mark in the world of technology with her startup, Delv.AI. This venture, founded by Ms. Awasthi in January 2022, is dedicated to revolutionizing the data extraction process for research purposes. What's truly astounding is that in less than a year, the company has soared to a staggering valuation of ₹100 Crore (approximately $12 million).
Ms. Awasthi's journey into the tech realm commenced at an early age, and she attributes her father, an engineer, as her primary source of inspiration on her entrepreneurial path. According to her, her father's passion and values served as the driving force behind her foray into coding when she was just 7 years old.
Her life took an exciting turn when, at the age of 11, she relocated with her family from India to Florida. It was in Florida that she was exposed to the realms of computer science and competitive mathematics. At the age of 13, Ms. Awasthi embarked on a journey of interning in university research labs at Florida International University. Here, she worked on machine learning projects while simultaneously attending school. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, when her school transitioned to virtual learning, she devoted approximately 20 hours a week to her internship.
It was during these internship days that she began to conceive the idea of Delv.AI, contemplating how artificial intelligence could address various issues. In 2021, Pranjali secured a coveted spot in an AI startup accelerator in Miami, facilitated by tech enthusiasts Lucy Guo and Dave Fontenot from Backend Capital. In exchange for a small equity stake in her future company, she joined their September 12-week cohort.
Temporarily putting her high school education on hold, the accelerator served as the launch pad for her entrepreneurial journey, enabling her to attract investments from prominent names, including On Deck and Village Global.
Ms. Awasthi elucidated that Delv.AI's central mission is to facilitate researchers in accessing specific information within the vast realm of online content. With a substantial $450,000 (approximately ₹3.7 crore) in funding under its belt, the startup has now catapulted to a valuation of ₹100 Crore (around $12 million).
Pranjali Awasthi's remarkable story serves as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring young entrepreneurs, and her success with Delv.AI showcases the incredible potential of youth-driven innovation in the tech industry.
