Pranjali Awasthi ek 16 saal ki Bharatiya entrepreneur hai, jo apne Artificial Intelligence startup Delv.AI ke liye $450,000 (Rs 3.7 crore) funding raise karne ke liye jaani jaati hain. Unka janm 2007 mein hua tha (jaise ki 2023 mein) Bharat mein. Jab woh 11 saal ki thi, toh unki family Florida, USA shift ho gayi thi. Pranjali ne coding sikhna shuru kiya tha jab woh sirf 7 saal ki thi. 13 saal ki umar mein hi unhone Florida International University ke research labs mein internship shuru ki. Woh machine learning projects par kaam karte hue high school mein bhi padhai ki, jahan unhone Linear Algebra aur Calculus mein major kiya.
Delv.AI ki sthapana Pranjali ki internship ke dauraan hui thi. Unhone September 2021 mein HF0 residency mein participate kiya, jahan unhone apna product launch kiya. Unka kaam searches conduct karna, data extraction karna, aur literature reviews taiyaar karna tha. 2020 mein, jab OpenAI ne ChatGPT-3 beta ko unveil kiya, toh Pranjali ne iske potential ko pehchaana ki woh research data extraction aur summarization ko promote aur enhance kar sakta hai. Delv.AI abhi bhi apne initial stages mein tha, lekin Pranjali ne machine learning ka upayog data extract karne aur data silos ko hatane ke liye ek company establish karne ka faisla kiya. Unka HF0 fellowship khatam hone par unhone On Deck aur Village Global se apni pehli investment secure ki. Early 2022 mein mili seed funding ne unhe pehle engineer ko recruit karne aur minimum-viable product par kaam shuru karne ki anumati di. Fellowship ke dauraan, Pranjali ne A.I. community ke saath majboot rishte banaye. Unke successful Product Hunt launch ne unhe subsequent fundraising efforts mein madad ki. Unhone funds aur angel investors jaise ki Lucy Guo aur Village Global se $450,000 gather kiya, jisse unki company ki valuation lagbhag $12 million ho gayi.
Pranjali ki social entrepreneurship ki shuruaat unke bachpan ke dino mein Bharat mein hui thi. Jab woh apne dada ke paas jaati thi, jo ek kisan the, toh woh unhe gaon ke baccho ko unke haath se banaaye gaye artisanal skills mein mentorship dete the. Unhe yaad hai ki woh haath se bane fashion items na keval chic aur trendy the, balki unka global appeal bhi tha. Isse inspire hokar Pranjali ne ‘Indic Valley’ naamak online portal shuru kiya, jahan par woh in artisanal creations ko showcase karti hain. Pranjali ka uddeshya in craftsmen ko ownership aur control dekar unke kaam ko empower karna hai.
Early Beginnings
Pranjali’s family relocated to Florida, USA when she was just 11 years old. However, her passion for coding began much earlier—at the tender age of 7. She embarked on an internship in university research labs at Florida International University when she was only 13. Simultaneously, she attended high school, majoring in Linear Algebra and Calculus at Doral Academy Charter High School. Her insatiable curiosity and drive led her to explore the intersection of education and technology.
The Birth of Delv.AI
During her university internship, Pranjali founded her company, Delv.AI. Recognizing the potential of machine learning, she aimed to extract data and eliminate data silos. Her journey took a significant leap when she secured her inaugural investment from On Deck and Village Global. Armed with seed funding, she recruited her first engineer and began work on a minimum-viable product. Pranjali’s vision was clear: to revolutionize data extraction using AI.
Education and Entrepreneurship
- Pranjali’s academic journey took an unconventional path. Although she considered pursuing a GED, she opted to complete her high school credits online. She completed her schooling in June 2023.
- At 13, she embarked on an internship in university research labs at Florida International University, where she worked on machine learning projects while simultaneously attending high school. Her major subjects included Linear Algebra and Calculus.
- During her internship, she recognized the potential of OpenAI’s ChatGPT-3 beta for research data extraction and summarization. This realization fueled her determination to establish a company that would leverage machine learning to extract data and break down data silos.
- Pranjali’s company, Delv.AI, emerged during her time at HF0 residency in September 2021, where she launched her product. Her responsibilities included conducting searches, data extraction, and crafting literature reviews.
- Despite being in its budding stage, Delv.AI secured its inaugural investment from On Deck and Village Global. The seed funding enabled her to recruit her first engineer and work on a minimum-viable product.
- Her strong ties within the A.I. community, forged during her fellowship, proved invaluable during subsequent fundraising efforts. She successfully raised $450,000, with angel investors like Lucy Guo and Village Global, resulting in a valuation of around $12 million.
Raising $450,000 for Delv.AI
Pranjali’s entrepreneurial spirit didn’t stop there. She managed to raise an impressive $450,000 in funding for Delv.AI. Her connections within the AI community, forged during her fellowship, played a crucial role. Notable investors like Lucy Guo and Village Global believed in her vision, resulting in a valuation of approximately $12 million. Pranjali’s journey exemplifies determination, innovation, and the power of youth.
Career
Awards and Achievements
- Associate Member – Issued by Masason Foundation (Jun 2023)
- IEEE Rising Star 2022 – Issued by IEEE Canada Young Professionals Committee (Nov 2021)
- HF0 Fellow – Issued by Backend Capital (Sep 2021)
- AIME Qualifier – Issued by Mathematics Association of America (Feb 2021)
Social Entrepreneurship: Indic Valley
Pranjali’s childhood experiences in India shaped her commitment to social entrepreneurship. Inspired by her grandfather, a farmer who mentored village children, she envisioned a platform that would empower artisans. Thus, Indic Valley was born—an online portal showcasing exquisite handmade creations. By granting artisans ownership and control over their work, Pranjali aims to uplift their livelihoods.
