Building tech
for the overlooked.
I build things, back founders, and write honestly about the parts of entrepreneurship nobody talks about. Based in Chennai. Started with nothing in rural Tamil Nadu — still figuring it out, still shipping.
The long version
Grew up in a small town in Tamil Nadu. Found my way into startups through sheer stubbornness — failed projects, expensive mistakes, and a few wins that mattered. Over 18+ years, I've been a founder, operator, investor, and the person founders call at 2am when everything is on fire.
Today I run Lvl1 Accelerator, back early-stage companies, and build open-source AI tools for communities that mainstream tech tends to overlook — conservationists, non-profits, small publishers, independent teams. Not because it's a good story, but because someone has to.
I also write. My newsletter and books aren't strategy decks — they're honest conversations about the parts of building nobody talks about. The loneliness. The self-doubt. The moment you realise your product solves a problem nobody actually has. I've been there. Most good founders have.
If you're building something real — or trying to figure out whether to start — I'm probably interested. Let's talk.
Open Source
AI tools and web apps for the teams mainstream tech ignores. Free, self-hostable, no enterprise pricing BS.
Startup Mentor
Managing Partner at Lvl1 Accelerator. I help early-stage founders with the non-obvious stuff — hiring, GTM, and knowing when to pivot.
Author
Three books and a weekly newsletter. No highlight reels — just honest writing about what building actually looks like.
Investor
Betting early on founders solving real problems — especially in markets where the big funds aren't paying attention yet.
Projects I'm building
Free tools for communities that mainstream tech tends to leave behind.
Local-first, privacy-focused conversation memory across Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini. Your AI memory — on your machine.
AI · PrivacySelf-hostable AI assistant with persistent memory and autopilot capabilities. Your AI coworker, on your infrastructure.
AI · Self-hostedVisual desktop interface for AI engineering agents — no CLI required. For teams who build without always needing to code.
AI · No-codeNatural language queries over surveillance footage. Built for conservation groups and community monitoring programs.
AI · ConservationCompanion app for bird-monitoring stations. Helping citizen scientists and researchers track avian populations.
Conservation · Citizen ScienceWordPress plugin that automates AI-powered blog generation from RSS feeds. Built for small and independent news outlets.
AI · PublishingKeep open source free
Everything I build is free and open. If it's saved you time or helped your team, a sponsorship means more time to keep building it.
♥ Sponsor on GitHubRequest a feature or share a problem
Have an idea, a problem worth solving, or feedback on my open-source work? I read every submission.
Latest from the newsletter
Thoughts on data, technology, and building companies in India — and beyond.
Published works
Long-form thinking on technology, startups, and the world being built around us.
Becoming the Seed: A Journey of Growth and Entrepreneurship
A deeply personal exploration of what it truly means to grow as an entrepreneur — beyond metrics, milestones, and startup tactics.
Boss on the Run
He built the company. Then the company turned on him. A novel about what happens after the betrayal — when the man who built everything is left with nothing.
Founders at Day One: Answers to the Questions That Keep You Awake at Night
The raw, unfiltered questions that emerge at every stage of the startup journey — answered honestly for aspiring founders standing at the edge.
Find me online
Founder, investor, contributor, or just curious — I'd love to hear from you.