Akash Raju

Yo, have you heard of Akash Raju? The dude’s the real deal in the retail AI game. He’s a YC S20 alum, so you know he crushed it early on. Started his process with a solid background, studied computer engineering at Purdue, even snagged a win at their business model contest. That tells you he’s always been about mixing tech with business, a total combo chef.

Before jumping into startups, he had some serious gigs. Interned at Microsoft, messing around with AI tools, which probably gave him that hacker mindset. Then, he jumped into Tesla, working on vehicle software, holy shit, that’s advanced stuff. And he even did research at the Naval Research Laboratory; dude’s been around the tech block. All of this built him up, made him hungry to create something big.

In 2020, he co-founded Glimpse, and man, that’s where things got real. They’re backed by YC, one of the most competitive accelerators, that’s a badge of honor right there. Glimpse is all about AI automation for retail brands, especially fixing distributor deductions and cash reconciliation. It sounds boring, but it’s actually a huge problem for brands, and Akash’s tech is changing the game. He’s raised over 6 mil from YC and angel investors, which shows he’s got serious trust from the VC world.

Akash’s story isn’t just about tech, it’s about hustle. He’s been involved in startups before, at Purdue’s entrepreneurship hub, Startup Weekend, all that. Plus, he’s recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30, that’s not just a fluke. He’s also an angel investor, giving back and supporting founders just like himself.

What’s crazy about him? He’s not just building cool tech, he’s got that startup grit. Started from research, jumped into big companies, learned what works and what doesn’t, then decided to build his own thing. That’s the kind of motivation that drives innovation, not just to make money but to solve real problems. And he’s doing just that with Glimpse, making retail operations smoother with AI.

Oh, and he’s based in New York now, still pushing the envelope. The guy’s got the hustle, the brains, and the vision. Honestly, he’s one of those founders you gotta watch, he’s just getting started, and he’s already changing the retail tech space. No Cap.