Devaki Raj

Yo, have you heard of Devaki Raj? She’s the real deal, super smart, super driven, and totally crushing it in tech and AI. She’s a YC S16 alum, so you know she’s got that startup hustle in her blood. Her story’s wild and inspiring, so let me break it down for you.

Devaki kicked off her process with a solid academic background, she’s got a B.A. in Biological Sciences and an M.Sc. in Applied Statistics from Oxford. Yeah, Oxford, that’s no joke. She’s always been into the intersection of science, data, and tech. That combo set the stage for her to jump into big projects and make an impact.

She started working at Google, which is basically the dream for so many. There, she didn’t just do your typical gig, she contributed to Google Maps, worked on Google[x] Life Sciences, and even tinkered with Android battery life. Plus, she chaired the Julia Robinson STEM Festival at Google, pushing for more diversity in STEM, that’s her giving back and making sure more people get in the game.

But Devaki’s real passion? Using tech to solve global problems. She jumped into the Malaria Atlas Project, applying her stats skills to fight a huge health crisis. From there, she co-founded CrowdAI, a company that’s all about using AI to monitor infrastructure and environmental changes worldwide. Think about that, she’s building tech that actually helps us understand and protect the planet. And guess what? CrowdAI got acquired by Saab, Inc., and now she’s the Chief Digital and AI Officer in their strategy office. That’s a massive win, showing she can build something useful from scratch and then scale it big time.

What’s crazy is her drive to make a difference. She’s testified before the U.S. Senate and sat in bipartisan AI forums, pushing for smarter, safer tech policies. She’s out here shaping the future of AI and policy on a national level, no fluff, just real impact. Forbes called her one of their 30 Under 30, and Inc. named her one of the 100 Female Founders of the Year. That’s no small feat.

Beyond all that, she’s super active in community service, especially advocating for women and minorities in STEM. She’s on boards, mentoring, and just trying to level the playing field. Her whole vibe is about using her skills to create real change and push the industry forward.

Basically, Devaki’s story is about blending deep science with tech hustle to solve big problems. She’s a scientist turned entrepreneur who’s not afraid to jump into the deep end, challenge the status quo, and make shit happen. No Cap, she’s the kind of person who shows you what’s possible when you combine brains, passion, and a little bit of that startup fire.