Prachie Banthia

Let’s talk about the GOAT Prachie Banthia. This girl is the real deal, straight-up startup machine. She’s in YC’s F24 batch, which means she’s legit crushing it right now. She’s the CEO and founder of Lightscreen AI, a sick new company that’s changing how we do technical hiring. Think about it-she’s built this AI-powered interview system that uses voice and video to really evaluate candidates, not just their coding but how they think, problem-solve, and communicate. No bullshit, just high-quality hires passing through only about 12%. That’s some advanced shit, especially when everyone’s used to just looking at resumes and code snippets.

But Prachie didn’t just wake up and start Lightscreen. She’s got a solid background in AI and product. She was VP of Product at AssemblyAI, a big deal in speech AI, and before that, she ran product at rideOS, which got bought by GoPuff for $115 million. Yeah, she’s been in the trenches, building stuff that actually works and scales. Started her career at Google as an APM-so she’s been around the tech block, learning what works and what doesn’t.

And get this-she’s not just a tech geek, she’s an entrepreneur from way back. Even in college, she co-founded a dance company that still exists today. So, she’s been about startups and building things from the jump. Plus, she’s got an MBA from Stanford, which just proves she’s serious about understanding the business side of things.

What I love about Prachie is her vibe-she’s all about making smart, rational decisions and really understanding the founder-market fit. She’s big on choosing the right co-founder, knowing that’s a make-or-break move. She’s also super active in the AI and startup scenes, always chatting, sharing, and pushing the envelope.

On the personal side, she’s a dog mom and super involved in the community. She’s the kind of person who’s all about making a real impact – changing how companies find talent, making hiring better, fairer, smarter. It’s not just about tech for tech’s sake; she’s in it to shake things up and create real change.

Bottom line? Prachie’s the kind of founder who’s been in the game long enough to know what’s bullshit and what’s the future. She’s building tools that actually solve real problems, not just chasing buzzwords. She’s a total inspiration for anyone who thinks startup life is all about luck-nah, it’s about smarts, hustle, and knowing when to jump in. And she’s got all that in spades.