Can you briefly introduce your journey—your time at BITS Pilani and your career?

I started at BITS Pilani in 2013 through the dual-degree program, initially pursuing Mathematics. After my first year, based on my CGPA, I was able to transition into Computer Science, which turned out to be a fantastic combination with my Maths degree. My five years at BITS were an incredible learning experience—both academically and personally. BITS has a very diverse student environment. This diversity taught me a lot and made me more independent, especially since living away from home was my first long-term experience. During college, I was deeply involved in competitive programming. I remember spending countless nights solving tough problems, often working with like-minded peers. We had a strong internal programming community at BITS, where we met regularly to discuss and solve complex coding challenges. After BITS, I interned at Truecaller during my practice school. My project involved analyzing global communication patterns and studying how people worldwide are connected through just a few degrees of separation using call and message logs. Three months into my six-month internship, I was offered a pre-placement offer (PPO). I enjoyed the work and the team, so I accepted it and joined Truecaller full-time. At Truecaller, I worked for three and a half years, starting in the data and machine learning team and later transitioning to the Edge team, where I gained hands-on experience building large-scale systems. After that, I moved to Singapore to join Twitter, where I worked in the consumer data team, handling massive-scale data pipelines for key Twitter features like Home Timeline and Search. Working at Twitter exposed me to data at a scale I could hardly imagine—trillions of user logs and petabytes of data every day. While at Twitter, I experienced pre- and post-Elon Musk acquisition phases, which provided valuable insights into different organizational structures and management styles. Eventually, in early 2023, I decided it was time to start something of my own, leading to the launch of my startup, Adster.

What aspects of BITS helped you transition into the tech industry and later into entrepreneurship?

BITS played a huge role in shaping my career. From the start, I was surrounded by people deeply interested in coding and computer science. As they say, "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with," and being around such passionate individuals strengthened my interest in tech. BITS also has a strong startup culture. Even as early as the second or third year, students try launching their ventures—whether a startup, a side project, or a business for college festivals. I remember a friend attempting to create an in-house food delivery service for our fest, something like a mini-Zomato. Some seniors raised pre-seed funding while still pursuing studies. Seeing these examples made me realize that working for yourself is a great option if you have an idea you're passionate about. BITS fosters an entrepreneurial mindset by allowing students to explore and experiment. That mindset stuck with me, and years later, when I saw an opportunity to start my own company, I didn’t hesitate.

What was the biggest challenge in transitioning from an employee to a startup founder?

The hardest part was managing people, expectations, and responsibilities beyond coding. As an individual contributor at Truecaller and Twitter, I used to solving technical problems but running a startup requires much more—handling clients, investors, finances, and business strategy. One of the biggest challenges in a B2B startup like mine is credibility. Businesses hesitate to buy from an unknown company, but it’s tough to establish credibility without initial clients—a classic chicken-and-egg problem. Overcoming this required persistence, strategic networking, and delivering strong results early on. Another major shift was dealing with uncertainty. In a corporate job, your role is defined, but in a startup, every day presents new problems to solve—whether it’s a technical issue, a funding challenge, or an operational roadblock. You have to learn to adapt quickly while maintaining focus on your long-term vision.

What exactly is Adster, and what problem does it solve? What inspired you to create it?

Adster helps publishers (websites and apps) maximize their ad revenue using real-time AI and data-driven optimization. Our platform integrates seamlessly into their systems and analyzes user behavior to ensure ads are placed in the most effective spots without ruining the user experience. The idea for Adster came from my time at Truecaller. In my last two years there, I worked on the ads team and helped scale Truecaller’s ad revenue from $15 million to $100 million per year. My co-founder, my manager at Truecaller, and I kept discussing new ideas even after I moved to Twitter. Eventually, I started moonlighting—building the first version of Adster during evenings and weekends. We officially launched after securing our first major client and raising seed funding.

Who has had the most lasting impact on your journey?

My co-founder, Rajeev, was my manager at Truecaller. He mentored me in understanding the business and product side of digital advertising, which went beyond just writing code. Over the past few years, he’s been instrumental in helping me make big decisions—whether it was quitting my job, moving back to India, or structuring our startup. Having a co-founder who complements your skills and understands your vision is invaluable.

How did the BITS alumni network help you in your career and startup journey?

The BITS alumni network is incredibly strong. Around 30-40% of my clients or leads have come through alumni connections. One of the best things about BITSians is that they never say no when you reach out. If you message an alum on LinkedIn, there's almost a 100% chance they’ll at least hear you out. Being part of alumni groups also keeps you inspired. You constantly hear success stories and funding announcements from fellow BITSians, which pushes you to aim higher.

Out of all the companies you've worked at, which was your favorite and why?

Truecaller was my favorite because it was my first job, and the learning curve was the steepest. I joined when the India team was just 10 people and saw the company grow into a public entity. That kind of growth teaches you a lot. That said, I encourage people to experience different company sizes—startups, mid-sized firms, and large enterprises—to figure out what environment suits them best.

What are some of your fondest memories from BITS?

Reflecting on my time at BITS Pilani brings back numerous cherished memories. In my first year, the academic rigor was intense, especially with the pressure to maintain a strong CGPA. Despite the inherent competition, there was a strong sense of camaraderie among my peers, particularly the dual-degree students in my wing. We often stayed up all night before exams, helping each other grasp complex concepts. In the second year, with a more relaxed academic schedule, I delved deeper into my passion for coding. Late-night coding sessions became the norm. My friends and I would gather in our rooms, tackling challenging programming problems. Beyond academics, BITS offered a vibrant campus life with various clubs, cultural festivals, and tech events that enriched my college experience. Evening walks around the iconic clock tower provided moments of reflection. The friendships forged and the myriad experiences have left an indelible mark, molding me into the person I am today.

If you could say one line to your younger self, what would it be?

If I talk to my younger self, I'd stress the importance of following your instincts and stepping out of your comfort zone. Life's full of moments where the next step isn't clear. It's in those times that believing in yourself is crucial. Taking risks, smart ones, is key to growth. Progress happens when you venture into new territory. My path, from switching roles to moving countries and eventually starting my own company, was filled with uncertainties. Each choice meant taking a chance, but those were the moments that led to the best opportunities. And messing up isn't the end of the world. Every setback teaches you something valuable for next time. You're always moving forward by seeing challenges as lessons rather than roadblocks.