Hey, I'm
ASHISH GUPTA
I build and craft digital experiences
that deliver real impact
About Me.
Get to know me better
I build and ship high-impact products - co-founded startups, pitched top VCs, scaled to 50K+ users. Previously at bluelearn and Avalon Meta (Acq. by Unacademy). Currently building conversational AI for Fortune 500 companies at Cignara (YC P26). Published 2 research papers. Open source contributor - Excavate hit 1000+ weekly downloads.
Achievements
- Building conversational AI agents for Fortune 500 companies at Cignara (YC P26)
- Co-founding Discover Minds - building AI-powered products (Arya & Tara)
- Published Excavate - open source CLI tool for technical debt discovery, 1000+ weekly downloads
- Founding Engineer at InstaService - scaled 0 → 12K+ DAUs with 99.95% uptime
- Published 2 research papers on AI & rapid prototyping; 2× Student Excellence Award recipient
- Co-founded ScaleRich (now BondsPe.com) - scaled to ₹1Cr+ user portfolio
- Experience at BlueLearn (50K+ MAUs) & Avalon Meta (acquired by Unacademy)
- Organised multiple workshops with 180+ student participation as GDSC & ACM lead
Experience.
My professional journey
Founding Member - Product & Engineering
Dec 2025 - PresentCignara (YC P26)
•San Francisco, USA (Remote)- •Currently building Agentic conversational AI platform for Fortune 500 companies at Cignara (YC P26), enabling AI agents and copilots across phone, chat, and human support workflows from scratch
- •Joined as First Product hire to spearhead product development from 0 to 1, taking full ownership of prototype to production across core B2B and B2C products - driving the company from $0 to $150K ARR
- •Engineered enterprise dashboards, chatbot extensions, and Sprinklr integrations to help teams monitor AI performance, manage support workflows, and connect with existing customer support tools
- •Led SOC 2 compliance certification end-to-end, establishing security and trust posture required for enterprise deals
- •Built a robust state communication system for a seamless multi-tab shopping experience and integrated PostHog to drive data-informed product growth
- •Developed a multi-tenant, config-driven system to speed up custom website integrations, increasing revenue while saving engineering hours
Co-Founder
Aug 2025 – Dec 2025DiscoverMinds.ai
•Bengaluru, India- •Co-founded DiscoverMinds.ai, an AI-driven networking platform enabling users to connect LinkedIn and Twitter/X, leverage their extended social graph, and replace cold outreach with warm, context-rich introductions
- •Designed and implemented the core social graph engine using Node.js and PostgreSQL, with recursive CTE-based traversal to map extended networks and surface warm introduction paths between users
- •Built OAuth integration layer for LinkedIn and Twitter/X APIs, handling token lifecycle, rate-limit backoff, and incremental data ingestion into a normalised relational schema
- •Led the product from concept to early traction, generating interest from top-tier Indian VC firms including Lightspeed, Elevation Capital, Kalaari Capital, Peak XV Partners, Info Edge Ventures, and 10+ others
Founding Software Engineer
Feb 2024 – Aug 2025InstaService Inc
•San Francisco, USA (Remote)- •Designed and owned dynamic pricing engine modelling user state, discount rules, and offer eligibility server-side, with structured URL schemas and SSR pipelines for SEO-driven discoverability at scale (12K+ DAUs)
- •Migrated key parts of the codebase to TypeScript, enforcing strict type contracts across API boundaries, reducing runtime errors by 25% and improving cross-team developer velocity
- •Engineered high-performance Business Owner dashboard backend with real-time data sync via REST APIs, optimised query execution for large datasets, and efficient data delivery supporting high-frequency reads
- •Designed and implemented comprehensive Automation QA frameworks for API and Web testing using Playwright, drastically reducing manual testing time and improving accuracy
- •Built RESTful APIs using Node.js and Express.js with Redis caching strategies, reducing API response times by 35% and database load by 60% for high-traffic endpoints
Frontend Developer Intern
Dec 2022 – May 2023Avalon Meta (Acq. by Unacademy)
•Bengaluru, India- •Built backend APIs for user tagging, @mention resolution, and notification dispatch in Forum channels, contributing to a 10% increase in user engagement
- •Engineered tag-based routing, custom profile endpoints, and wallet transaction APIs, collaborating with clients including Ankur Warikoo, Sharan Hegde, and Motilal Oswal
- •Developed backend APIs for QnA and polling features with MongoDB aggregation pipelines, supporting 20K+ daily requests. Built real-time @mention notifications using WebSockets and Redis pub/sub
Co-Founder
Jun 2022 – Dec 2022- •Built a full-stack investment platform for bonds, corporate debt, and fixed-income products, with secure onboarding, portfolio analytics, and real-time asset tracking
- •Engineered backend modules for order execution, yield calculations, interest payout schedules, and risk scoring, ensuring accuracy for financial workflows
- •Scaled the platform to a ₹1Cr+ user portfolio
Junior Software Engineer
Jan 2022 – Oct 2022DeZen Technologies
•Hyderabad, India- •Developed a Learning Management System (LMS) with 5+ interactive modules using React Native, improving the efficiency of student enrollment by 40% and increasing participation by 15% through an intuitive UI
- •Led the development of Just In Housing (JIH), a property management app that streamlined real estate transactions, reducing listing-to-sale time by 20% and improving customer satisfaction through an intuitive user experience
Skills & Expertise.
A collection of technologies I'm proficient with, from languages to frameworks and tools
Languages
JavaScript
TypeScript
Python
SQL
Java
C++Frontend
React
Next.js
ReduxReact Native
Vue
Angular
Tailwind CSS
Framer Motion
Material-UIBackend
Node.js
Express.js
NestJS
GraphQL
WebSockets
ExpoAI & LLM
Anthropic
LangChain
Hugging Face
Vercel AI SDKDatabase & Cloud
PostgreSQL
MongoDB
MySQL
Redis
AWS
Docker
GitVercel
CI/CDProjects.
A selection of my recent work
Excavate
Open-source CLI tool for technical debt discovery. Analyzes codebases using git history, complexity metrics, coverage gaps, and bus factor to surface high-risk files. Features geological debt scoring (bedrock → clear), temporal coupling detection, orphan file detection, and generates shareable HTML reports with D3 treemaps.
1000+ Weekly Downloads
Published on npm with growing adoption
Zero-Config CLI
npx excavate — runs instantly with no setup
6 Signal Analysis
Churn, coverage, complexity, knowledge, docs, deps
HTML Reports
Interactive D3 treemaps and sortable debt tables
Aria: AI Claims Agent
Inbound claims-support voice agent for Observe Insurance. Verifies caller identity via multi-step auth, fetches claim data through a Chain-of-Verification pipeline, answers FAQ-style support questions, smart-escalates edge cases, and logs every call with sentiment and outcome.
Multi-step Auth
Phone, name, ZIP, and DOB verification — claim data never released until auth passes
CoVe Claim Lookup
Chain-of-Verification re-fetches and validates claims server-side before LLM speaks
Smart Escalation
Emergency, representative, and unsupported-question flows routed with pre-populated agent notes
Call Analytics
Every call logged with sentiment, outcome, escalation reason, AI summary, and recording link
Omen
Full-stack web application built with modern tooling and deployed on Vercel. Explore the live app for the full experience.
Live on Vercel
Production deployment with fast global edge delivery
Full-stack App
End-to-end implementation with modern React stack
Cignara (YC P26)
Enterprise conversational AI platform built for Fortune 500 companies, enabling AI agents and copilots across phone, chat, and human support workflows. Includes enterprise dashboards, chatbot extensions, and Sprinklr integrations.
HelloTara.in
AI-powered accounting copilot built for businesses using TallyPrime. Automates data entry, GST compliance, financial reporting, and cash flow tracking. Like ChatGPT for Tally, helping SMBs manage finances faster with less manual effort.
DiscoverMinds.ai
AI-driven professional networking platform. Engineered the core social graph engine using Node.js and PostgreSQL, with recursive CTE-based traversal to map extended networks and surface warm introduction paths. Built OAuth integration for LinkedIn and Twitter/X APIs handling token lifecycle, rate-limit backoff, and incremental data ingestion. Generated interest from 10+ top-tier Indian VC firms including Lightspeed, Elevation Capital, and Peak XV Partners.
PixelForge
Full-stack image transformation web app. Drop an image and PixelForge automatically removes the background using Clipdrop AI API, flips it horizontally, and delivers a polished transparent PNG — all in a single click. Processed images are stored on Vercel Blob with download, share, and delete functionality.
Travellin
- •Building the infrastructure for backend services of Project Travellin, an app for all your travel needs.
- •Backend includes Authentication, Itinerary management, and trip management tools.
- •Architected scalable microservices using Node.js, Express.js, and PostgreSQL for handling user data and travel planning features.
BondsPe (formerly ScaleRich)
Full-stack fintech investment platform for bonds, corporate debt, and fixed-income products. Features secure onboarding, portfolio analytics, real-time asset tracking, order execution, yield calculations, and risk scoring.
Headout
- •Conceptualized, designed, and implemented a React Native-based clone of the Headout app with full feature parity.
- •Optimized app performance and improved user experience by 10% using Redux for state management and custom navigation with AR features.
- •Built intuitive booking flows, search functionality, and real-time availability checking for activities and experiences.
- •Implemented secure payment integration and user authentication with JWT tokens.
Product Breakdown - Headout
- •Conducted comprehensive analysis and deep research of Headout, a leading experiences and activities booking platform.
- •Created detailed product breakdown documentation explaining the company's business model, technical architecture, user flows, and competitive advantages.
- •Analyzed key features including dynamic pricing, inventory management, partner integrations, and recommendation algorithms.
- •Documented insights on product strategy, user acquisition, and retention mechanisms that contributed to Headout's success.
MUJ NMS (Note Management System)
- •Awarded Best Minor Project in the college for exceptional design and implementation.
- •Designed and developed a Note Sheet Management System for the college that allowed faculties and professors to create note sheets for any event, share or request concerned authorities for approval or feedback, and track live status.
- •Improved approval time by 50% through streamlined workflows and real-time notifications.
- •Built a robust mobile app using React Native, Redux for state management, and RN MMKV libraries for efficient local storage.
- •Implemented role-based access control, document versioning, and approval workflow automation.
Testimonials.
What people say about working with me
At Avalon Meta, he stood out as an intern from day one. Ashish shipped the @mention tagging system, built out custom routes and wallet features, and worked directly with high-profile creator clients. Sharp technically, easy to work with, and genuinely takes ownership of what he builds.
Varun Maya
He built the Discussion V2 MVP and the full connections feature. Ashish is a solid engineer who gets things done.
Harish Uthaya Kumar
Founder at BlueLearn
As one of the first engineers at Cignara, a YC P26 startup, Ashish helped build our enterprise AI platform from the ground up. He architected the core dashboards, chatbot extensions, and Sprinklr integrations that our Fortune 500 clients rely on daily. What stood out was his ability to move fast without sacrificing quality. He brought real ownership to everything he touched and was a key reason we were able to move as quickly as we did.
Nalin Gupta
Co-Founder & CEO at Cignara (YC P26)
He led the frontend revamp for our platform and brought a level of engineering maturity we hadn't had before. Ashish took full ownership of the codebase, drove the TypeScript migration, and built out our Business Owner dashboard with real-time updates and virtualised rendering for large datasets. Serving 12K+ daily users, the product became noticeably faster and more reliable under his work. He doesn't wait to be told what to do - he identifies the problem and ships the fix. Exactly the kind of founding engineer you want on your team.
Madhuri Kalhasti
Founder & CTO at InstaService Inc
Ashish is one of the youngest developers at BlueLearn and one of the most passionate. His enthusiasm for product development and his humble nature make him special. Ashish is a hardworking engineer who brings skill and a positive attitude to the team.
Chandan Perla
Co-Founder at Internet Cinematic / LocalHostHQ
I've had the pleasure of mentoring Ashish Gupta, both as my student and as a founding member of the Software Development Centre at MUJ. Ashish has consistently impressed me with his strong technical skills, sharp problem-solving ability, and his reliability in meeting targets. One of the highlights of his journey was developing the Notsheet Management System, which won the Best Project Award at SDC. He also earned the Excellence Award at Manipal University Jaipur. I am confident he will continue to achieve great things.
Dr. Amit Garg
Faculty, CSE Department at Manipal University Jaipur
Blog.
Thoughts on code, architecture, and design
Fun Facts.
A few things about me beyond the code
Ran 5 km in 25 mins
Personal best - built with consistent early morning runs
Want to know more?
Download my resume for a detailed look at my experience, skills, and education.
Get in Touch.
Have a project in mind or just want to say hello?