My story
I don't think of myself as someone who loves computers. I think of myself as someone who loves building things.
Sometimes those things are mobile applications. Sometimes they're research projects, LEGO models spread across my bedroom floor, or a new recipe I'm trying to perfect with my father. Different projects, same curiosity.
I enjoy understanding how things work, taking them apart, and rebuilding them into something a little better than before. Building technology gave me confidence — but more importantly, it taught me that meaningful innovation always begins by listening to people.
Becoming, slowly
Chapter 1
As a child, I was always fascinated by how things worked. Whether I was building elaborate LEGO structures, solving puzzles, or taking apart toys just to understand how they fit together, I loved creating things with my hands. I could spend hours focused on one project, experimenting, rebuilding, and trying different ideas until everything worked the way I imagined.
Looking back, I realize I wasn't just playing. I was learning how to think.
Chapter 2
Middle school brought challenges I never expected. I slowly became quieter as bullying made school feel less like a place where I belonged. Instead of looking forward to the next day, I began counting the hours until I could return home.
At the time, I didn't know that one difficult chapter would introduce me to the passions that would shape the rest of my life.
Chapter 3
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Early coding / first laptop
One evening, my parents surprised me with a laptop. To them, it was a way to encourage me to explore something new. To me, it became an entirely new world.
I started experimenting with Scratch before moving to Python, Java, Flutter, and artificial intelligence. Every coding project reminded me that problems always have another solution if you're willing to keep trying.
Programming didn't simply become a hobby. It became the place where I rediscovered my confidence.
Chapter 4
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Programs · research · summer schools
As my curiosity grew, so did my desire to learn beyond school. I immersed myself in online courses, coding challenges, STEM programs, and research opportunities. From developing mobile applications to exploring AI, participating in research, and attending international summer schools, I began discovering how technology could create meaningful change in people's lives.
Chapter 5
The biggest turning point came when I realized that technology becomes truly meaningful only when it helps someone else. That realization inspired me to create UnBurden, an AI-powered mobile application supporting children experiencing bullying.
What began as a coding project soon became something much bigger. I partnered with child psychologists, conducted surveys across NGOs, built workshops, authored an anti-bullying comic book, and spent countless hours listening to children's experiences. Every conversation made the app a little better. More importantly, every conversation changed me.
Chapter 6
Today, one of my favorite moments comes after every workshop. The formal presentation ends. The classroom begins to empty. Then one child quietly walks over.
"Agastya Bhaiya..."
Those conversations remind me why I continue building. Not because I enjoy writing code — but because I enjoy creating spaces where children feel safe enough to speak.
My Guiding Beliefs
Stay Curious
The best questions often lead to the most meaningful discoveries.
People Before Technology
Technology should solve real human problems, not simply showcase technical ability.
Keep Building
Every project — whether it's code, research, LEGO, or a recipe — gets better through iteration.
Create Belonging
The communities we build are often more important than the products we create.
Never Stop Learning
Every conversation, every experiment, and every challenge teaches something new.