A Passion Sparked at an Early Age
Pranjali's journey into the world of technology began when she was just seven years old. Her father, an engineer, introduced her to computer science and encouraged her curiosity about how technology works. He strongly believed that computer science should be taught alongside traditional subjects in schools, a philosophy that deeply influenced Pranjali from an early age.
Her interest in technology continued to grow after her family moved to Florida when she was 11 years old. There, she immersed herself in computer science courses and competitive mathematics, developing the analytical skills that would later help shape her entrepreneurial career.
From Research Intern to Innovator
At the age of 13, Pranjali began interning in university research laboratories at Florida International University. During the COVID-19 pandemic, while her high school classes shifted online, she dedicated nearly 20 hours a week to machine learning research projects.
Her responsibilities included conducting research, extracting data, and preparing literature reviews. This experience exposed her to one of the biggest challenges researchers face—finding and summarizing relevant information efficiently.
When OpenAI released the beta version of GPT-3 in 2020, Pranjali immediately recognized its potential. She envisioned a tool that could simplify research by helping users extract and summarize information more effectively than traditional search engines. That idea would eventually become the foundation of her future company.
Building Delv.AI
In 2021, Pranjali attended Miami Hack Week, where she met Lucy Guo and Dave Fontenot, partners at Backend Capital and founders of HFO Residency, a startup accelerator program based in Miami and San Francisco.
Recognizing her potential, the accelerator accepted her into its 12-week residency program in exchange for a small stake in her future company. Supported by her parents, she temporarily stepped away from high school to seize the opportunity. The residency provided not only mentorship and networking opportunities but also logistical support that allowed her to fully focus on building her startup.
During the program, Pranjali launched the beta version of Delv.AI on Product Hunt. The platform was designed to help users search, extract, and summarize research information more efficiently using artificial intelligence.
Her presentation on Demo Day attracted significant attention, leading to her first investments from On Deck and Village Global. Soon after, she raised approximately $45,000 from investors and angel backers, giving her the resources needed to continue developing the company.
A Young Founder's Remarkable Success
Delv.AI rapidly gained momentum, and within a few years, the company achieved a valuation of nearly ₹100 crore. This accomplishment made Pranjali one of the youngest founders to build a rapidly growing AI startup.
Alongside her entrepreneurial pursuits, she successfully completed a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgia Institute of Technology, demonstrating an impressive ability to balance academics with business leadership.
Expanding Her Vision
In March 2025, Pranjali co-founded Salshy, an AI-powered email assistant and automation platform. Designed to function as a digital executive assistant, the platform has been described as a “ChatGPT with hands,” capable of performing tasks and automating workflows on behalf of users.
Reflecting on her experience as a young entrepreneur, Pranjali has acknowledged both the advantages and challenges of being a teenage founder. While many people were eager to support and mentor her, others were skeptical because of her age. Nevertheless, she remained focused on her goals and continued building innovative solutions.
Looking Ahead
Pranjali entered the startup world at a time when technological trends were rapidly evolving. She observed firsthand how conversations in the startup ecosystem shifted from cryptocurrency in 2021 to artificial intelligence by the end of 2022.
Today, she remains committed to developing new AI-powered products that simplify everyday life and improve productivity. Her journey from a curious seven-year-old learning computer science to a successful entrepreneur leading innovative AI ventures serves as an inspiring example of what determination, curiosity, and vision can achieve at any age.
