All About Me!
I'm currently the CTO of AirPR, a startup that I co-founded in the beginning of 2012 with Sharam Fouladgar Mercer. AirPR is a PRTech company that provides analytics, insights, and measurement solutions for the evolving PR industry. This PRTech software solution tracks media activity and provides actionable insights into your public relations efforts to tell you what is driving engagement and moving the needle in terms of traffic, conversion, organic search, and even revenue. At the moment, we are working on some very interesting technical problems involving tons of data, number crunching & vizualizations. Drop me a note at raj@airpr.com if you want to chat about opportunities at AirPR.
I graduated in June, 2011 with a Masters degree in Computer Science from Stanford University. While at Stanford, I worked as a Research Assistant under the guidance of Luis Sentis, Roland Philippsen and Prof Oussama Khatib in the Artificial Intelligence / Robotics Laboratory. As part of this work, I designed and implemented algorithms that simulate local methods for communication in ad-hoc networks. My course-work was multi-varied, ranging from Graphics and Data Visualization on one end of the spectrum to Web technologies and iPhone programming on the other. Click here to view some of the projects that I've worked on as part of my course-work at Stanford.
During summer of 2010, I interned at a startup in Redwood City - Roblox. Apart from gaining valuable experience of working at a 20-people startup , I got to work on some cool core-features for their product. As part of the 4 member team, I was responsible for the Graphics related features on the client. I implemented and subsequently tested new product features such as in-game video/audio recording and Screen space ambient occlusion.
Prior to joining Stanford, I graduated in June 2009 with a Dual Degree in MSc Mathematics and BE Computer Science from Birla Institute of Technology and Science(BITS), Pilani.During my undergraduate studies, I engaged myself in a plethora of activities both on and off campus. As part of Practice School Program, I was a Technical Director at Dreamworks Animation SKG. As a Technical Director, I worked on porting over some of their production tools for use in a newly developed pipeline called ASG. I provided technical support to the surfacing and lighting artists on tasks such as bug fixes, lighting setup, render farm support, production revision control and simulation. Apart from this, I have undertaken summer internships at Chennai Mathematical Institute, Siruseri ; Homi Bhabha Center for Science Education, Mumbai and Ramco Systems, Chennai.
At BITS-Pilani, I served as the Coordinator for the Department of CCTV- as a part of which I developed and maintained departmental websites, co-directed short films and animated shorts publicly screened at events during OASIS/APOGEE and also conducted workshops on animation & multimedia. Further, I worked as a Professional Assistant for the Publication and Media Relations Unit and Practice School Division. I was an active member of the BITS Senate as an Academic Counseling Board Student Member; where I worked along with university faculty and administration to provide periodic educational and moral guidance to students to help them perform better in academics.
On a general note, I have a passion for music and tennis- resulting mainly from the high regard I hold for the two maestros in these fields respectively - A R Rahman & Roger Federer. During leisure time, I enjoy playing tennis or badminton or listening to Floyd while sipping a cup of Indian Filter Coffee.
