Animall: The IIT-duo turning India’s traditional cattle trade digital
Written by: Team GI Youth
(October 7, 2023) “Yeh app nahi, aandolan hai,” a farmer remarked to Neetu Yadav and Kirti Jangra, the co-founders of ‘Animall’. After struggling for over a month, the farmer had just sold three cows within 24 hours through the easy-to-use app. What started as a weekend project back in August 2019 had become what its co-founders had always envisioned – disruptor. Four years later, the company is a top-funded VC startup, boasts an annual income of Rs 565 crore, and has facilitated the buying and selling of 8.5 lakh animals worth Rs 4000 crore, across the country.
Neetu Yadav and Kirti Jangra. Photo: Forbes
A new bond
Neetu Yadav (26) and Kirti Jangra (27) met soon after they each arrived at IIT-Delhi. For Neetu in particular, it was the start of a brand-new life. She was leaving behind the tiny, rural farming community she called home, and finally transcending its rural mentality. Her father was often advised not to invest in his daughter’s education, but he “always treated her like a son,” he said in an interview. And Neetu wanted to be someone. “With the help of many people, including my uncle, I went to Kota to study,” she says. “Out of 100 people in my batch, I was the only girl.” As it happened, Kirti also prepared at Kota, the Rajasthani city that is (in)famous for being a hub for IIT-JEE coaching centres, which has earned it the moniker, ‘Kota Factory. Neetu’s exposure to the outside world came from films, where she watched stories of young people going abroad to study. “The experience of being at IIT itself was a dream come true for me, I was going outside my hometown to study,” she says.
“Kirti was the first person I met,” says Neetu. A few hours later, they discovered they were going to be roommates. It turned out to be the start of an enduring friendship. “We had a cooler company for a few weeks,” they recall, laughing. “It was called Kirti-Neetu Cooler Company, we weren’t too creative with the name!” The idea came because of the old electrical system at IIT-Delhi. A regular cooler could blow the fuse for the entire campus. So, they decided to come up with a low-cost, low-voltage cooler. They took oil containers from the hostel kitchens and used them to make their cooler. “We thought we could make a lot of money selling and then realised the market was too small. But that was the first time we thought of building a startup together.
Building Animall
The cooler company didn’t take off but both young women were enterprising, and driven to make a social impact. Animall first took shape in August 2019 from a room in Bengaluru, where Neetu and Kirti were participating in a weekend hackathon. Organised by a storytelling organisation named Pratilipi, the hackathon theme was to build for one billion users. Neetu leaned into her own roots to get a better understanding of what the One Billion needs – she knew that the next one billion users meant millions who live in rural India. “Whenever you look at a farming family, there are just two aspects – agriculture and animal husbandry. Animal husbandry is mainly dairy,” Neetu says.
That’s how the Global Indians decided to create Animall and their five-member team went on to win both the jury and audience awards at the event. Neetu and Kirti wanted to grow Animall and used the Rs 2 lakh they received as prize money to fund their early operations. “We used it for marketing, servers etc,” she adds.
Animal husbandry contributes anywhere between five to seven percent of the national GDP. But in 2019, when Team Animall conducted extensive research across the country, interviewing thousands of farmers they realised that the sector is largely untouched by technology. In 2022, the gross value added from livestock within the agricultural industry was over seven trillion rupees but the trade of cattle continues to operate in a highly informal, fragmented, and disorganised ecosystem. Kirti and Neetu were both keen on making an impact and realised this was where they needed to be.
“Just the idea of trying to organise, trying to disrupt an unorganised market like this… the market is hungry for a platform like Animall,” says Kirti. They set about trying to create a user-friendly, one-stop-shop for cattle farmers. However, their idea was not well-received, either at home or by investors. “If you wanted to herd cattle, why did you go to IIT? We could have done that for you right here,” Kirti’s father joked when she first pitched the idea. Neetu’s family, who had pulled out all the stops to make sure their daughter made it to an IIT, was appalled by the thought of her quitting her job to build an app, that too an app for cows but resigned themselves to it saying, “But since you want to do this, how can we stop you.” Investors were skeptical too. “Who will download this,” they asked the co-founders. “Will people use this? Even their batchmates didn’t buy into it. “Do you think rural people will be able to download and use an app?”
Disrupting the market
They chose the herd, however, and shunned the herd mentality, and 10 million downloads later, their critics have more than retreated. “Build for Bharat is real,” Kirti insists. “Bharat is online.” Sequoia led a $6 million funding round for the fledgling company and they arrived on the scene. But they are not without challenges, even now.
Indian farmers are happy to hop onto the tech bandwagon, but buying and selling cattle is, at the end of the day, a hands-on process. It’s not easy to convince a seller who is far away, to invest in a cow he has never milked. That’s not all. Their market is in the heartland of rural North India, in states like Haryana and Jharkhand that are mired in patriarchy to the point where Neetu and Kirti find it hard to be taken seriously, simply because they are women. “Men have a larger network. To enter those rooms as women is very hard. We ignore the glass ceiling. We don’t make it the limit. We just do our thing,” Kirti says.
It has only taught them to think differently. “Our thought process has changed significantly,” says Neetu. “It’s okay to make mistakes, it’s okay to be wrong,” Kirti adds. “You just have to learn from it. We have taken short-term decisions and then realised, hey, this is not who we are, we want to plan for the long-term.” And above all, they value each other. “I think stereotypically, women friendships are underplayed,” Kirti remarks. “I think they bring a lot to your life. Just like bro-hood has its advantages, sisterhood has its advantages too.”
(December 17, 2022) In 2022, India outdid itself in the WorldSkills Competition, moving two places up the ranking table, from 13 in 2019 to 11 in 2022. With the government putting skill development in primary focus, the country has earned two silvers, three bronzes and thirteen medallions in the world’s biggest skills competition, considered the gold standard of excellence. WorldSkills International is the global hub for skills excellence and development, founded in 1950 with the aim to provide youngsters a chance to compete, experience, and become the best in their chosen endeavour. The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), under the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship, Government of India, has been leading the nation’s participation on the WorldSkills Platform. [caption id="attachment_25471" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Nandita Saxena after winning silver medal in patisserie and confectionary[/caption] This year saw 1400 participants from 58 countries, participating in 62 categories. The events were held in a decentralised manner in 15 countries across Europe, East Asia and North America, over a period of 12 weeks between September to November 2022. Global Indian takes a look at the champions of 2022 who brought medals back home: Nandita Saxena (silver medal in patisserie and confectionary): Nandita became
align="aligncenter" width="800"] Nandita Saxena after winning silver medal in patisserie and confectionary[/caption]
This year saw 1400 participants from 58 countries, participating in 62 categories. The events were held in a decentralised manner in 15 countries across Europe, East Asia and North America, over a period of 12 weeks between September to November 2022. Global Indian takes a look at the champions of 2022 who brought medals back home:
Nandita Saxena (silver medal in patisserie and confectionary): Nandita became the first Indian female competitor in history to win the silver medal in confectionary and patisserie at the WorldSkills platform. The Karnataka girl had joined IHM Aurangabad after her Bachelor’s degree to develop her patisserie and confectionery skills. Under the guidance of her mentor Vinesh Johny, she learned the nuances of the craft. She went to Lucerne, Switzerland to participate in the global challenge.
Praveen Kumar Giri (silver medal in water technology): The Odisha boy is a mechanical engineering student of CV Raman Global University. A staunch proponent of using technology for water conservation, Praveen was drawn to the field when he observed the perils of water scarcity in his surroundings growing up. He bagged the silver at the state level skill competition and went on to snag the gold at the National Skill Competition in Delhi before moving to the WorldSkills platform. He demonstrated his skills to experts in Stuttgart, Germany.
Anushree Srinivasan, (bronze medal in hotel reception): The Coimbatore girl has won the first medal for the nation in the hotel reception category. The graduate from SRM Institute of Hotel Management, Kattankulathur joined ITC Hotels soon after passing out. She has internship experiences at Oberoi Hotels and Resorts and The Savera Group. Anushree used her work experience to upskill herself in problem-solving, teamwork and time management, under the mentorship of Aagman Baury. She travelled to Montreaux Switzerland to participate in the global challenge.
Likith Kumar YP (bronze medal in prototype modelling): Likith travelled to Bern in Switzerland for the WorldSkills Competition. Prior to winning the bronze medal there, he had bagged the first place in the prototype modelling skill in IndiaSkills 2021 – the countrywide skill competition. Likith honed his skills under the guidance of his mentor, Bhaskar Singh, the chief expert in prototype modelling skills at Toyota India.
Karthik Gowda Seehalli Nagaraju (bronze medal in mechatronics): Born into a humble background, the Mysore boy got the chance to hone his expertise in mechatronics at Toyota Kirloskar Motor. The twenty-year-old dedicated his win at WorldSkills 2022 to his mentor, Bhagyashree Patil. He demonstrated his skills to leading experts and manufacturers in machine vision and automation at Stuttgart, Germany.
Akhilesh Narasimhamurthy (bronze medal in mechatronics): The competitors of mechatronics were allowed to participate in a team. Akhilesh had teamed up with Karthik. This win holds a lot of significance for the youngster who has had a troubled childhood. With a specially-abled mother, Akhilesh struggled to make ends meet after his father abandoned them when he was young. He dedicated the award to his maternal uncle who funded his study. He has been trained at Toyota Technical Training Institute (TTTI) by Bhagyashree Patil.
This is the 46th edition of the WorldSkills Competition, which is held every alternate year in a new country. Originally scheduled to be held at Shanghai, this is referred as a ‘special edition’, as it was delayed due to the pandemic and then conducted in a decentralised manner across several countries.
Indian champions participated in 50 skill categories, including graphic design technology, bakery, jewellery making, web technologies, health and social care, mobile robotics, restaurant services, information network cabling, autobody repair, automobile technology, 3D digital game art, fashion technology, and hair dressing among others.
A total of 56 competitors, 50 experts, 11 interpreters and seven team leaders were part of the Indian contingent after rigorous selection process of National Skill Development Corporation starting from district to India Skills 2022 National Competition.
(July 12, 2024) "Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you, and you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use." This quote by Steve Jobs resonates the most with Indian-American teen Naren Manikandan who at the age of 16 took it upon himself to find a solution for the growing issue of a lack of parking due to smaller driveways, narrow roads, and insufficient supply to maintain the demand in his neighbourhood. "Parking is a huge problem in Birkshires in Morrisville, North Carolina and I often heard my parents discuss it at home. That's when I realised that there are so many unused parking spaces that can be used efficiently to overcome the problem," Naren tells Global Indian. This led him to build Parkware, a parking solution for neighbourhoods nationwide that don't have access to extra parking lots and face severe restrictions based on city/town regulations and home construction. "The app connects homeowners with unused parking spaces with residents needing parking spaces for local events like parties, and birthdays," the 17-year-old reveals. [caption id="attachment_38601" align="aligncenter" width="457"] Naren Manikandan[/caption] Love
Hailing from Tamil Nadu in India, his parents, who are nurse practitioners, moved to the UK where Naren Manikandan was born. At the age of six, he and his family relocated to Tennessee in the US which he called home for several years before moving to North Carolina. "Obsessed with Lego while growing up, I always found myself building things. But once an uncle of mine introduced me to Quantum Mechanics which sparked my interest in astrophysics initially and eventually transformed into a love for computer science. I was intrigued that I could do so much with a computer," he says, adding, "I once tried to automate my blinds through my Arduino set. It was a fun project."
Growing up, he loved creating ideas, refining them, and eventually building them. It was online resources that came to his rescue and he learnt a great deal from them. "I also joined a Robotics team in school that helped me pitch ideas to businesses and developed speaking skills as well as creative thinking. Eventually, everything led up to Parkware - an idea I was holding onto for a long time," adds the rising 12th grader at Research Triangle High.
The journey of Parkware
He explains that in Morrisville the land is expensive, thus leading to smaller size homes with a limited parking space. "At times, we borrow parking spaces from friends but I wondered why we should restrict it to just friends. Before Covid, our community and neighbourhood hosted many events, and people would easily give their unused parking spaces to others. But Covid changed it all. We saw less sharing and fewer community events," says Naren, who values a strong sense of community. "It greatly helps the person organising an event. For me, it's a sort of public duty. It's not just about providing a solution but also helping neighbourhoods support each other."
[caption id="attachment_38602" align="aligncenter" width="698"] Multiple cars parked on the sidewalk in his neighbourhood[/caption]
Having seen the problem from close quarters, he knew that the neighbourhood was in dire need of a solution. It was in the summer of 2023 that Naren started working on Parkware, leveraging his programming knowledge to build the application. He began by asking neighbours on WhatsApp group chats about their parking woes and conducting surveys on parking needs. "This helped me understand the issue better and identify potential solutions. It was Airbnb's model that rang in my head while looking at this problem - this could be an Airbnb for parking. During vacations or office hours, many parking spaces are unused, so why not divert them to people who need them during those times?" he explains. By August 2023, he had the app ready to be tested in his neighbourhood and gather some feedback. "This year we got the opportunity to present it to the local government," shares the proud teenager.
Currently operational in his neighbourhood in Birkshires, the app is available on Android and iOS. "If you have an event coming up, you can raise a parking space request by providing details about the date, time, and number of spots required. People near the location will get a notification about the request, an can offer their free parking spaces," explains Naren, emphasising that it's an on-demand service. People don't need to list their parking spaces on the app; instead, they receive notifications through an event link shared by the event organiser. "You don't necessarily need to install the app. You can visit our website to create a link, and share it with your neighbourhood through WhatsApp or Facebook, which is later updated on the provider's end."
During this over-a-year-long journey, Naren had his moments of self-doubt and was constantly distracted by new ideas. "Being persistent was one of the biggest challenges. You can explore new things but it's equally important to stay focussed on something you are truly passionate about until you see some results." It was a sense of duty that kept Naren pushing forward because he knew the problem still existed. "There was a purpose driving me. I knew I could make an impact since it's an issue in my neighbourhood."
[caption id="attachment_38603" align="aligncenter" width="789"] Naren Manikandan pitching Parkware to the Morrisville Smart City committee[/caption]
Future plans
Ask him about the revenue model, and the teen is in two minds. "We could either adopt a commission-based business model where the organiser pays the provide for the parking spot, and we take a commission. Or we could position this as a community service project to help neighbourhoods, with the potential of local government involvement later on."
Naren plans to expand Parkware to cities and towns across the US facing parking problems. "As a community-based project, we can propose Parkware as a solution to local governments in cities with parking issues and potentially integrate it with any existing apps. Moreover, we can target committees and city planners looking for solutions," says Naren, who envisions the app being used beyond neighbourhood parking for events like sports games. "Often sports stadiums have expensive parking fees but nearby neighbourhoods have open spaces that could be used for overflow parking." Expanding to India is on his agenda, with modifications tailored to local needs. "I have a lot of connections in India, plus I visit it a lot."
[caption id="attachment_38604" align="aligncenter" width="605"] Naren presenting at the Emerge Conference after receiving 1st place in the Thinkubators competition[/caption]
With his eyes set on a major in computer science, Naren wants to continue building projects. Taking inspiration from the biographies he reads, he has realised "whether its apps or inventions or innovations, they are done by people who are exactly like you. Everyone starts from basics and nothing is unreachable. You can make a difference."
The teen, who practices Kalaripayattu, an Indian martial art, and also plays basketball, advices youngsters to stay focussed. "It's not a straight path, and don't expect it to be. But if you stay consistent you will get somewhere. Don't just keep looking at the results but also look at your progress. If you have a good purpose, keep going," he signs off.
(January 28, 2024) When she was just 19, Anshita Mehrotra, a student, was on a winter break at her Varanasi home. Having curly hair, she did a casual Google search on curly hair products that gave her empty results, and anything available was ridiculously expensive. She realised, in an epiphany, that curly hair is rarely represented in pop culture, media, or even on beauty racks on stores. The wide gap in the haircare market for curly hair was evident and Anshita decided she would provide a solution. Childhood Nostalgia As a kid, Mehrotra was very interested in pop culture, writing, reading and storytelling. She studied at Pathways World School Aravali, and she admits that this experience shaped her into who she is today. “I loved fiction books, diving deep into stories that were far off from my actual life, it was my way of relaxing. I initially thought I would grow up to write, and I did write a collection of poetry in college which I self-published later, titled ‘Love Comes Full Circle’ at 19,” she reminisces. At home on a college winter break she realised that she had no products for textured curls, or wavy Indian hair. “I realised
red curls, or wavy Indian hair. “I realised no one in our country saw curly or wavy hair as worthy of being taken care of, so I felt very strongly about it and began researching formulations. I took the semester off, and realised I wanted to make Fix My Curls much bigger than what I had initially thought,” she says.
Safe ways
That’s how Mehrotra started working on her product, Fix My Curls, whose main USP is specially-crafted formula meant for curly and wavy hair, which is also free from silicone, sulphates, paraben, waxes, mineral oil and drying alcohols, as they can worsen the dry, frizzy tendencies of textured hair. “We choose softer, balanced formulations that use butters, oils, and naturally occurring cleansing agents that are not as harsh as those in the mass market to care for our curly headed customers. With upto eight rounds of formulating per product, we take anywhere from 6-8 months to launch each product, to make sure we get it just right. We also pride ourselves on choosing ingredients from France, and Germany as well as locally sourcing from India when it makes sense,” says Mehrotra.
Growing together
Women all over the world are turning their problems into multi-million dollar businesses. “They are the ones who go back home and manage the house and get back up to go manage their empire. I especially admire women venture capitalists that are pushing the notion that women led ideas and businesses deserve funding now more than ever. My biggest inspiration would be my mother, Shaily Mehrotra, she runs Fixderma and has taught me some invaluable lessons on making sure product is king,” says Mehrotra.
Now, curly hair products are flooding the market, which Mehrotra sees as a positive sign. “I love it, in fact we encourage more and more brands to enter this space because it helps us further educate and grow the market,” she says. And while it’s not an easy journey, it’s worth it, she remarks. “Our once-niche segment is now thriving and gives our customers so many options and communities to feel like they belong. At the end of the day that is our goal, to give them a space where they feel good about their natural hair, curly, wavy, or coily,” she adds.
Building communities
She plans to make Fix My Curls a community-driven brand and says that she loves her customers and trusts their instinct on the product and what they should make as they move forward. “They drive the brand and have supported us immensely, so we look to make the product experience the best for them as we move forward. We also plan to begin our offline retail journey with salons and are present in Shoppers Stop branches across India currently. We also aim to make sure quick commerce is PAN India for us through BlinkIt and Swiggy Instamart so our customers never have to wait for the product,” she says. The brand has also begun their journey into the US market with the help of CurlsMonthly, a monthly subscription service that gives curly hair products from all over the globe to their customers to try before they buy. “We still have to properly set up distribution in the US but Amazon has been a great help in getting us there because they've made it incredibly easy to onboard and sell the product. We have also always made sure we are compliant, and our formulations are approved by FDA standards to be sold in the US. We aim to work much harder this year to reach that market the best we can,” she explains.
Learning lessons
Mehrotra usually takes challenges one day at a time and says that she has learnt the valuable lesson of worrying only about what is right in front of you, rather than worrying for the future as that is not here yet. Basic operational and supply chain challenges are most common in the personal care industry, and take time and consistency to move through, Mehrotra has learned, in her journey with Fix My Curls. “I have learnt many lessons, but there have been some that have stuck. Your gut will make some of the best business decisions for you, but knowing to listen to it is when it can be hard. Say no more often than yes. Don't work with everyone, it's not worth your time,” she says.
[caption id="attachment_35495" align="aligncenter" width="554"] Anshita Mehrotra, founder, Fix My Curls[/caption]
In her free time, Mehrotra loves trying new coffee shops, Pilates classes, tennis lessons with a coach, reading fiction fantasy books, and cooking. “I also love going on the hunt for authentic Japanese and Korean eatery spots in Delhi NCR with my friends,” she says. The 24 year old is taking giant strides in the cosmetic industry by catering to a niche that has been seldom explored and this reflects her business acumen that belies her age.
(November 3, 2024) In sixth grade, Adarsh Ambati noticed something unusual in his hometown of San Jose, California. The frogs in the nearby creek had stopped croaking, and the once lush green lawns were turning brown, stark evidence of a drought affecting the region. Although his family was conscious about conserving water, many neighbours neglected to turn off their sprinklers, resulting in significant waste. This realisation sparked a fire in young Adarsh — a determination to create solutions for environmental crises. At just 13 years old, Adarsh's life took a dramatic turn when his mother suffered a third-degree heart block. Watching her connected to monitoring equipment, he became inspired to develop a portable, cost-effective device to track vital signs without hindering mobility. This ambition marked the beginning of his journey as an innovator and STEM promoter. By the time he won the prestigious Gloria Barron Prize in 2021, Adarsh had made remarkable strides, introducing projects like the Community Sprinkler and an Amphibian Biodiversity Protection Initiative, showcasing his commitment to addressing environmental challenges. The Contactless Monitor Now a mathematics major at Stanford University, Adarsh's first project — the Contactless Monitor — was completed just nine months after his mother’s health crisis.
Now a mathematics major at Stanford University, Adarsh's first project — the Contactless Monitor — was completed just nine months after his mother’s health crisis. Fortunately, her condition improved, allowing him to conduct over 1,000 tests on his prototype as part of a pilot study involving 40 participants. "It took me around nine months to develop the device and build an app with notifications so doctors could use it, but also regular people," he said in an interview. "Because it's contactless and relatively portable, it could even be used to detect infectious diseases like Covid-19."
He was recognised by Davidson Fellows for his project which left him honoured and elated. "This recognition bolsters my confidence and propels me to further advance my project. It validates not only my work but also that of my family members, teachers, friends, and mentors who were instrumental in the success of my project."
The contactless feature helps minimise exposure for healthcare providers, especially critical during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, this low-cost innovation strengthens home healthcare systems, allowing for self-quarantining without burdening hospitals. The continuous monitoring capability can even help identify health issues like Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, which can be fatal and unexpected.
Adarsh's keen awareness of the challenges in his community fueled his desire to innovate. Growing up in California, he observed neighbors using automatic sprinklers that wasted water, prompting him to develop a solution to combat this inefficiency.
A Low-Cost Community Sprinkler Alert System
"While going to school in the rain one day, I saw one of my neighbors with their sprinklers on, creating run-offs," he shared with Vintage Billboard. "Through research, I found that 25 percent of the water used in an average American household is wasted each day due to overwatering and inefficient watering methods."
In 2016, Adarsh Ambati began creating a prototype for a smart, low-cost community sprinkler alert system. After conducting a two-month pilot with 10 neighboring homes, he discovered the potential to save approximately 50,000 gallons of water in just a few months. "The sprinkler system is compliant with water regulations, to cost-effectively save water for entire neighborhoods using a Raspberry Pi, moisture sensors, PyOWM (weather database), and by utilizing free social media networks like Twitter," he explained.
The sprinkler alert system not only detects moisture levels but also integrates real-time weather forecasts to optimize watering schedules. With a prototype cost of around $50, Adarsh believes it can be reduced to just five cents per household since it serves entire communities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFxGGuiix1c
A Scalable Model
In Northern California, where outdoor landscaping consumes an average of 100 gallons of water per household daily, the potential impact is significant. Adarsh presented his system to the San Jose City Council, who considered implementing it in public areas to conserve water.
Recognition followed quickly; in 2019, he won MagPi Magazine's Coolest Projects USA competition, and in 2021, he received the Gloria Barron Prize for his efforts. As the founder of Gro-STEMS, Adarsh sells succulents to fund technology training at the LifeMoves Homeless Shelter in San Jose and Aarti Girls School for abandoned children in Kadapa, India.
An Inspiring Innovator
Adarsh, who loves playing the flute and reading comics in his free time, wants to become a Principal Investigator and have his own lab at an academic institution where he can "work with like-minded students and faculty to conduct research in environmental sciences/engineering, developing technologies that better the world and help protect our environment."
Growing up in a region known for its diverse population, Adarsh Ambati has harnessed his Indian heritage and experiences to inspire action in environmental sustainability and STEM education. His initiatives, such as the development of a low-cost smart sprinkler system and the Contactless Monitor for healthcare, reflect a commitment to using technology for the greater good. Furthermore, through his organization, Gro-STEMS, he actively supports underserved students by providing technology training and resources, bridging the gap between his Indian roots and the broader Californian community.
(March 7, 2022) When Hyderabad boy 15-year-old Hemesh Chadalavada saw how disoriented his Alzheimer-suffering grandmother was, he felt helpless. The young innovator worked on a Stem-based app and wearable device that would not only monitor her movements, but also give families a respite from the endless worry. [embed]https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1353690264343220224?s=20&t=fQeXi7ZraOmLTwshDgc5ig[/embed] The young innovator received the Pradhan Mantri Rastriya Bal Shakti Puraskar 2021 for his unique invention. His device, Alpha Monitor, signals caregivers and family members when a patient wanders off, and also sends vital stats, thus helping in the care of such patients. How concern led to innovation “Alzheimer’s is similar to forgetfulness; it destroys memories and other brain functions. My grandmother is one amongst many suffering from the disease. A study reveals that every 30 seconds, one individual in the world develops symptoms of Alzheimer’s. This is a huge problem that I wanted to solve,” says the young innovator in a conversation with Global Indian. Since aged six, Hemesh was captivated with the internet, “I remember watching many YouTube videos about arts and crafts. I used to put my learned skills into practice often. Soon, I started working on basic electronic projects like building electronic cars, fans, etc. By the time
ned skills into practice often. Soon, I started working on basic electronic projects like building electronic cars, fans, etc. By the time I was in my fifth grade, I learned coding and progressed onto more useful projects,” the young innovator explains.
His visits to his grandmother in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh opened his eyes to her struggles. “I realised that one of the biggest problems with my grandmother was that she used to wander off early morning or late at night, and the family and caregivers were left worried. We were fortunate that she didn’t get lost,” says the young innovator, who was intrigued enough to reach out to the Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India. There, he came across a family that had been in search of a loved one, an Alzheimer’s patient, for the past 20 years. “It was sad, they had given up hope. I thought why not develop something that would impact people around me like my grandmother,” says the Hyderabad-based Stem aspirant. He then went on to create a device that gave doctors, caregivers and family real-time information on their loved ones.
Thinking differently
Alpha Monitor’s first prototype was a wrist band that detected a patient’s movements – whether asleep, standing or walking. “I spent the 2019 summer on building a prototype to test out the concept. It is different from other products in the market. Other devices have not integrated a sensor called a gyroscope which I have,” smiles the young innovator.
[caption id="attachment_11998" align="aligncenter" width="647"] Hemesh with Governor of Telangana, Tamilisai Soundrarajan[/caption]
“Existing devices are similar to a GPS tracker around the neck that patients can easily remove, and are prone to breakage. Some devices like doormats detect if a patient steps on it but are chunky, and can be bypassed. My innovation is based on an algorithm gyroscope model that reflects even if a person rolls on the bed, or places his hands on the floor. It alerts when the patient gets up, and starts wandering through a phone call, unlike just a phone alert, that other products offer,” adds the Jubilee Hills Public School student.
A health monitor too
As his grandmother required regular checkups, which were tough due to her uncontrolled movements, Hemesh’s remote healthcare system bridged a huge gap. Data related to her pulse, heartbeat etc could be sent to a doctor at intervals. “I developed an android app that the doctor could download which connected to the gyroscope device via bluetooth,” smiles the young innovator.
Initially, the device was a wristband. Experts at ARDSI suggested a coin-sized reduction and customisation so it could be used as a wrist or leg band, or pinned on. They loved his useful tech-based solution.
Recognitions and inspirations
The young innovator won at Ideate for India - out of 1,33,000 students, he was among 50 chosen. Recipient of the Macmillan Budding Scientist Award, the Bal Shakti Puraskar was most precious, "I am honoured to receive the award. It is special because it is a recognition from the government of India, which motivates me to do impactful work."
[caption id="attachment_12000" align="aligncenter" width="713"] Hemesh with Former Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ravi Shankar Prasad[/caption]
Hemesh’s parents Kishore and Sandhya have been hugely encouraging. “They have been supportive throughout, even when I was working on my little arts and crafts projects in class 1,” he smiles. The Telangana State Innovation Cell serves as his role model, inspiring him to innovate. Hemesh is working on a startup - CreatoWise.com, a hub for YouTubers following in the footsteps of his BBA brother and homemaker mother who run a channel 'Simplify Your Home with Sandhya' with over 5 lakh subscribers.
[caption id="attachment_12001" align="aligncenter" width="673"] Hemesh with his family[/caption]
Internet, coding, and math are his passions. “Internet is a huge knowledge bank. People should not just be passive users but apply the knowledge. If one watches coding videos, they can be applied to gain knowledge in developing new projects. My favorite subject - math requires one to apply fundamentals. Since, I am not a fan of memorising, coding and building projects fit perfectly,” says Hemesh, who sees himself as an entrepreneur empowering the world with powerful innovations in the years to come.