Mechanical Engineer · AI Builder · Founder

Ackshaya Varshini

I engineer things that think.

01 / ABOUT

I started in mechanical engineering, designing C-arm robots at Siemens Healthineers. Then I taught myself to code from scratch, built an AI marketplace solo, and started raising a pre-seed round. The through-line is the same: I see systems, I understand how they work, and I make them better.

Mechanical Precision

Siemens Healthineers / CSWE / 5 Research Papers

I design things that work in the physical world. From C-arm medical robots to 5-DOF manipulators to IoT systems.

Intelligent Systems

Self-taught Full-Stack / AI + CFD Pipelines

I taught myself React, Python, FastAPI, and LLM APIs from zero. Then I built production systems that ship.

Builder's Instinct

Atlas IntelliTek / Alma / Pre-Seed Stage

I don't just build for assignments. I build companies. Alma serves students from 20+ top universities.

Ackshaya Varshini
02 / EXPERIENCE
03 / PROJECTS
Alma - AI Mentorship Marketplace
LIVE PRODUCT

Alma

AI Mentorship Marketplace

Students describe what they need. Alma's AI finds the right mentor from 20+ universities including Harvard, UC Berkeley, CMU, Princeton, and Yale. It drafts a personalized introduction. No cold DMs. No spam.

20+ Universities | Built Solo | Raising Pre-Seed

Next.jsTypeScriptReactTailwindCSSFastAPIPythonPostgreSQLRedisLLM APIsLangGraphDocker
Visit joinalma.ai
V: 2.4 m/sP: 101.3 kPaT: 294.2 KCFD FLOWVortex ZoneTurbulenceRANS SolverOpenFOAMRANS Simulation
ACTIVE DEVELOPMENT

VentraFlow

AI-Assisted CFD Automation

End-to-end pipeline automating computational fluid dynamics: geometry ingestion, AI-driven meshing, RANS simulation, and KPI dashboards. Reduced simulation turnaround from 6 hours to 3. Built in collaboration with Sukra Infotek.

100+ Design Iterations | 80% First-Pass Convergence

PythonOpenFOAMFastAPILangChainDocker
PUMPVALVEPIPE JCTPUMPVALVETANKVALVEHYDRAULIC NETWORKRL optimizing...Digital Twin
ACTIVE DEVELOPMENT

ValveOps

Hydraulic Network Simulation

Web-based hydraulic network simulation tool. Loads water network models, runs simulations, and uses reinforcement learning to optimize valve and pump settings in real time. Built in collaboration with Sukra Infotek.

PythonGNNReinforcement LearningDigital Twin
UPI TRANSACTIONS₹2,400 OK₹850 OK₹47,500 FRAUD₹1,200 OK₹3,600 OK!ACCURACY97.3%LLM Classification
HACKATHON FINALIST

Kavach AI

Fraud Detection System

Real-time fraud prevention for UPI/SMS transactions using LLM classification. Built at MumbaiHacks 2025. Top 500 finalist from all of India.

PythonLLM APIsNLPReal-time Classification
35% shorter25% largerC-armCOLUMNBASEX-RAY SOURCEDETECTORPATIENT TABLETELESCOPIC ARMSiemens Robotic C-ARMARTIS PhenoMedical Robotics
SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS

ARTIS Pheno C-Arm Redesign

Siemens Healthineers — Medical Robotics

Re-engineered the ARTIS Pheno scanning robot to fit into existing operating rooms without costly construction. Designed a rotating dock and telescopic arm that maintained full clinical range of motion. Validated with CAD/FEA and 3D-printed a working model for clinician buy-in.

35% Shorter | 25% Larger C-Arm | Fit the Machine to the Room

CATIAGD&TDFMFEAAdditive MfgSolidWorks
J1: BaseJ2: ShoulderJ3: ElbowJ4: Wrist PJ5: Wrist RBASE PLATESERVOELBOWWRISTGRIPPERROBOT ARM5-DOF Manipulator
HARDWARE + SOFTWARE

5-DOF Robotic Manipulator

Hardware + Software Integration

Designed and 3D-printed an electromechanical robot with 5 degrees of freedom, integrating sensors for precision kinematics and object manipulation.

MatlabFEA3D PrintingSensor Integration
STATUS: ACTIVECOVERAGE: 98.2%CEILING MOUNTSPRAY HEADWiFi MODULEIoT SPRINKLERIoT Control
PUBLISHED RESEARCH

IoT Auto-Sprinkler

Published Research System

IoT-based auto-disinfectant sprinkler. Ceiling-mounted, 360-degree rotation, web-controlled interface. Published in Springer Proceedings.

IoTWeb ControlMechanical DesignPublished
04 / THE BUILDER STORY

From Matlab to Marketplace

In 2022, I could not write a line of code beyond Matlab. I was a mechanical engineer who designed C-arm robots at Siemens and modeled corrosion at Ohio State.

Then I decided to build something. Not for a class. Not for a company. For a problem I lived every day: being an international student with no network, sending messages into the void, never hearing back.

I taught myself React. Then Python. Then FastAPI. Then PostgreSQL. Then TypeScript. Then LLM APIs. Then Docker. Then AWS. Not from a bootcamp. From documentation, from building, from breaking things at 2am and fixing them by 4am.

Three months later, Alma was live. Mentors from Harvard, Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, Princeton, Yale, and 20 more universities. Every line of code, every deployment, every design decision: mine. I went from zero to a live AI marketplace, solo.

05 / RESEARCH & CREDENTIALS

Click a card to flip and read the abstract

PAPER 01

IoT-Based Auto-Disinfectant Sprinkler System

Springer Proceedings

IoT / Automation
2021

Abstract

This paper presents the design and implementation of an IoT-based automatic disinfectant sprinkler system for indoor sanitization. The system features a ceiling-mounted nozzle assembly with 360-degree rotation capability, controlled remotely via a web-based interface. An embedded microcontroller manages spraying schedules and dispersion patterns, while real-time sensor feedback ensures optimal disinfectant distribution. The prototype was tested in enclosed rooms, demonstrating effective coverage and reduced manual intervention for post-pandemic sanitization needs.

Read Full Paper
PAPER 02

Numerical Simulation on Solar Panel Efficiency

IOP Conference Series

Energy / CFD
2021

Abstract

This study investigates the thermal performance and efficiency of solar photovoltaic panels through computational fluid dynamics simulation. The numerical model analyzes heat transfer characteristics, temperature distribution, and airflow patterns across the panel surface under varying environmental conditions. Results demonstrate how panel orientation, ambient temperature, and wind speed impact energy conversion efficiency. The findings provide design guidelines for optimizing solar panel installations to maximize power output while minimizing thermal degradation.

Read Full Paper
PAPER 03

Concept Design of Hybrid Solar-Wind Turbine

IOP Conference Series

Renewable Energy
2021

Abstract

This paper presents a novel concept design for a hybrid energy harvesting system that integrates solar photovoltaic panels with a vertical-axis wind turbine in a single compact unit. The design leverages the complementary nature of solar and wind energy to maintain consistent power generation across varying weather conditions. Structural analysis and preliminary CFD simulations validate the aerodynamic feasibility. The hybrid system targets small-scale, off-grid applications where space constraints demand multi-functional energy solutions.

Read Full Paper
PAPER 04

Self-Sustainable Triboelectric Pacemaker

IOP Conference Series

Biomedical
2021

Abstract

This research explores a self-powered cardiac pacemaker concept using triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) technology to harvest biomechanical energy from the heart's own motion. The proposed device converts the periodic mechanical contraction of cardiac tissue into electrical energy sufficient to power pacing circuitry, eliminating the need for battery replacements. Material selection, output voltage characterization, and energy harvesting efficiency under simulated cardiac loading conditions are analyzed. The study demonstrates the feasibility of achieving energy autonomy for next-generation implantable medical devices.

Read Full Paper
PAPER 05

Pupil Dilation in AI-Based Emotion Recognition

Springer Proceedings

AI / Computer Vision
2021

Abstract

This paper investigates the correlation between pupil dilation patterns and emotional states, proposing a computer vision-based framework for real-time emotion recognition. Using image processing techniques to track pupillary response changes under controlled visual stimuli, the system classifies emotional states including surprise, fear, and engagement. A convolutional neural network model trained on the collected pupil dilation dataset achieves reliable classification accuracy. The approach offers a non-invasive, physiological complement to facial expression-based emotion detection systems.

Read Full Paper
5Papers
2Publishers
4Domains
06 / FOR INVESTORS

Alma is an AI mentorship marketplace. Students describe what they need. Alma finds the right mentor, drafts a personalized introduction, and handles the rest.

0+

Universities

Harvard, Berkeley, CMU, Princeton, Yale and more

0%

Founder-Built

Every line of code. Solo.

$0M+

Valuation

Pre-seed stage

Why Now

Cold outreach is dying

Cold email reply rates dropped 15% YoY. LinkedIn InMails average <10% response.

AI can orchestrate warm intros

2025 is the year AI went from answering questions to executing multi-step workflows.

70% graduate without a mentor

Post-pandemic networking never recovered. The discovery gap is permanent without intervention.

18-Month Trajectory

Now

Live Product

  • Full platform shipped and deployed
  • AI matching, intro drafting, chat, rewards live
  • Mentors from 20+ top US universities
6 Months

Early Traction

  • Scale mentor supply across 50+ universities
  • Launch B2B2C counselor and institutional pilots
  • Activate first paying subscribers
12 Months

Growth

  • Expand to thousands of active users
  • Close institutional partnerships
  • Build recurring revenue engine
18 Months

Series A Ready

  • Proven product-market fit with retention data
  • Multiple B2B2C partnerships live
  • Clear path to market leadership in AI mentorship

We're raising our pre-seed. I'd love to share more about where Alma is headed.

Get in Touch
07 / CONNECT

Let's build something.

Looking for an Engineer?

I bring mechanical design depth, self-taught full-stack skills, and the resilience of a founder.

Interested in Alma?

We're raising our pre-seed. I'd love to share more about where Alma is headed.