Ajay Y.

Now, I’m back in the founder seat, focusing on building a vertical AI SaaS startup. I will be building this venture in public, sharing my experiences and insights on growth and revenue strategies along the way.

In 2021, I co-founded Simplified, an AI-driven platform designed to support SMB marketing teams with content creation, distribution, and collaboration in one place. We raised over $14M from Khosla Ventures and Craft, scaled to over 17 million users.

I began my entrepreneurial journey as a solo founder, building a marketplace in New York to help people find roommates. This venture raised over $20M in capital, grew to over 5 million users, and reached profitability.

Co-Founder

SoftBank just came back to India.
Not for fintech. Not for e-commerce.
For an AI app builder.

Emergent just closed a $70M Series B led by SoftBank and Khosla Ventures - with other leading investors globally.

Here's what caught my attention:
In 7 months: 
→ 5M+ builders 
→ $50M ARR 
→ 6M+ apps shipped 
→ Live in 190+ countries

Those aren't vanity metrics. That's a product people actually use to ship real software.

I've been deep in the vibecoding space for a while now. Most AI builders give you a prototype that breaks the moment you add users, payments, or a team.
Emergent's entire pitch is reliability. Production-grade from day one. Backend, auth, deployment, mobile - all native.

Real examples:
- UK's largest energy company deployed an AI app in 2 days (saved ~2,000 dev hours)
- Up Your Bids: built in 80 hours → raised $150K
- Voxsmyth: a microbiologist built a multi-voice audiobook platform no other no-code tool could handle

The AI app builder war is narrowing to 3 players: Lovable, Replit, and Emergent.
Emergent just got the war chest to pull ahead.

Mukund Jha Madhav Jha Emergent
#emergent #emergentai

Building @ Otto AI | Prev. co-founder @ Simplified AI (20M+ Users), backed by Khosla & Craft Ventures

CNBC

Leading a team of video journalists, crafting editorial strategy, and driving breaking news coverage and in-depth analysis. Overseeing scripts, production, and post-production to uphold editorial standards, maintain brand voice, and engage the target audience. Producing original video features with in-depth analysis. Guiding and mentoring interns and fellows.

Managing Producer

Producing original video features. Crafting smart headlines and collaborating across several different departments at CNBC. Assigning and reviewing scripts for quick-turn videos and program-relevant videos across CNBC.com platforms, including articles, playlists, and landing pages. Identifying compelling video excerpts from our broadcast, proofreading, and publishing video clips from CNBC. Helping Supervising Producer maintain the team’s clipping schedule.

Lead Producer

TheStreet

Produced videos from start to finish: conceptualizing, storyboarding, writing, shooting and editing. Directed live and taped studio interviews and segments with reporters. Booked guests and managed the workflow of weekly shows. Pitched and developed video series: 20th anniversary of 9/11 attacks, Black History Month. Produced short video stories for social media like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. Produced and edited audio files into engagin

Video Producer / Multimedia Journalist

Queens World Film Festival

Managed all social channels (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram) including monitoring, publishing, and content development. Increased 50% audience growth using social media strategy, curated posting and engaging content. Brainstormed & created new content for various media sites, including doing Facebook Live. Connected and networked with filmmakers, fans, supporters, and advertisers. Took photos and videos, edited them and promoted them to all social media channels.

Social Media Director (Currently Board Member)

Podcast At the End of the Day

Show aimed at immigrants in the U.S., helping them adjust to and make the most out of their new country. Reached approximately 1,000 listeners weekly via podcast application and YouTube. Interviewed local role models from different communities about issues such as language, reading, parenting, enrolling in a university, stepping out of one's comfort zone, and following one's dream.

Executive Producer/ Presenter

www.voicesofny.org

Produced stories about immigrants for this website about NYC’s ethnic communities. Took photos and videos and compiled audio stories. Translated stories from Nepalese community newspapers.

Contributing Multimedia Journalist

SupChina

Produced social videos for YouTube and Facebook. Shot and edited videos involving Chinese immigrants in New York City. Executed shoots in the studio for guests.

Video Intern

Metropolis Magazine

Produced short-form and long-form video stories and VR-360 videos. Wrote stories linking design to evolving cultural trends.

Video Editorial Intern

New York Daily News

Produced videos tailored for social media and website. Executed shoots in the studio and throughout the city. Worked with reporters to generate videos to accompany stories.

Editorial Intern

#FirstNepaliPlayOffBway

•	Organized, publicized, and coordinated media for the first Off-Broadway Nepali play.

•	Publicized the play in major print, online and broadcast media in New York and Nepal:
http://bit.ly/1Qs1Plg; started #FirstNepaliPlayOffBway to gain attention on social media.

•	Acted in the play.

Media Coordinator and Publicist

BBC Media Action Nepal

•	Produced a lifeline radio program for earthquake survivors of Nepal: www.bbc.co.uk/mediaaction/where-we-work/asia/nepal/earthquake.

•	Designed, developed and delivered a 15-minute show daily; the focus was to compile and share life-saving information for the earthquake survivors. 

•	Worked as a Communications Manager; managed promotion of the program content through social media, sound cloud and electronic media.

•	Hosted some of the radio programs from the highly earthquake-affected areas.

•	Did ground reporting from various earthquake-affected districts and produced inspiring stories from the survivors. 

•	Developed and supervised a survey about the immediate needs of the earthquake survivors through various social media channels and ground research. 

•	Coordinated with different UN groups to ensure correct and authentic voices and information.

•	Generated practical information from the earthquake survivors themselves, which helped to strengthen the content of the program.

Lifeline Producer

Anuz Thapa currently works as a Managing Producer at CNBC.

Originally from Nepal, he embarked on his career as a prime-time TV News Anchor at the prestigious News 24 Television, laying the foundation for his remarkable journey. During Nepal's devastating 2015 Earthquake, he honed his skills and gained invaluable experience as a producer of ground reports for BBC Media Action.

With a specialization in multimedia storytelling, Thapa possesses extensive knowledge in video production, including Virtual Reality-360 videos. His storytelling prowess encompasses a harmonious blend of photos, videos, and text, making him a comprehensive and well-rounded professional in the realm of new-age media. In 2014, Thapa ventured to the United States, where he shared his expertise with esteemed media outlets such as NY Daily News, Metropolis Magazine, and TheStreet, leaving an indelible mark on the industry. He has also worked for SupChina, The Real Deal.

In 2017, he further enhanced his credentials by successfully completing a Master's degree in International Reporting from the renowned CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. Prior to this accomplishment, he had already earned a Master's degree in development communication from Tribhuwan University in Nepal in 2013, solidifying his foundation in the field.

Thapa's linguistic abilities extend to English, Nepali, and Hindi, enabling him to effectively connect and communicate with diverse audiences. With his wealth of experience and multicultural perspective, he continues to flourish as a valuable asset in the realm of journalism, leaving an enduring impact on the industry.

Thapa and his partner, Dipika Shrestha, co-host "At The End of The Day," a weekly career guide podcast for young immigrants in the United States.

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