In the ever-evolving world of technology and entrepreneurship, certain individuals break barriers to achieve the unthinkable. One such visionary is Rounak Adhikary, the brilliant mind behind Project X. Recently funded by Google, Project X is set to revolutionize the tech industry. But Rounak’s journey is far from ordinary—he is also a professional cricketer and a passionate innovator.
In this blog, we dive deep into Rounak’s inspiring story, his early challenges, his relentless pursuit of knowledge, and how Project X came to life.
In This Episode
Humble Beginnings: From a Small Village to Global Recognition
Rounak was born and raised in a small village in West India, where entrepreneurship was almost unheard of. In his village, securing a job with a salary of ₹20,000 per month was considered a great achievement. However, fate had something extraordinary planned for him. His father worked in the IT industry and had a computer at home—the only one in the entire village.
This early exposure to technology sparked Rounak’s curiosity. Though the computer was outdated, it became his gateway to the world of innovation. His friends in the village would gather around to watch him work on the computer, fascinated by what he could do.
Passion for Technology and Cricket
As a child, Rounak had an innate ability to tinker with technology. He loved tweaking devices, changing operating systems, and experimenting with software. He believed that “with limited resources, we become the most creative.” His passion for problem-solving kept growing despite the lack of resources.
At the same time, cricket was his first love. Up until his first year of college, he dreamt of playing for the Indian national cricket team. He represented his district at various levels and continues to play at a competitive level even today.
Stepping Into the World of Higher Education
At 19 years old, Rounak moved to Punjab to pursue his B.Sc. in Computer Science at Lovely Professional University (LPU). This transition exposed him to a diverse culture, where he interacted with people from different states in India and even international students from Africa and the Middle East.
This experience broadened his perspective and made him realize a common challenge: computational accessibility. He saw that not just villages in India but also other countries struggled with access to computing resources.
The Birth of Project X: From Idea to Reality
During the COVID-19 lockdown, Rounak’s hunger for knowledge pushed him to complete over 30 free courses on Coursera. He studied subjects like cloud computing, AI, Python, front-end development, and social psychology.
Then came the big idea: “Why not take the entire computing experience to the cloud?”
The concept of Project X was born—an initiative to create a cloud-based operating system that would allow users to access computing power from any device.
He reached out to his childhood friend, Ronne, a skilled engineer, and together they started brainstorming. Initially, they wanted to manufacture their own laptops. However, as they researched further, they realized that their true innovation lay in cloud computing rather than hardware.
The Challenges and Breakthroughs
Building a startup from scratch was not easy. Rounak and his team had no experience in business, equity distribution, or team management. However, LPU played a crucial role in nurturing their entrepreneurial spirit. One of his mentors at LPU saw the potential in Project X and encouraged them to pursue it wholeheartedly.
They officially registered their company, obtained a Startup India certification, and started pitching their idea to venture capitalists (VCs). However, they faced immediate rejection. Sequoia Capital and other investors told them that the problem they were trying to solve was technologically impossible.
Despite this setback, Rounak and his team remained determined. They brought in their third co-founder, Subro, and continued refining their vision. To build the right team, they reached out to skilled engineers on platforms like Reddit. One experienced professional—10 years their senior—joined their mission, adding much-needed expertise.
Recognition and Google’s Investment
Despite having no tangible product initially, Project X gained traction. The team participated in flagship pitching competitions at IIT Bombay, IIT Roorkee, IIT Kharagpur, and IIT Gandhinagar. Their idea resonated with many, and they received significant recognition and connections.
Finally, their perseverance paid off. Google recognized their potential and funded Project X, a game-changing milestone that propelled the startup into the limelight.
The Future of Project X
With Google’s backing, Project X is now on a mission to make computational accessibility a reality for millions worldwide. Their innovative approach aims to redefine cloud-based computing, making technology more inclusive and efficient.
A Story of Grit and Innovation
Rounak Adhikary’s journey from a small Indian village to a Google-backed entrepreneur is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and innovation. His story is an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs, proving that no dream is too big, no background too small, and no obstacle too great.
As Project X continues to grow, we can’t wait to see how it reshapes the tech world. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting startup!