Umesh

Solo AI builder

Building AI Solutions for Small and Medium Businesses

[Vasant Shetty | Building Mundhe Banni @vasantshetty81]

Hiring alert!

We're Looking for a Community Head at @mundhebanni

Not to manage a community.

To build a movement.

At Mundhe Banni, we're on a mission to help thousands of entrepreneurs across Karnataka learn faster, connect better, and build stronger companies through community, content, learning and shared wisdom.

Today, 3,000+ founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, creators, and builders are already part of our ecosystem.

What we need now is someone who can turn this energy into something truly special.

Someone who loves bringing people together.

Someone who gets excited about connecting founders, organizing meetups, running communities, creating learning experiences, and building systems that scale.

Someone who believes entrepreneurship can transform lives, families, towns, and eventually an entire state.

You'll help build what could become Karnataka's most trusted founder community.

You'll work directly with founders, incubators, ecosystem leaders, mentors, creators, and startup operators.

You'll use AI daily.

You'll create value every single week.

And years from now, when founders talk about where they found their first mentor, cofounder, customer, investor, local support system or breakthrough idea, there's a good chance your work helped make it happen.

Strong Kannada and English required.

High agency mandatory.

Startup obsession preferred.

1-3 years experience preferred. Exceptional freshers are welcome to apply.

If this feels less like a job and more like a calling, we'd love to hear from you.

Send your profile and a short note on why this role excites you to [email protected]

@akaranth @Shishir_S_U

[Umesh @Nurturinglabs]

@vasantshetty81 @mundhebanni Housefull. This is amazing..

[Vasant Shetty | Building Mundhe Banni @vasantshetty81]

Registrations for the @mundhebanni Mysuru Meetup are now closed. We have literally 400 registrations!

Thank you, Mysuru, for the overwhelming response and interest.

See you all in Mysuru tomorrow at 3:30 PM.

Venue:
R. P. Singhania Auditorium
IRI DBCOE Building, next to SJCE STEP Incubator
JSS Technical Institutions Campus, Mysuru

[Vasant Shetty | Building Mundhe Banni @vasantshetty81]

Most successful men rarely acknowledge the women who paved their path or shaped their thinking.

@ponnappa was different. Sidu credits his mindset to two extraordinary "rebel women" who fought systemic battles long before it became normal.

His aunt C.B. Muthamma was India’s first female IFS officer (late 1940s). She didn't just break the glass ceiling; she shattered it by fighting a landmark 1979 Supreme Court case to end gender discrimination in government service.

Kaveri Karriyappa, Sidu's mother, was a professional NCC leader whose life was defined by a quiet but fierce rebellion against traditional constraints. In an era with limited communication and travel infrastructure, she pursued her passion for mountaineering by traveling through North India, staying in Gurudwaras and eating at langars until she reached the mountaineering base camp. Her determination was so strong that even when her own mother burned her certificates to prevent her from leaving home, she refused to be stopped and continued her journey.

Sidu built the tech backbone of Indonesia's largest startup Gojek and is now building one of India's fastest growing AI native IT services firm, Real Fast AI. The conversation on @mundhebanni was a rollercoaster ride of insights for me. Don't miss it.

Catch it on YT. It has sub titles for those who don't follow Kannada. Link below.

[Vasant Shetty | Building Mundhe Banni @vasantshetty81]

I grew up in a small town and studied in a Tier 2 college. When I came to Bengaluru, it was honestly quite scary. Every day, I carried this feeling that maybe I did not belong here. Maybe people would make fun of my accent, my English, my appearance, or something else. There was always an underlying anxiety about meeting new people and stepping out of my comfort zone.

I remember one particular incident when I was looking for a job. I attended an interview that included a group discussion round. The interviewers divided us into two teams and asked us to debate whether Coke was better than Pepsi.

I was completely confused.

In my mind, both were just sugary soft drinks. What exactly was there to debate?

So I decided to sit back, listen, and understand what everyone else was saying before I spoke.

Soon, all these Bangalore convent educated boys and girls started passionately arguing. One side was explaining why Coke was better. The other side was defending Pepsi. Everyone seemed so confident, so articulate, and so comfortable expressing their opinions.

Meanwhile, I just sat there nodding.

"Yeah, that makes sense."

"Yes, that's a good point."

I remained an observer throughout the discussion.

The truth is, I never felt confident enough to collect my thoughts and speak. I was always worried that I would say something foolish and become the subject of jokes.

Naturally, I did not get selected. They thanked me for attending and asked me to leave.

While talking to @ponnappa on @mundhebanni podcast, I was immediately reminded of experiences like these. When he spoke about breaking stereotypes and challenging the invisible rules we create for ourselves, I could deeply relate to it.

Many of these limitations are not imposed by others. They exist inside our own minds. We subconsciously convince ourselves that we are not good enough, not smart enough, not fluent enough, or simply not meant to be in certain rooms.

What Sidu talks about is the importance of breaking those internal barriers and becoming someone who is willing to take on new challenges, explore new possibilities, and reinvent themselves.

For me, this was a very special episode because Sidu was able to articulate something that is deeply internal.

The journey of an entrepreneur is ultimately an internal journey. It is about understanding yourself, confronting your fears, questioning your assumptions, and constantly evolving as a person.

What is actually needed to unlock that potential is something Sidu explains with remarkable clarity in this episode.

This is a must watch episode, and I highly recommend it to everyone.

Go ahead and watch it. Link in the first reply.

[Abid Hassan 🇮🇳 @abidsensibull]

@Natute123 Doddaballapura with Nandi Hills in background, bursting with development

[Vasant Shetty | Building Mundhe Banni @vasantshetty81]

10,000 views and counting.

From a middle class boy graduating from a Tier 2 engineering college, to building Germany’s first ever crowdfunding platform, to helping over 20,000 artisans sell their products across India through a marketplace platform, and now building a startup aimed at digitising private market investments and family office management, @Vrallnanda has come a long way in his entrepreneurial journey.

It is a great episode for any youngster with no business background or generational wealth to feel reassured that no obstacle is insurmountable.

Catch the full episode with subtitles in English on @mundhebanni YT. Link in the first reply.

[Vasant Shetty | Building Mundhe Banni @vasantshetty81]

Mysuru, here we come..

Join us at the 6th @mundhebanni meetup at IRI auditorium, SJC STEP campus, Mysuru

Share with fellow founders, aspiring entrepreneurs from Mysuru region..

Registration link in the comment below

[Geetha Manjunath @geethamhp]

Very glad to share that we are one of the top startups selected to represent India in the Bharat Innovates program happening at Nice, France in June!

We look forward to an exciting networking opportunity and collaboration with European partners!
@niramaianalytix

[Vasant Shetty | Building Mundhe Banni @vasantshetty81]

A middle class boy from South Bengaluru.
A tier 2 engineering college.
2 failed startups.
A short corporate stint at KPMG and Robert Bosch.

Then one random cafe conversation in the US changed everything.

While working in Germany, @Vrallnanda discovered the world of crowdfunding and realized Germany itself didn’t have a proper crowdfunding platform built locally.
So he built one.

Within 2 years, it became one of the fastest growing startups in Germany and was eventually acquired by a major German media house.

But the journey wasn’t easy.

He faced racism.
People questioned whether he had illegally entered Germany.
Many couldn’t believe an Indian immigrant could build a successful startup there.

Years later, the same person went on to become an ambassador for the Indo German startup ecosystem.

He later returned to India and built more meaningful ventures empowering artisans and founders.

One of the most fascinating founder journeys we’ve had on @mundhebanni so far.

Episode 23 featuring Vittal Ramakrishna is now live.

Catch it on our youtube channel. Link in the first reply.

[Vasant Shetty | Building Mundhe Banni @vasantshetty81]

ನಿಮಗೆಲ್ಲ ತಿಳಿದಿರುವ ಹಾಗೆ, ನಾವು ಮುಂದೆ ಬನ್ನಿಯ ಮೂಲಕ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಉದ್ಯಮಿಗಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಒಂದು ಡಿಜಿಟಲ್ ಫೋರಂ ಕಟ್ಟುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇವೆ.

ಈ ವೇದಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಉದ್ಯಮಿಗಳು ಅವರಿಗೆ ಬೇಕಾದ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಸಂಪನ್ಮೂಲಗಳನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯಬಹುದು. ಇತರ ಸ್ಥಾಪಕರು ಮತ್ತು ಉದ್ಯಮಿಗಳ ಜೊತೆ ಚರ್ಚಿಸಬಹುದು, ವಿವಿಧ ವಿಷಯಗಳ ಕುರಿತು ನಡೆಯುವ Ask Me Anything ಸೆಷನ್‌ಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಬಹುದು. ಅನುಭವಿ ಸ್ಥಾಪಕರ ಮೂಲಕ ನಡೆಯುವ ಕೋರ್ಸ್‌ಗಳನ್ನು ಕಲಿಯಬಹುದು. ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಯೋಜನೆಗಳು, ಬ್ಯಾಂಕ್ ಯೋಜನೆಗಳು, VC ಡೇಟಾಬೇಸ್‌ಗಳು ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಹಲವು ರೀತಿಯ ಉಪಯುಕ್ತ ಸಂಪನ್ಮೂಲಗಳನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯಬಹುದು. ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಉತ್ತಮ ಗುಣಮಟ್ಟದ ಸರ್ವಿಸ್ ಪ್ರೊವೈಡರ್ಸ್ ಜೊತೆ ಸಂಪರ್ಕ ಸಾಧಿಸಬಹುದು.

ಒಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ, ಸೀರಿಯಸ್ ಫೌಂಡರ್ಸ್‌ಗಳಿಗೆ ಅವರ ಉದ್ಯಮದ ಪ್ರಯಾಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಬೇಕಾಗುವ ಸಹಾಯ, ಮತ್ತು ಅನುಕೂಲಗಳನ್ನು ಒಂದೇ ವೇದಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಒದಗಿಸುವ ಕನಸಿನೊಂದಿಗೆ ನಾವು ಈ ಫೋರಂ ನಿರ್ಮಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇವೆ.

ಕಳೆದ 8 ರಿಂದ 9 ತಿಂಗಳಲ್ಲಿ @mundhebanni ವಾಟ್ಸಾಪ್ ಕಮ್ಯುನಿಟಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದ ಹಲವು ಚರ್ಚೆಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಮಾತುಕತೆಗಳ ಆಧಾರದ ಮೇಲೆ ನಾವು ಒಂದು ಪ್ರಾಥಮಿಕ ವರ್ಶನ್‌ ಅನ್ನು ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಿ ಸುಮಾರು ಒಂದು ತಿಂಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಸಮುದಾಯದ ಸದಸ್ಯರ ಮುಂದೆ ಇಟ್ಟಿದ್ದೆವು. ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಫೀಡ್‍ಬ್ಯಾಕ್ ಮತ್ತು ಸಲಹೆಗಳು ಬಂದಿವೆ. ಅವನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ ಗಮನದಲ್ಲಿಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡು ನಾವು ವೇದಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಸುಧಾರಿಸಿದ್ದೇವೆ.

ಆದರೂ, ನಮ್ಮ ತಂಡದ ಅನಿಸಿಕೆಯಂತೆ, ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಾಗಿ ಉದ್ಯಮಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಏನು ಬೇಕಿದೆ, ಯಾವ ವಿಷಯಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಗಮನ ಕೊಡಬೇಕು, ಯಾವ ರೀತಿಯ ವ್ಯಾಲ್ಯೂ ನೀಡಿದರೆ ಫೌಂಡರ್ಸ್‌ಗೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಉಪಯೋಗವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ ಅನ್ನೋದನ್ನ ಅರಿಯಲು ಒಂದು ಸಣ್ಣ ಸರ್ವೆ ನಡೆಸುವುದು ಮುಖ್ಯ ಎಂದು ನಮಗೆ ಅನಿಸಿತು. ಅಂತೆಯೇ ನಾವು ಒಂದು ಚಿಕ್ಕ 5 ನಿಮಿಷದ ಸರ್ವೆ ನಡೆಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇವೆ. ಎಲ್ಲ ಸೀರಿಯಸ್ ಉದ್ಯಮಿಗಳು ಇದರಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಿ ತಮ್ಮ ಅನಿಸಿಕೆಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಸಲಹೆಗಳನ್ನು ಹಂಚಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ವಿನಂತಿ.

ಹಾಗೆಯೇ, ನಿಮ್ಮ ಗಮನದಲ್ಲಿ ಉದ್ಯಮ ಕಟ್ಟಲು ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ಸೀರಿಯಸ್ ಫೌಂಡರ್ಸ್ ಇದ್ದರೆ, ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ಈ ಲಿಂಕ್ ಅವರನ್ನು ಕೂಡ ತಲುಪಿಸಿ. ಅವರ ಫೀಡ್ಬ್ಯಾಕ್ ಕೂಡ ನಮಗೆ ತುಂಬ ಉಪಯುಕ್ತವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.

ನಿಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರ ಸಹಕಾರ ಮತ್ತು ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯಗಳನ್ನು ಬಳಸಿಕೊಂಡು, ಬಳಸಲು ಸುಲಭವಾದ, ನಿರಂತರವಾಗಿ ಮೌಲ್ಯ ಒದಗಿಸುವ, ಮತ್ತು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಉದ್ಯಮದ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಕ್ಕೆ ನಿಜವಾದ ನೆರವಾಗುವ ಒಂದು ಬಲವಾದ ವೇದಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಕಟ್ಟುವುದು ನಮ್ಮ ಕನಸು. ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸಹಕಾರವಿರಲಿ..

ಲಿಂಕ್: 👇🏽
https://t.co/Li7H34KE1r

[Vasant Shetty | Building Mundhe Banni @vasantshetty81]

In tier2/3 town students:

The “idea layer” exists. The “motivation layer” exists. The “prototype layer” is improving because of hackathons, AI tools, and accessible technology.

But the “commercialization layer” is weak, or rather very weak. There is an urgent need to bridge the knowledge gap here.

[Vasant Shetty | Building Mundhe Banni @vasantshetty81]

Had a fun-filled session on whether students should pursue entrepreneurship in the age of AI at KLETU campus, Hubballi.

Thank you @ChethanShettar for the opportunity to engage with students...

[Umesh @Nurturinglabs]

What if Grandma's Fitbit could call you when something's wrong?

Fitbit → Google Health API → anomaly detected → AI calls her first → no answer → calls you immediately

No app to check. No button to press. Just a phone call when it matters.

Building this.

#AgenticAI #BuildInPublic #VoiceAI #DigitalHealth

[Umesh @Nurturinglabs]

What if your AI agent could grocery shop for you — automatically?

Pick 'n Save, Metro Market, Mariano's are all Kroger-owned.
Kroger has a Developer API.
MCP connects your agent to it.

One voice. Every Kroger store . 🛒🤖

#AgenticAI #MCP #VoiceAI #Milwaukee #AIBuilder

[Umesh @Nurturinglabs]

What you can build using the latest OpenAI RealTime API

[Umesh @Nurturinglabs]

@ElevenLabsDevs

[Umesh @Nurturinglabs]

@OpenAI What's the new release is all about?

[Umesh @Nurturinglabs]

What is MCP

[Umesh @Nurturinglabs]

@OpenAI How many languages are non robotic any more?