Dr. Rajan Kumar

Co-Founder @iCuriousAI | AIIMS Delhi Grad | Building the Socratic Engine to cure screen addiction in kids. 🧸🤖
Join waitlist:

[Dr. Rajan Kumar @iCuriousRajan]

@why_mahi20 @iCuriousAI Try now

[Dr. Rajan Kumar @iCuriousRajan]

we're hiring our first founder's office intern at @iCuriousAI

the vibe: 0→1 chaos, lots of writing, some strategy, maybe some memes

what we're building: AI companion that tells personalised stories, listens without judgment, and builds emotional intelligence through conversation. screen-free. voice-based. always available.

what you'll do: content, marketing, GTM, whatever needs doing. you're the generalist who writes really, really well.

what we want: smart, high-integrity, problem-solver who's excited to build something from scratch

the deal: ₹10-20k/month, 3 months, HSR Bangalore (hybrid), extension + PPO possible

founded by IIT Kanpur + AIIMS Delhi alums. ex-Worldquant/Databricks/Amex/Ultrahuman.

interested? DM or email [email protected]

@meet_shoryak @PiyushKThisSide

[Dr. Rajan Kumar @iCuriousRajan]

Excited to announce that we've been selected for the MeitY TIDE 2.0 Program by @derbifoundati0n! 🎉

Grateful for this support as we work on @iCuriousAI. Looking forward to making the most of this opportunity.

Onward! 🚀

@meitystartuphub @meet_shoryak @PiyushKThisSide
#MeitYTIDE #startupindia

[Dr. Rajan Kumar @iCuriousRajan]

Unable to register on the Startup Karnataka portal for weeks. Verification emails failing. Helpline (email/phone) unresponsive.

Need urgent assistance for @iCuriousAI

@PriyankKharge @ITBTGoK

[Dr. Rajan Kumar @iCuriousRajan]

@ZikangJiang Hey!

[Dr. Rajan Kumar @iCuriousRajan]

@PiyushKThisSide But how do you ensure?

[Dr. Rajan Kumar @iCuriousRajan]

@ethanmonkhouse @PiyushKThisSide @meet_shoryak @iCuriousAI Yeah
That's the next part, stay tuned!

[Dr. Rajan Kumar @iCuriousRajan]

60-70% of kids have unhealthy screen time habits. We wanted to fix this with a screen-free AI companion.

But before building the tech, we tested the idea with a plush toy and a hidden Bluetooth speaker.

@PiyushKThisSide @meet_shoryak @iCuriousAI

Here is the story of how we are "giving a machine a soul." 🧵👇

[Dr. Rajan Kumar @iCuriousRajan]

@PiyushKThisSide @meet_shoryak @iCuriousAI Today, that "speaker in a toy" has evolved into a fully functional prototype that mimics real, educational conversations.

Check out the demo above and let us know what you think!

#BuildInPublic #AI #StartupIndia

[Dr. Rajan Kumar @iCuriousRajan]

@PiyushKThisSide @meet_shoryak @iCuriousAI The results were overwhelming:
1. The kids LOVED talking to the toy.
2. It taught us how to build our tech.

By manually responding to the kids, we learned how to transfer human mental frameworks into code. We aren't just building a chatbot; we are building a peer learner.

[Piyush Kumar @PiyushKThisSide]

How does encouragement for Entrepreneurs look like?

[Dr. Rajan Kumar @iCuriousRajan]

@heyblake https://t.co/eID6D848s3

[Piyush Kumar @PiyushKThisSide]

You must have heard of the following to a point that it may sound cliché:
(1.0)^365 = 1.0
(1.01)^365 = 37.78

But the same applies to your child's thinking ability. If they keep on getting direct answers from general-purpose AI tools, their thinking abilities will massively go downhill. Instead, if they approach any question systematically and get progressive hints on their way to the answer, that will have a much better impact on their cognitive skills than otherwise.

While adults can recognize and resist this habit, children are just starting to learn, and are far more vulnerable. We all should act before it is too late.

Below is a demo of our early version software. It is currently being tested and improved in early hardware prototypes. Stay tuned for our next demos using our hardware prototypes.

Join our waitlist. Link in comments.

@meet_shoryak @iCuriousRajan @iCuriousAI

[Dr. Rajan Kumar @iCuriousRajan]

@xbxnxdxcxtx Check this - @iCuriousAI
Let's chat!

[Dr. Rajan Kumar @iCuriousRajan]

@matt_gray_ LI

[Dr. Rajan Kumar @iCuriousRajan]

As a doctor, I’ve seen how passive screen time affects early development. We knew we couldn't just take the screens away - we had to replace them with something better.

That’s why I’m so proud of what we are building at iCurious AI. We are combining the best of AI with genuine developmental science to create a companion that actually thinks with your child.

This isn't just a toy; it's a new category of active engagement.

[Shorya Kumar @meet_shoryak]

The best way to reduce passive screen time isn't to force it out but to invite curiosity in.

We're thrilled to share what we are building at @iCuriousAI . We are moving away from passive entertainment to active wonder.

We’ve developed an intelligent playmate that brings the wisdom of Socrates into the playroom.

Instead of just spoon-feeding answers like a search engine, this friend asks the right questions back. It gently guides children to think for themselves, challenging them to explore their own ideas.

It’s the friend every curious kid deserves. Which is an experience infinitely more rewarding than a passive screen. It helps kids develop focus and creativity, not by lecturing them, but by playing with them.

Join the waitlist to bring the magic home. Link in comments.

@PiyushKThisSide @iCuriousRajan

Here is a 2-minute glimpse of our vision. 👇

[Piyush Kumar @PiyushKThisSide]

The Real AI Crisis: We're Automating Away How We Learn to Think

A striking revelation from a recent Fortune survey of 1,540 board members and C-suite executives: the skills gap isn't really about AI proficiency, it's about critical thinking.

Read the full article here: https://t.co/oCzgHrhLJR

@meet_shoryak @iCuriousRajan @iCuriousAI

[Dr. Rajan Kumar @iCuriousRajan]

Your child isn’t "bored." Their brain is going through dopamine withdrawal.

Passive screen time is silently destroying attention spans and creating "Virtual Autism."

Here is the science of what’s happening to your kid’s brain—and the solution we’re building to fix it. 🧵

1/ The Dopamine Trap: Think of Dopamine as the brain’s currency for motivation.
• Real Play: You work hard ➡️ You get a dopamine payout.
• Passive Screens: You do nothing ➡️ You get a massive dopamine payout.

The brain is efficient. It eventually stops "working" for the reward. Why climb a tree when you can just swipe a finger?

2/ The "Aarav" Effect: We tracked a case of an 8-year-old active explorer who stopped asking "Why?" after getting a tablet. He could copy a solar system from a video, but couldn't explain how gravity worked. Consumption replaced curiosity. Passive screens train children to accept answers, not ask questions.

3/ Virtual Autism: This is a terrifying new term in child development. Excessive passive screen time in toddlers is leading to symptoms that mimic autism:
• No eye contact
• Delayed speech
• Social withdrawal
These aren't always permanent. They are often reversed when the screens go away.

4/ The Prefrontal Cortex Crisis: The front part of the brain controls impulses. It needs practice to grow. When a screen instantly gratifies every desire (click = reward), this muscle atrophies. Result: Tantrums, inability to wait, and zero emotional regulation.

5/ The Solution: Active, Not Passive. We don't need to ban technology; we need to change how it interacts with us. We are building a Conversational AI Companion. It doesn't just play videos. It asks questions. It listens. It forces the brain to work and imagine.

6/ Reclaim Their Curiosity: We are building the first tool designed to reverse attention fragmentation and spark deep inquiry.

Don't let the algorithm raise your child.

@meet_shoryak @PiyushKThisSide @iCuriousAI

Join our waitlist to get early access:
👉 https://t.co/h4HecBN4W1