Ayush Agarwal

Co-founder & CEO, @PencilSpaces #deepwork • Angel investor • Ex- Google, Facebook, Madrona, McKinsey • Dad, husband, builder

[Ayush Agarwal @yush]

In case you’re more active on LinkedIn, here’s me — let’s connect:
https://t.co/dradgCSpDz

[Ayush Agarwal @yush]

@salahuddin 100%. The open web is the only platform that can move at the speed of AI. No 30% cut, and more importantly, no app store review process to deploy an agent or teach it a new skill. It’s the ultimate distribution channel.

[Ayush Agarwal @yush]

For most of my life, I thought celebration was the reward for hard work. I’m learning it’s the foundation.

Celebration isn’t a break from the work. It is the work. Because without joy — what are we really working for?

Joy is the nectar of the present moment, and the jet fuel for everything that follows. Gratitude fuels resilience.

The achiever in me is learning to slow down. To notice the people who show up (even when I’m running behind). And to notice the joy that’s already here.

A special thank-you to my wife, Swati, for showing me how to live this. ❤️

Anyone else wrestle with “achiever guilt”? What helped you unlearn it?

🧵 2/2

#FounderLife #Burnout #Leadership #StartupCulture #Entrepreneurship

[Ayush Agarwal @yush]

My most joy-filled birthday started with guilt 🎂

Stuck in the car finishing a client call.
“Just five more minutes,” I told myself.
I sprinted into the restaurant, late and apologizing.

What I met wasn’t frustration — it was love.

When you’re wired to achieve, it’s easy to confuse motion for meaning.
That quiet guilt creeps in — the feeling that time spent living is time stolen from working.

Somewhere along the way, I learned that love, rest, and joy had to be earned.
Do enough. Achieve enough. Then you get to feel at ease.

Frost’s line was always in my head:
“The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep.”

That verse built my work ethic — the drive to keep going, to earn rest through output.

But sitting there, surrounded by love, I realized:
Love and celebration don’t have to be earned.
Joy isn’t a prize for finishing the work.
It’s a choice — an act of grace.

🧵 1/2

[Ayush Agarwal @yush]

Hey X -- Been a while since I've posted anything here. Excited to reconnect!

[Ben Yee for NY Assembly, AD 66 @yben]

Excited to represent @PencilSpaces at @UNESCO for the policy discussion on Private Supplementary Tutoring!

[Ayush Agarwal @yush]

Interesting take on process vs. talent, and quality vs. volume.

[Erik Meijer @headinthebox]

When I left Meta, I told Mark that using AI, the Infra org could easily be reduced to 1/10 of their current size while doing a better job (*).

Large companies are like fast-food joints. You need lots of processes to create a bland product with consistent quality with average employees (you cannot have 70K employees that are all in the top 10% of the industry)

Small companies are like Michelin-star restaurants. You can hire a few top notch people and let them do their magic to create amazing things. No OKRs, no performance reviews, no BS necessary.

(*) He never replied, so I guess he thought I was crazy, or he ignored me because I was leaving already.

[Ayush Agarwal @yush]

@rkarmani @saranormous @gradypb @sequoia Good point

[Pencil Spaces @PencilSpaces]

🏆 We Won! 🌟

We are overjoyed to share that Pencil Spaces has emerged victorious in the Online Learning category at the prestigious Future of Education Technology Conference (@fetc) Pitchfest 2024!

This award is a significant recognition of our team's relentless dedication and innovation in the field of online education. This accolade is shared with every educator, student, and supporter who has been part of our journey. Your belief in our vision and continuous feedback have been pivotal to our success.

Our commitment to enhancing online learning experiences resonated strongly at the FETC, allowing us to stand out among a remarkable array of EdTech innovations. This victory at such a prominent event marks a key milestone for us and strengthens our resolve to develop meaningful educational solutions.

A huge thank you to the FETC Pitchfest jury and all the participants who made this event a hub of inspirational EdTech advancements. It was an incredible experience to be amongst other innovative startups and witness the diverse, creative approaches to education technology.

As we move forward, this triumph fuels our enthusiasm to keep advancing the frontiers of education.

Want to learn more about our game changing innovations? Grab some time with @yush: https://t.co/TM7ypytY7c

#BetterEducation #BetterTutoring #FETC2024 #FETC #EdTech #InnovationInEducation #PencilSpaces #OnlineLearning #EducationTechnology #VirtualClassroom #Tutoring

[Hyperline @hyperline_xyz]

Excited to announce that Hyperline has raised a Seed round led by @slow. [1/6]

[Pencil Spaces @PencilSpaces]

Hi #FETC, how's it going?

[Ben Yee for NY Assembly, AD 66 @yben]

Just pitched at @fetc. @PencilSpaces was one of 40 companies to be in the final pitch competition.

Big thanks to the organizers, the audience and the judges with their great questions!

[Pencil Spaces @PencilSpaces]

🌟Connect with 100+ Leaders & Innovators in Tutoring!

🗓️ January 22 and 23

📍 Online or in-person by Hyde Park in London

🔗 Register Now: https://t.co/2wtWm4ipb0

💡 Whether you're looking to join virtually or in person, for an hour or the full two days, this is your chance to network, learn, and grow.

🤝 Don't miss out on opportunity to spend time with
Sharon Cawley, Lucy Alexandra Spencer, John Nichols (@TheTutorsAssoc), @juliasilverQT (@qualified_tutor), Steve Hall, Carl Morris, Tudor Oros, Rysia Connolly, Dr. Indramohan Singh, Aaron Greenwood, Alero Fagbulu, Vicki Brusky, Helen Osmond, Alistair Chew, Alice Charteris, Nicola Kelting, Cathleen Sagisi, Chris Wordsworth, Marlene Carbonell, Sukhi S, Mark Szpak (@tutordoctor), Paul Wilkinson, Russell Greenhill, Simon de Pinna, Alpesh Patel, Debs Kroiter, Noor Valimohamed, Angel Anyim, Ashley Woolfork, Ph.D. , Ilana King, Charlotte Watson - Wonderlearn, Shola Alabi MTA, Vicky Tan, Nika Fouquet, Lydia Joshua, Mansib Ibrahim, Rita Farrell, Jane Bilham, Leah Warren, and so many more!

To all our delegates, thank you so much for joining us and sharing your expertise. We are truly excited about the opportunity to collaborate with you and elevate tutoring to new heights!

In case you can't make it to the Tutoring Roundtables, do join us at Bett Global on January 24, 25, and 26 showcasing our cutting edge innovations.
🔗 Register@tutordoctorow: https://t.co/ytG6Wmlf67

#TutoringRoundtables #EducationEvent #Networking #TutoringCommunity #Tutoring #PencilSpaces

[Hunter Horsley @HHorsley]

In 2017, people wished they'd invested in crypto in 2015.

In 2021, people wished they'd invested in 2018.

Everyone admires those who invested pre 2014, and held through the Mt Gox collapse.

Now, it's the start of the next cycle, and... people wondering if it's better to wait and see.

Investing is simple but hard.

[Teddy Fusaro @teddyfuse]

Bitwise Bitcoin ETF banner going up outside the iconic facade at ARCA.

For the fund’s prospectus & risk disclosures, visit: https://t.co/1gwmapslbL

[Ayush Agarwal @yush]

@ReadyforReading have you checked out @pencilspaces?

[Ayush Agarwal @yush]

@corps_nj @BedtimeMath @CurriculumAssoc @Prudential @njchildren1 @vingopal @read12me Congratulations on your anniversary!

[Pencil Spaces @PencilSpaces]

In Vicki's words: "My students love Pencil Spaces!" #pencilspaces

[Ayush Agarwal @yush]

@devonzuegel Yeah, I miss @path

[Ayush Agarwal @yush]

@yben @dannynic @PencilSpaces @dannynic we’d love to give you a free pro account and show you everything @PencilSpaces can do! Also, we’ll be in London for the @TheTutorsAssoc conference 10/26. Let's catch up over a drink? And meanwhile, DM me anytime.

@yben, thank you for suggesting @PencilSpaces to Danny!