This 16-Year-Old is Doing Better Business Than You
Good morning! As we start a brand-new week, let's dive into fresh insights that fuel your business journey. Whether you're brainstorming your next big move or catching up on industry trends, we’ve got your back. Let’s make this Monday count!
“Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally; it comes from what you do consistently”
Success isn't about one-time efforts or occasional spurts of motivation. Regular, consistent actions accumulate over time to create real progress. By focusing on small, consistent steps rather than big, sporadic pushes, you're less likely to burn out and more likely to sustain your progress. In short, you should focus on daily habits and actions rather than one-off efforts, leading to gradual but sustainable growth and success.
Now, let’s get started…
🎯 Top Headlines of the Day
Taj becomes the first Indian hotel company to surpass Rs 1 lakh crore market cap
Ministry of Defence approves $3.9 billion US defense deal
Bajaj Housing share price surges 10%
📊 Market Pulse
Today’s top-performing stocks are:
Today’s top-performing stocks are:
The Story of The Teenage Entrepreneur
Vanisha Kheterpal, at just 16, is not your typical teenager. While many of her peers are glued to social media, she’s out there leading a revolution in road safety with her AI-powered startup, SurakshaAI. And let’s be honest – how many high schoolers can say they’ve launched a company that could save thousands of lives?
It all started with a dinner conversation that left Vanisha shaken. She came across a shocking statistic: over 4,61,000 road accidents happened in India in 2022, leading to more than 1,68,000 deaths. That’s about 462 deaths every single day! For Vanisha, this wasn't just a number—it was a wake-up call.
With tech-savvy parents—her dad, an MIT and BITS-Pilani alumnus, and her mom, a PhD in network security—Vanisha grew up surrounded by tech conversations. Her mom was researching intelligent transportation systems, and suddenly it clicked for Vanisha: why not use her knowledge to tackle road safety issues in India? That's when SurakshaAI was born.
Launched in June 2024, SurakshaAI is unlike most AI startups. It focuses on making roads safer for everyone, not just drivers but pedestrians and even bystanders. Using AI, the platform identifies traffic violations in real-time through images and data analytics. But here’s the cool part—it also gets everyday citizens involved. Anyone can report violations, creating a grassroots effort to make roads safer.
The company's flagship product, Vision Guard, is a game-changer. It tackles one of India’s biggest road safety hazards: blind spots. You know those areas drivers can’t see? Vision Guard uses cameras, machine learning algorithms, and LED displays to detect real-time traffic and alert drivers with illuminated red signals, helping them avoid potential accidents. Given there are over 700 blind spots across India, Vision Guard is stepping up where it's needed most.
But like any startup, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing. SurakshaAI is still bootstrapped, with around ₹25,000 spent on developing and testing prototypes. And let’s face it, competing in the $74 billion global collision avoidance market, with giants like Continental and Bosch, is no small task. Scaling the technology to meet the realities of Indian roads has been a challenge, but Vanisha is determined to make it work.
And it’s not just India that’s paying attention. SurakshaAI won the People’s Choice Award in the Junior Category at IIT Guwahati’s TechExpo 2024, and Vanisha was even invited to the Rise Summit by Google in Atlanta, Georgia. Pretty impressive for a teenager, right?
But there’s more!
SurakshaAI’s future looks bright. Vanisha plans to launch a mobile app where people can report accidents or violations and even get rewarded for their contributions. The app is set to launch in October 2024, adding another layer of community engagement to her mission of road safety.
What Can You Do To Increase Road Safety?
Road safety is not just a government responsibility - it’s our responsibility too! So, here are a few things that you can do to ensure safety around you.
1. Be a Local Road Safety Advocate
Take the initiative to lead or join a local road safety group. You can push for the implementation of safety features like better signage and speed bumps in high-risk areas or advocate for bike lanes and pedestrian zones.
2. Support Tech-Driven Solutions
If you're a tech-savvy individual, you can contribute by helping local startups or organizations develop AI-based systems or data analytics tools that improve traffic monitoring and road safety. This could be through volunteering skills, mentoring, or collaborating with teams like SurakshaAI.
3. Report Traffic Violations Anonymously
Many road safety issues stem from violations that go unreported. Take advantage of platforms or hotlines that allow anonymous reporting of traffic violations, reckless driving, or infrastructure problems.
4. Organize Community Walks or Rides
Hosting a “Walk or Ride for Safety” event can promote safe driving practices and help highlight local road safety issues. Such events can also raise funds for installing better safety infrastructure like crosswalks and lights.
5. Offer Incentives for Safe Driving
If you run or are part of an organization, consider rewarding employees or friends for safe driving records. Gamifying road safety with incentives like vouchers or recognition for driving accident-free for a certain period can reinforce positive behavior.
6. Promote the Use of Road Safety Apps
Use and encourage others to download apps like AI-based SurakshaAI or those offering live traffic updates, road violation reporting, and blind-spot alerts. These platforms can empower citizens to actively report violations and dangerous conditions.
7. Engage Local Schools and Colleges
Collaborate with schools or colleges to introduce student-led road safety initiatives. Young drivers and pedestrians need to understand the importance of safety measures, and peer-to-peer education can be very effective.
8. Adopt and Promote “Eyes on the Road” Pledges
Pledge to avoid phone usage or other distractions while driving, and promote this among your family, friends, and colleagues. A simple shift in behavior, collectively taken, can drastically reduce accidents caused by distracted driving.
9. Advocate for Local Infrastructure Improvements
Get involved with your local government or community board to advocate for infrastructure changes like better lighting, designated pedestrian walkways, or road signs that can significantly reduce accidents in high-risk areas.
10. Use Smart Gadgets for Driving Safety
Encourage the use of smart car gadgets that monitor driving habits, such as black box devices that provide feedback on speed, acceleration, and braking. These devices can encourage drivers to adjust their behavior and become more aware of their habits.
BTW, if you want to do something productive during your time off, check this out 👉
In partnership with
Unlock the future of problem-solving with Generative AI!
If you're a professional looking to elevate your strategic insights, enhance decision-making, and redefine problem-solving with cutting-edge technologies, the Consulting in the Age of Gen AI course is your gateway. Perfect for those ready to integrate Generative AI into your work and stay ahead of the curve.
In a world where AI is rapidly transforming industries, businesses need professionals and consultants who can navigate this evolving landscape. This learning experience arms you with the essential skills to leverage Generative AI for improving problem-solving, decision-making or advising clients.
Join us and gain firsthand experience in how state-of-the-art technology can elevate your problem-solving skills using GenAI to new heights. This isn’t just learning; it’s your competitive edge in an AI-driven world.
Check out the course here - Consulting in the age of Gen AI
That’s it for today, folks! We will be back again tomorrow with more valuable insights about ‘Bharat in Business.’ Till then, stay informed!
