If you had asked Piyush Subedi five years ago where he saw himself, “at Google” might’ve felt like a stretch. But that’s exactly where his journey has taken him—from building machine learning systems in Nepal to landing a coveted role at one of the world’s biggest tech companies.
Now, he’s ready to give back.
In this mentor spotlight, Piyush opens up about his path, lessons learned, and what he hopes this year’s hackathon participants will take away.
Piyush’s story starts in Nepal, where he worked at a startup focused on AI-based fraud detection for telecom companies. He spent three years learning on the job, building end-to-end machine learning solutions with limited resources.
But he knew he wanted more—more depth, more theory, more challenge. That led him to the U.S. for a Master’s in Computer Science at UMass Amherst.
“I took a break from earning to invest in learning,” Piyush says.
He dove deep into data science and machine learning, and eventually landed an opportunity at Google. But it wasn’t easy—he submitted his job application just one day before his OPT deadline.
“I prepared for interviews for six months straight. It was all about timing and persistence.”
Now, Piyush works as a Software Engineer at Google, contributing to major products and platforms, but he still vividly remembers the path it took to get there.
📘 2. What Lessons Have You Learned Along the Way?
For Piyush, the biggest lesson is simple: don’t skip the basics.
“I didn’t just use machine learning tools—I built my own framework from scratch. That’s how I truly understood what was going on under the hood.”
He encourages students to master data structures, algorithms, and core CS principles before jumping to the fancy stuff.
Also: don’t underestimate the power of projects.
“LeetCode can help with interviews, but real-world projects show your ability to solve problems. Build things that work.”
🤝 3. What Made You Say Yes to Mentoring This Hackathon?
Believe it or not, this is Piyush’s first time being involved in the Nepali tech community in the U.S.
“I want to see what our community is capable of—what people are building, what they’re curious about.”
He sees Nepali-US AI Hackathon as more than a competition. It’s a platform to connect, mentor, and uplift fellow Nepali students who are just starting out—many of whom are walking a path similar to his.
🔍 4. What Do You Hope to See From Participants?
Piyush is excited to see real-world solutions powered by AI—especially those grounded in curiosity and relevance.
“It’s not about showing off a fancy algorithm. It’s about solving a problem that matters.”
He’s also interested in how participants collaborate and communicate.
“Can you articulate your thought process? Can you simplify the technical when speaking to non-tech folks? These are make-or-break skills in the real world.”
💬 5. Any Final Advice for Participants?
Piyush’s advice is both technical and human:
Prep hard, but stay calm. Don’t panic in interviews—just show how you think. (Google)
Ask for help. Mentors are here for a reason. Use us.
Be curious about AI. It’s changing fast—stay ahead, not scared.
And most importantly:
“You don’t have to be an expert. You just have to start.”
From writing custom ML frameworks to writing code at Google, Piyush has always led with depth and intention. Now, as a mentor, he’s ready to help students navigate their own transitions—from uncertainty to confidence, from code to impact.
The future of Nepali innovation is bright—and Piyush Subedi is here to help light the way.