Feature Prajwal Paudel, an AI researcher-turned-founder who’s blending human insight with cutting-edge tech.
From Kathmandu to corporate giants like Apple and Procter & Gamble, to launching his own AI startup—Prajwal’s journey is a masterclass in curiosity, risk-taking, and purposeful innovation.
📚 From Liberal Arts to Language Models
Prajwal came to the U.S. in 2007 as an international student—unsure of what path to take. A liberal arts education gave him space to explore, and eventually, he found his calling in computer science.
“It was the best decision I made. It opened doors to any industry I wanted to explore.”
He started out as a software engineer, but soon realized he wanted to dive deeper into research. So he pursued a PhD in AI, where he focused on language and sign language recognition—an experience that shaped his understanding of how humans and technology connect.
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🧠 Why He Founded Qualz.ai
Prajwal’s years at Procter & Gamble and Apple showed him a critical gap: conducting high-quality customer research was slow, expensive, and often inaccessible—especially to small teams.
That’s where Qualz.ai comes in.
“We cut down the time, cost, and expertise barriers to understanding your users. We let startups do the kind of customer discovery only big companies used to afford.”
At its core, Qualz.ai helps product teams and founders have meaningful, insight-driven conversations at scale—using AI.
🛠 Lessons from the Journey
Throughout his career, one theme has guided Prajwal: talk to people.
“You think you know things… until you talk to someone who shows you a new angle. Connections lead you to places you never imagined.”
Whether it’s a mentor, a user, or a fellow builder—his advice is to stay curious and open-minded. That mindset has fueled his biggest breakthroughs.
🙌 Why He’s Mentoring This Hackathon
For Prajwal, mentoring is personal. From his PhD days to his time as a founder, he’s always made space to guide the next generation—and he’s excited to pay it forward.
“I’ve been lucky to have amazing mentors. They helped me see shortcuts, blind spots, and growth areas. Now I want to do the same.”
He’s also looking forward to learning from the hackers themselves: the energy, ideas, and creativity they bring to the table.
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🔍 What He’s Hoping to See
So what is Prajwal looking for from participants?
A clear “why” behind the project
A real-world pain point
Thoughtful user insights
And a desire to solve, not just build
“Start with the pain. If you understand the problem deeply, the right solutions follow. Even how you cut corners becomes more intentional.”
🌱 His Advice for First-Time Hackers
Feeling nervous? That’s normal. Prajwal’s tips:
Sketch it out. Write what your idea looks like at the end. What problem does it solve?
Write to clarify. Even 10 minutes of journaling your assumptions can bring huge clarity.
Think of possibilities. What else could this idea do? What are you missing?
There’s no wrong answer—except not participating.
“This is going to be a rich experience you’ll draw on for years. Just showing up and building is a win.”