# How I Work with Startups

Who I Am

Rupa Chaturvedi is a seasoned Product Design & AI Leader with over 15 years of experience in the tech industry, having worked at companies such as Amazon (Alexa AI), Google, Uber, and several startups such as Sentient Technologies (w/co-founders of Siri) and Workspan. She also co-founded Asia’s largest eLearning platform, LearningMate.

Her fingerprints are all over the AR/AI/ML/Computer Vision consumer technologies we use today, including launching multiple AR + Computer Vision and Conversational AI enabled consumer experiences at Amazon and Uber. She has published over 20 patents in this space.

Rupa holds an MS Degree in Product Design from Stanford University and a PG Diploma in Creative Leadership from THNK, Amsterdam.

Recognized as a thought leader in Human-Centered Design, Rupa's passion lies in helping startups and product teams achieve Product-User Fit by adopting a user-centered and responsible approach to product & AI development.

She has taught over 600 tech professionals in AI product design, development and leadership through her venture Design Leaders Edge, and Stanford University. She actively invests in and advises startups on Product Design and AI. She is a Mentor at the Fast Track program with First Round Capital.

Rupa is also food tech enthusiast who is building a next-gen CPG brand and runs MSRC, a non-profit building California's first sustainable race club.

How I Can Help Your Startup Thrive

As your advisor and investor, my goal is to empower your startup with the knowledge, resources, and support needed to create user-centric products that drive growth and success. By leveraging my extensive experience and expertise, I offer a comprehensive range of advisory services tailored to your startup's unique needs:

  • Product and UX Design Strategy: Collaborate with your team to develop a robust, user-focused design strategy that aligns with your business goals and target audience

  • User Research Strategy: Guide your team in implementing effective user research techniques to gain valuable insights and inform data-driven decision-making

  • Establishing a User-Centric Product Development Foundation: Help your team integrate user-centered design principles into your product development process, ensuring that your users' needs are at the forefront of every decision

  • Founder Coaching: Provide one-on-one mentorship and coaching to help you navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship and develop your leadership skills

  • Design and UX Feedback: Offer regular feedback and insights on your product's design and user experience, ensuring that it remains competitive and user-focused

  • Building and Scaling Design Teams & Operations: Advise on structuring, hiring, and managing high-performing design teams that can scale with your startup's growth

  • Testing your Hypotheses: Provide guidance on validating assumptions and conducting user testing to refine and optimize your product experiences

  • Hiring the Right Talent: Tap into my network and expertise to identify and attract top-tier talent that will contribute to your startup's success

  • Support During Fundraising Cycles: Offer strategic advice and support during fundraising efforts, helping you craft compelling, user centric narratives that resonate with investors.

By partnering with me, you'll gain a dedicated ally who is invested in your success and committed to helping you build products that users love.

Our Partnership

For our collaboration to be fruitful and rewarding for both parties, I believe it's essential to establish a strong foundation built on trust, transparency, and shared goals. To foster a successful partnership, I propose the following:

  • A formal advisory agreement that outlines a combination of retainer and equity options, ensuring a fair and mutually beneficial arrangement

  • Open communication to clearly define expectations regarding time commitment and scope, allowing us to work effectively towards our mutual goals

  • Regular progress updates and investor reports to stay informed

  • A minimum engagement commitment of 6 months, enabling us to build momentum and achieve meaningful milestones together

  • Potential opportunity to contribute as a board member, providing strategic guidance and leveraging my extended network to support your startup in a deeper way