Academia-Industry Connector App & Site

FOUNDING CTO / FULL-STACK TECHNOLOGY PARTNER
Build a LinkedIn + Instagram-Type Platform for Innovation in India
THE OPPORTUNITY
I am a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at a leading Indian university with more than 25 years of experience in academia, research, innovation, industry engagement and student mentoring. I have recently incorporated a startup to address a major gap I have observed throughout my career: exceptional talent and innovation often remain invisible because of where a student studies or comes from.
THE VISION
We aim to build a LinkedIn- and Instagram-type platform focused on student innovation, projects, technology and talent.
Like LinkedIn, it will connect students with companies, recruiters, mentors, industry professionals, investors and technology partners. Like Instagram, it will enable students to visually showcase projects, prototypes, products, research, technical skills and achievements.
The core principle is:
“Do not judge a student only by their college. See what they can actually build.”
The platform will help students build professional identities around demonstrated capability, while enabling companies and other stakeholders to discover talent, projects and emerging technologies across India.
THE FOUNDING CTO OPPORTUNITY
I am seeking a strong Full-Stack Developer to become the Founding CTO and core technology partner. This is not a conventional freelance project. The ideal candidate will take genuine ownership, shape the product from the ground up and grow with the company through:
Concept → MVP → Beta → Production → Scale
I bring extensive experience in academia, research, technology development, innovation, entrepreneurship, industry collaboration, student mentoring and professional networks. I understand the problem, users and ecosystem, and am looking for a technology leader to drive architecture and execution.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Founding CTO will initially lead:
Product and system architecture
Web and mobile application development
Front-end, back-end, database and API development
Authentication and user management
Student profiles, portfolios and project showcases
Company and recruiter profiles
Search, discovery and administrative dashboards
Cloud deployment, security, data management, performance and scalability
Future AI-based features and the technology roadmap
Building and managing the future technology team
As the company grows, the goal will be to build a strong technology team around the CTO.
WHO CAN APPLY?
This opportunity is open to professionals with the technical capability, maturity, commitment and vision for a founding technology role, including:
Experienced full-stack developers
Senior software engineers or technology leads
Technology professionals aspiring to become CTOs
Entrepreneurial developers
Professionals currently employed, between jobs or returning after a career break
Career-break professionals are especially welcome. A career break is not a disadvantage; what matters is your current capability, ownership, commitment, maturity and vision.
Key criteria: Technical capability + Professional maturity + Ownership + Commitment + Entrepreneurial vision + Alignment with the mission
COMPENSATION AND PARTNERSHIP
At this stage, the startup cannot offer a conventional fixed salary. This is intended as a genuine founding-team partnership, potentially involving:
Equity/shareholding
Profit sharing
Or a combination of both
The arrangement will be discussed transparently and agreed upon mutually. This opportunity is for someone who wants to help build a company and join its core leadership, not simply complete an assignment.
COMMITMENT
This is a serious working engagement requiring substantial time during the working week and close collaboration with the founder on product development, architecture, execution, testing, deployment and technology strategy.
It is not intended as a weekend-only or occasional evening project.
WHY JOIN?
You will have the opportunity to:
Become a Founding CTO
Shape the technology architecture from the beginning
Build a platform with significant commercial and social potential
Work directly with the founder
Gain meaningful ownership in the venture
Build and lead the future technology team
Help create a new way to discover student talent across India
APPLICATION
If you believe a student’s potential should not be determined by their college, location or network, and you have the technical and entrepreneurial capability to help build this platform, please share:
Your current or recent professional background
Full-stack development experience and strongest technologies
Examples of products or platforms you have built
Current employment status, including any career break
Availability and expected commitment
Why you are interested in becoming a potential Founding CTO
Expectations regarding equity or profit sharing