Budding entrepreneur

During high school, Naman AGRAWAL came across the Eulers identity: the elegant combination of numbers, showing that regardless of how complex things are, there is always a way to simplify them. Obsessed with equations, he searched for a way to utilise the incredible power of mathematics. And then he discovered economics, “the sacrosanct blend of science and arts”.

As he untangled the threads of the enigmatic relationship between mathematics and economics, he chanced upon the use of data science in economic modelling. This was the clinching factor which led Naman to declare Double Majors in Data Science and Analytics, and Economics, under the College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS). He also chose to read a Minor in Computer Science.

He says, “Since then, it's been an enriching journey of demystifying and exploring the majestic realms of machine learning, analytics and visualisation.”

His joy in integrating economic and scientific ideas - wave-particle duality and market economies, production functions and chemical kinetics, to name a few - helped him to develop intellectual curiosity and problem-solving skills. He discovered that there was no better way to apply these skills and the integrated insights from his disciplines than by building a start-up.

His start-up, named Serene, provides the infrastructure to simplify the process of financial management for early-stage ventures, using appropriate software and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies.  By streamlining access to funding with easy-to-use software, Serene enables new start-ups to better manage resources, track financial performance, and make informed, data-driven decisions.  

The entrepreneurial journey was not without its share of challenges, which mainly centred around developing a technical product that meets the diverse needs of users. Naman is currently addressing the challenge of providing a seamless user experience by conducting extensive user testing and collaborating with UX experts to refine the platform.

“Working on Serene was a profound learning experience,” Naman says, which led him to “realise the importance of blending technical expertise with business acumen…and using an interdisciplinary approach which combines finance and technology” to enhance Serene’s effectiveness.

Naman hopes to expand Serene's reach as a go-to financial management platform for entrepreneurs in the future, and is actively exploring collaboration opportunities with incubators and accelerators.

We interview Naman here on why he selected CHS and his course combination.