Echoes Club interviewed Gagandeep Singh Reehal, a 2nd year student majoring in Computer Science. At the age of 19, Gagandeep is the co-founder and the CEO of a company called Minus Zero which aims to produce India’s first self-driving vehicle. Besides this, Gagandeep is an avid speaker and has addressed massive crowds at various public speaking conferences such as TEDx. He has also been a mentor/judge at numerous hackathons around the country.
Q- How did the idea of Minus Zero strike you? What was the inspiration behind it?
A- The company originated as a research paper based on artificial intelligence but later, we realized its potential and came up with Self-Driving Cars. My brother suggested the name 'Minus Zero' which mathematically means a unique and unattainable number.
Q- Considering the current market scenario, how difficult it is for you to focus on your goal and how do you plan to overcome this situation?
A- It is quite tough actually. In India, the disorientated traffic system makes it a bigger challenge for self-driving cars. Another hurdle is capital investment. Investors are reluctant to fund because their approach is to invest in an idea that has an immediate outcome.
Q- What are some steps that you have taken to prompt potential investors for your startup?
A- Companies such as Nvidia and AWS cloud computing services have played a vital role in sponsoring. Talking about investors, the release of our E-rickshaw was an approach to add some credibility to our idea. This is a long process and you can’t expect investors to promise funds one day and expect money in your hands on the other.
Q- You have been a part of TEDx and various talk shows. What are your suggestions for people who lack the required skills?
A- People often confuse stage fear with the fear of being judged. No one in the audience does that and even if they do, the only thing that matters is what you think about yourself. It just takes one step to curtail your stage fear.
Q- You are an avid learner and a confident speaker. Did this interest grow naturally or did you put in some extra efforts?
A- My interest in public speaking rounds up from my school. My mother was one of my biggest supporters. For every activity in school, she used to tell me that I should at least try once. So, I actively participated in debates and other curricular activities.
Q- What are some tips that you would like to give from your experience?
A- Primarily, do not run after internships in your first two years. Recruiters know exactly what you have done in your graduation and attaching certificates to your resume won’t solve the purpose. Devote your time doing what interests you and enjoy college as much as possible.