Akshay D. Kothari 

Akshay D. Kothari received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 2007. Following graduation, he embarked on a multifaceted career. Initially, Kothari joined SDL Ventures as an investment analyst, but soon afterward, he pursued further education, earning a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University. Next, he delved into mobile app development, where his ingenuity and creativity flourished. One of his notable creations, Pulse News, experienced exponential growth, garnering a user base of 30 million within three years. This success captured the attention of Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who showcased Kothari's app during his keynote address in 2010. Three years later, Kothari and his business partner successfully negotiated the sale of Pulse to LinkedIn for $90 million. Subsequently, Kothari transitioned to LinkedIn, becoming vice president of product, as well as head of LinkedIn India, where he played a pivotal role in advancing the platform's growth in a key market. In 2018, Kothari started a new career chapter by joining Notion as chief operating officer. His continued dedication and innovative contributions have earned him widespread attention. Pulse was inducted into Apple’s App Store Hall of Fame, and it received an Apple Design Award and recognition as one of Time’s Top 50 iPhone Apps of 2011. Purdue honored Kothari with an Outstanding Electrical and Computer Engineer Award in 2014 and a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award in 2021.