Over the past two decades, I have enjoyed wearing many hats: inventor, code developer, researcher, consulting engineer, activist, entrepreneur, and angel investor.
I am the founder and CEO of FreeElective, the parent company of Jodi365.com, a growing matchmaking platform for quality Indian singles.
I was previously the first lead associate at Hyde Park Angels, currently one of the largest angel investment networks in the midwestern United States. Prior to HPA, I spent seven years at a boutique consulting firm in Seattle, providing specialized engineering and consulting services to clients in the marine industry.
I am a graduate and Institute Blue of the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras and hold a Master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Iowa and a PhD in computational hydrodynamics from the University of Michigan. I also earned an MBA in entrepreneurship and strategic management from the Chicago Booth School of Business. In addition to receiving a KPMG Award for Leadership and Scholarship at Chicago Booth, I was one of two graduating students to receive a Dean's Award of Distinction.
BehindWoods TV: If they say you can't get it done... Anil Kumar, Founder, Jodi365, Exclusive Interview, Mar 2022
Indiaglitz: Ajith's younger brother Anil Kumar's honest advice to fans about 'Valimai', Feb 2022
ScoopWhoop: 11 Siblings of Tamil Actors Who Chose a Different Career Path Than Acting, Oct 2021 [ Perspective]
Chicago Booth Magazine: Inspirations at Work and Play, Oct 2021
Rest of World: The rise and fall of missed calls in India, Apr 2021
Chicago Booth Spotlight: Graduating Is Only Half the Journey, Mar 2021
Bangalore Insider: The Inside Scoop on Jodi365.com, a Differentiated Matchmaking Platform for Quality Singles, Nov 2020
Tribune: World Vegan Day: Living as a vegan, Nov 2020
UpJourney: How to Help a Friend Going Through a Breakup, Oct 2020
OutwitTrade: First Date Tips: Relationship & Dating Experts Comment, Oct 2020
BBC: Indian Matchmaking: The reality show that's divided viewers, Aug 2020
The Federal: Entrepreneur Anil Kumar on Jodi365, a new-fashioned match-making platform, Jul 2020
Unkrate: Are you single? This new- age matchmaking platform can help you find the right match, Jul 2020
afaqs!: The business of love in post Corona world, May 2020
Deccan Herald: Love Actually #LoveInTheTimeOfCorona, Apr 2020
Mid-Day Gujarati: Viral wedding: Digital revolution @ fingertips, Feb 2020
Ritz Magazine: Made in India. Made for the World., Feb 2020
Galatta Media: Jodi365.com founder's inspirational life story, Dec 2019
The New Indian Express: Shaken by water crisis, stirred to action, Jul 2019
Northwestern Mutual: The Parent's Guide to Paying for Your Kid's Wedding, Jun 2019
The Hindu: Giving a 'cool' twist to arranged marriages, Jul 2015
IndiaPost Live: Breaking matrimonial stereotypes, May 2014
YourStory: 5 innovative startups that can help you find your Valentine!, Feb 2014
I may have earned four degrees over 13 years, but I almost didn't attend even college. I stayed home for a year after high school, to focus on another shot at the IIT entrance exam.
I filed my first patent application at the age of 16, just months out of high school.
Although I wasn't into bodybuilding (weightlifting and cycling were my thing in college), I was crowned Mr. Inter-IIT in my senior year.
I have been a vegetarian all my life and a vegan since 1995. (My body fat percentage and cholesterol level may be uncommonly low, but a word of caution to vegan wannabes: Don't neglect to take Vitamin D3 and B12 supplements.)
While in my mid-thirties, I achieved a perfect score of 300 on the US Marine Corps physical-fitness test (3-mile run in 18 minutes + 20 consecutive pull-ups + 100 crunches in 2 minutes).
While at the University of Michigan, I was honored with an MLK Spirit Award.
I did a final walk-through of my custom-built home in Seattle 10 years to the day that I first landed in the US, with two suitcases and a duffel bag. (I sold it a decade later.)
I traveled more than 300,000 km over a 16-month period, flying from Seattle to Chicago and back just about every weekend during the first half of my MBA program. That's 80% of the Moon's distance from Earth and my answer to, "How far would you go to pursue higher education?"
Up there among my life's eventual accomplishments may be this: Having provided promising career opportunities to many (60+, over the past decade, and counting) and mentored some along the way.
Entrepreneurship:
Worries that keep a startup founder up at night (5-min read)
The #1 Ingredient for Starting a Startup (5-min read)
Education & careers:
How to Negotiate a Higher Salary or a Better Funding Term Sheet (10-min read)
IIT-JEE, Entrance Exams, College Admissions? Hakuna Matata! (3-min read)
Musings on rote learning and critical thinking (2-min read)
Current affairs:
Harassment: If You See Something, Say Something! (5-min read)
When Did You Last Vow to Obey Someone? (3-min read)
The Search for Rahul Gandhi's Bride (3-min read)
Wellness:
What I would like to share on World Vegan Day (5-min read)
Too busy to exercise or even to go on a holiday? Work-life balance a struggle? Re-boot! (16-min read)
Relationships:
7 tips on dealing with breakups (4-min read)
How do Indian #dating websites work, if dowry isn't involved? (5-min read)
Life lessons:
This, too, shall pass (2-min read)
AARRR: Reboot Metrics for Creepy Pirates (4-min read)
Reflections:
The story behind the founding of Jodi365 (4-min read)
Vignettes from a vegan's vacation in India (8-min read)
Arts & culture:
The Greatest Sports Critique Ever Published at 2:38 a.m. (3-min read)
How Love Blossoms in Indian Movies (6-min read)
Sports:
Virat Kohli and Our Propensity for Cringe-Inducing Hero Worship (14-min read)
10 Tips on Staying Safe While Running (4-min read)
Listicles:
(And there used to be a time when I wrote serious research papers!)
10 ways for singles to begin the New Year (4-min read)
10 Indian dance moves guaranteed to make you the life of the party! (3-min read)
10 ways to celebrate Diwali (3-min read)
Want to reach me or engage in a conversation? For media enquiries, please visit Jodi365.com.
You can also message me directly on Twitter: Message @aktxt