S Anil Kumar

Founder/CEO, FreeElective (parent co. of Jodi365.com).
Earlier avatars: Angel investor, consulting engineer, researcher, insufferable vegan. UChicago, UMich, UIowa, IIT-M alum.
Tribes: #learning #fitness #humanism #TBD

I am still writing my life's story.
Good luck writing yours, and be good.

About

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.

FreeElective team at work

Press

  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

If trivia interest you, here are some tidbits

  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.

Select essays

  Entrepreneurship:

  Education & careers:

  Current affairs:

  Wellness:

  Relationships:

  Life lessons:

  Reflections:

  Arts & culture:

  Sports:

  Listicles:
(And there used to be a time when I wrote serious research papers!)

Recent tweets

Contact

Want to reach me or engage in a conversation? For media enquiries, please visit Jodi365.com.
You can also message me directly on Twitter: