Building the Future of AI: The Story of Charu & Future AGI

With 15+ years of scaling businesses, Charu Gupta has led teams, taken bold risks, and built from the ground up. Now, as co-founder of Future AGI, she’s on a mission to redefine AI innovation.

A driven entrepreneur, mother and lifetime learner, Charu Gupta has scaled businesses and led teams across multiple startups. As the co-founder of Future AGI, she is now on a mission to revolutionise the AI space, combining her deep expertise in business growth with an unshakable commitment to trying new things.

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Hi, I’m Charu Gupta, born and raised in Madhya Pradesh, a small-town girl with big dreams. My journey has been anything but linear- 15+ years of scaling businesses, leading teams, and taking risks that most people thought were too crazy to attempt.

Today, I’m the co-founder of Future AGI, but the path that brought me here has been full of twists, doubts, and, most importantly, growth.

Here’s my story in my own words.

The Corporate Life That Didn’t Sit Right

Like most kids from middle-class families, I was expected to follow a safe and secure career path. My parents, both government employees, had a hard time understanding why I didn’t want to pursue a similar job. But I was always drawn to challenges, to doing things differently.

After completing my B.Tech from NIT Bhopal (where I graduated as a gold medalist) and an MBA from IIM Lucknow, I joined Bank of America. It was a prestigious job, and on paper, I had “made it.” But deep down, I felt stuck- like a small cog in a big wheel. I craved impact, the kind you feel when you’re closer to the customer and can see the immediate results of your work.

That’s when I started reaching out to startups. This was back in 2011-12, when entrepreneurship was still nascent in India, and a new generation of founders was building their empires. I wanted to be a part of that energy.

Jumping Into the Startup World Before It Was Cool

I joined Healthkart, where I learned what it truly means to start from scratch. From setting up processes to figuring things out on the fly, I experienced the chaos and thrill of the startup world firsthand.

Later, I joined Medlife as their first employee. We didn’t even have proper tables and chairs in the office, but I didn’t care- I loved the hustle. I handled everything from cutting costs to setting up systems and was there for every milestone as we grew. It felt like building something of my own, even though I wasn’t the founder.

Over the years, I worked with some incredible companies, leading teams of 100+ and managing P&Ls. I learned how to scale businesses, manage growth, and take calculated risks.

But after nearly a decade in this space, I knew it was time for me to take the plunge and build something of my own.

The Decision to Become a Founder

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to do something meaningful, something impactful. I realised that I wouldn’t find that kind of purpose in the corporate world. But taking the leap to become a founder wasn’t easy.

There was a period when I worked as a growth consultant while trying to figure out my next move. My mind was buzzing with ideas- I would validate some, discard others, and keep experimenting. Around that time, my close friend Nikhil (now my co-founder) suggested we build something together. He had deep expertise in AI and research, and his suggestion to productionise the process of AI learning improvement caught my attention.

Charu & her co-founder Nikhil

We spent months researching the idea, talking to potential users, and refining the concept. That’s how Future AGI was born- a startup focused on revolutionising AI tooling.

Starting up came naturally to me because I’d worked for early-stage companies for so long. But the stakes were higher this time- it was my own venture, and the responsibility was immense.

One of the toughest challenges we faced early on was fundraising. Pre-product fundraising isn’t easy, and back in 2023, it was even harder in the AI tooling space. VCs were sceptical, questioning whether this niche was worth pursuing. At one point, I thought about giving up on fundraising entirely to focus on building the product.

But we kept pushing. After countless rejections, we finally raised our first round of funding. That moment was worth all the struggle. Today, we’re a team of over 15 people, and our product launch on Product Hunt last September received over 1,000 upvotes.

Charu & her team

Handling the Tough Days

Being a founder isn’t easy. There are days when everything feels overwhelming- fundraising, team management, product issues, you name it. But I’ve learned to handle tough days by focusing on small wins.

My co-founder has a theory: If your Plan B is covered, you’re covered. I hold on to that thought when things get complicated. Aiming for the stars might land us on the moon, and that’s still progress. Every small achievement keeps us going, and when we do reach the stars, we celebrate with a bit of victory dance (yes, really!).

I also take time for myself- tending to my balcony garden, reading books, or just reflecting. These moments of peace recharge me.

The Best (and Worst) Part of Being a Founder

The best part of being a founder? Undoubtedly, it’s the thrill of figuring out something no one else has cracked yet. There’s an unparalleled joy in starting with a blank slate, diving deep into uncharted waters, and piecing together a solution that could change the game.

I live for the moments when a crazy idea turns into a strategy, and that strategy starts to take shape as something tangible. It’s the late nights spent obsessing over research, the endless iterations, and the “aha” moment when everything finally clicks. That feeling- that spark of knowing you’ve solved something people will find valuable- is worth every ounce of effort.

But let me be honest- being a founder isn’t all innovation and breakthroughs. There’s a less glamorous side, too. The endless juggling of roles can feel like you’re spinning plates, constantly worrying one might crash to the floor.

One minute, you’re strategising the product roadmap; the next, you’re reviewing contracts with legal teams or figuring out payroll. HR issues, admin tasks, and compliance paperwork are not precisely what fuels your passion as a founder, but they’re essential to keeping the wheels turning.

It’s exhausting at times. Some days, I feel like I’ve spent more time approving invoices or handling facilities issues than actually working on the vision that got me here in the first place. But I’ve learned that this, too, is part of the journey.

On Being a Mom and a Founder

Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey. My 9-year-old son keeps me grounded, motivated, and inspires me to think creatively, lead with empathy, and find joy even in chaos.

What’s truly special is how he’s become part of my entrepreneurial journey. I’ve signed him up for a business class for kids so he can get a glimpse into what I do every day. It’s adorable and inspiring to watch him come up with his own ideas and ask thoughtful questions like, “How do you solve problems at work, Mama?” or “Why do people invest in companies?” These little moments bring so much joy and meaning to what I do.

Back to being a founder, if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s the importance of customer research. Meet your customers, listen to their feedback, and incorporate it into your product. The bigger your top funnel, the better your results will be.

Don’t shy away from reaching out to advisors, investors, or fellow founders. I’ve gained invaluable insights from these conversations, and they’ve often helped me see things from a fresh perspective.

If Not This, Then What?

For me, choosing the road less travelled was never the “safe” option- it was the one that felt true to who I am. Of course, there are days when doubts creep in when I think about the “what-ifs.”

• What if I had taken that high-paying corporate job?

• What if I had followed the traditional path, climbed the corporate ladder, and enjoyed the security that comes with it?

Life might have been easier and more predictable. I’d probably have fewer sleepless nights, fewer tough decisions to make, and maybe even more weekends free to relax.

But here’s the truth: it wouldn’t have been as fulfilling.

I’m proud of the path I’ve chosen, even when it’s hard. I’m proud of the example I’m setting for my son, showing him that it’s possible to dream big, work hard, and find purpose in what you do. And while there will always be “what-ifs,” I know deep down that I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything.

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With over 15 years of experience, Charu has built multiple businesses from the ground up, always embracing new challenges and learning along the way. What makes Charu stand out is her genuine passion for innovation and her ability to stay grounded, no matter how big the journey gets.

At Razorpay Rize, we admire how she leads with purpose, always looking for ways to grow, both personally and with her team. Her journey reflects the heart of a founder who doesn’t just want to build a business- she wants to make an impact.

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