At an age when most Class 12 students are focused on exams and career choices, Raul John Aju is already running an AI company. The 16-year-old from Kochi,
Kerala, is studying Commerce at North Edappally GHSS while building a business that has attracted attention in the technology space.
Known as the “AI Kid of India”, Raul has developed AI tools, trained students and professionals, and turned his interest in technology into a startup.
But one detail from his entrepreneurial journey stands out: his father works for him and receives a monthly salary of Rs 2 lakh.
Started learning at 9
Raul’s interest in artificial intelligence began when he was just nine. He told UN News that his first exposure to technology came through video editing and access to premium software after his father joined Adobe.
“I discovered technology through video editing. When my father got a job at Adobe, I gained free access to all the premium tools, which allowed me to learn about AI. After that, I created my robot, known as MeBot, for a school science project,” he said.
That early experiment eventually developed into a much larger interest in AI and entrepreneurship.
Why he hired his father
Raul’s father is not simply an employee in the company. With experience at major technology companies including Amazon, Adobe, Wipro and IBM, he became someone Raul believed could help him learn the business side of technology.
Explaining the unusual decision, Raul said, “I can gain as much knowledge as I want from my phone, but I don’t have his experience. He has worked for companies like Amazon, Adobe, Wipro, and IBM, so I can learn from him. Also, to be honest, it was good for my marketing.”
His father’s professional experience, therefore, became another resource for the teenage entrepreneur as he expanded his venture.
Fifteen tools, global reach
Raul’s startup, AI Technologies, runs ThinkCraft Academy, through which students and professionals learn about artificial intelligence. The academy has reportedly trained nearly five lakh students worldwide, while the startup currently employs around 15 people.
The teenager has also developed 15 AI tools, including RESQ AI, MeBot, ZapGap, Investo AI and FeedFye, designed around different practical applications.
With employees working remotely from different parts of the world, Raul’s school-life and startup journey have developed side by side.
