Raj Gaurav, 23
Raj Gaurav lives on his own terms. He is a driven open-source contributor, hacker, mentor, and Major League Hacking (MLH) Fellow from Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, India, currently based in Bangalore. He attended the University of London and has served as an XRPL Campus Ambassador, as well as a mentor at The Collab Lab and HackYourFuture. Raj is a self-taught software and electronics engineer who has always had an interest in linguistics, mathematics, science, and video games.
His passion for technology started when he got his first computer. He went on to teach himself how to code and build games, learning full-stack web and mobile development, system design and architecture, and even delving into electronics programming, leading him to his current work with machine automation.
In the 7th grade, he discovered the hacking community, where he found other hackers, coders, developers, and engineers who shared his passions. Raj joined communities like Overthewire, and his journey in tech took a turn for the better. Though Raj has always been a self-directed learner, he credits the things he learned from various tech communities with kickstarting his success.
Raj's story stands out in the hacker community. As a self-taught software and electronics engineer, he chooses to pursue his education on his own terms. He has developed intense discipline in order to lead a healthy and productive life. He is quick to acknowledge that conventional paths aren’t for him, and has dropped out of established engineering programs to learn directly from industry veterans. He works remotely, studies remotely, and travels to different cities every few months to learn about culture and diversity with the stipends he earns from internships and freelancing projects.
Raj’s independence doesn’t mean he works alone. Through the MLH Fellowship he has built a wide network of collaborators. Raj looks forward to doing more community building through his job as a SWE at DPS Munich and at START Hack Switzerland. Raj frequently volunteers at coding bootcamps, hackathons, and open-source programs. He is mentoring at HackYourFuture and leads the South Asia chapter for The Collab Lab. He has mentored at more than 40 hackathons including HackHarvard, GreatUniHack, SheCodeAfrica, and Codepath.
Whatever new project he takes on or new community he joins, Raj is always finding his own way forward. Currently, Raj is building InfiOpp.com, a community-based opportunities board to support developers seeking opportunities in tech. A stellar example of self-motivation and independence, Raj is an inspiration to other hackers pursuing nontraditional paths, and a reminder that there is no wrong way to pursue a career in technology.
Quick Facts
Raj Gaurav, 23
Raj Gaurav lives on his own terms. He is a driven open-source contributor, hacker, mentor, and Major League Hacking (MLH) Fellow from Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, India, currently based in Bangalore. He attended the University of London and has served as an XRPL Campus Ambassador, as well as a mentor at The Collab Lab and HackYourFuture. Raj is a self-taught software and electronics engineer who has always had an interest in linguistics, mathematics, science, and video games.
His passion for technology started when he got his first computer. He went on to teach himself how to code and build games, learning full-stack web and mobile development, system design and architecture, and even delving into electronics programming, leading him to his current work with machine automation.
In the 7th grade, he discovered the hacking community, where he found other hackers, coders, developers, and engineers who shared his passions. Raj joined communities like Overthewire, and his journey in tech took a turn for the better. Though Raj has always been a self-directed learner, he credits the things he learned from various tech communities with kickstarting his success.
Raj's story stands out in the hacker community. As a self-taught software and electronics engineer, he chooses to pursue his education on his own terms. He has developed intense discipline in order to lead a healthy and productive life. He is quick to acknowledge that conventional paths aren’t for him, and has dropped out of established engineering programs to learn directly from industry veterans. He works remotely, studies remotely, and travels to different cities every few months to learn about culture and diversity with the stipends he earns from internships and freelancing projects.
Raj’s independence doesn’t mean he works alone. Through the MLH Fellowship he has built a wide network of collaborators. Raj looks forward to doing more community building through his job as a SWE at DPS Munich and at START Hack Switzerland. Raj frequently volunteers at coding bootcamps, hackathons, and open-source programs. He is mentoring at HackYourFuture and leads the South Asia chapter for The Collab Lab. He has mentored at more than 40 hackathons including HackHarvard, GreatUniHack, SheCodeAfrica, and Codepath.
Whatever new project he takes on or new community he joins, Raj is always finding his own way forward. Currently, Raj is building InfiOpp.com, a community-based opportunities board to support developers seeking opportunities in tech. A stellar example of self-motivation and independence, Raj is an inspiration to other hackers pursuing nontraditional paths, and a reminder that there is no wrong way to pursue a career in technology.
Quick Facts
