KL Deemed to be University alumni, Prajwal Kotamraju, has been recognized for his accomplishments in the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Prajwal, who graduated in 2016 with a B.Tech in Electronics, Communication, and Engineering, was featured for his role as a co-founder of ‘Automotus’, an innovative automated curb management platform based in the USA.
After completing his Bachelor’s degree at KL Deemed to be University, Prajwal went on to pursue an MS in Signal Processing from Arizona State University. His passion for cutting-edge technology led him to co-found Automotus along with Jordan Justus and Harris Lummis. Together, they developed a unique solution to tackle the world’s biggest traffic congestion problem.
The Vice-Chancellor of KL Deemed to be University, Dr. G. P. Saradhi Varma, expressed his delight and congratulated Prajwal on this remarkable achievement. He highlighted how the university’s vision of nurturing its alumni and equipping them with the right exposure and knowledge has played a crucial role in their success. Prajwal’s accomplishment is seen as a testament to the university’s commitment to preparing its graduates for a better future.
Prajwal credits his father, Dr. K. Subbarao, who serves as the Registrar of KL Deemed to be University, as a constant source of inspiration. He also acknowledges the university for fostering an environment that encourages and rewards initiative. Prajwal attributes his self-discovery and career path in computer vision to the diverse range of courses offered by the university, particularly the advanced electives. The practical knowledge and experience gained through project-based study were instrumental in shaping his career.
During his time at KL Deemed to be University, Prajwal actively participated in academic research and event organization, showcasing his commitment to personal and professional growth. His exceptional academic performance, with a CGPA of 9.8 out of 10, earned him several awards and recognition. Prajwal also contributed to the field of Signal Processing and Computer Vision by publishing papers and co-authoring a thesis on Performance Evaluation of Object Proposal Generators for Salient Object Detection.
Automotus, Prajwal’s brainchild, aims to address issues related to emissions, congestion, and safety hazards in cities and airports across the USA. The platform allows customers, including city governments, airports, and fleets, to install Automotus cameras on existing infrastructure such as streetlight poles. This provides real-time access to curb and traffic activity, enabling the platform to automatically alert enforcement officers of violations or send citations directly to vehicle owners. The innovative solution has already gained significant attention and secured $12 million in funding from investors like Techstars Ventures. Currently, Automotus is being utilized by 12 cities and 1,000 fleet operators across the USA.
Looking ahead, Prajwal’s vision includes enabling engineers to ideate, validate, and deploy AI models quickly. He aims to leverage AI-powered solutions to empower millions of people in India to solve everyday problems, identifying similar challenges faced by cities and towns in his home country.
Prajwal’s achievements serve as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs and highlight the impact of innovative thinking and technological advancements in addressing societal issues. His success story is not only a reflection of his individual capabilities but also a testament to the quality education and nurturing environment provided by KL Deemed to be University.
In conclusion, Prajwal Kotamraju’s recognition in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list is a significant milestone that showcases his leadership, innovative thinking, and commitment to creating solutions that benefit society. It is a testament to the education and support he received at KL Deemed to be University, highlighting the institution’s focus on shaping the next generation of visionary leaders.
