Open to opportunities

Akhilesh Gupta

@akhileshgupta

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Generalist with 14+ years of experience in business operations.

India

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What I'm looking for

I am looking for a role that fosters innovation and allows me to leverage my expertise in scaling operations and implementing AI solutions.

I'm a strategic generalist who thrives in zero-to-one environments — working alongside founders to validate ideas, build early teams, set up scalable systems, and bring clarity to execution.

My strength lies in connecting the dots across product, operations, and technology. Over the past 14+ years, I’ve helped build and scale businesses in fintech, logistics, edtech, agritech, and now AI. From leading national ops teams to co-founding startups, I’ve played cross-functional roles wherever momentum was needed.

I’m not an ML engineer — but I deeply understand AI’s potential. I work at the intersection of business and tech, helping companies identify real use cases, experiment fast, and build AI-powered solutions that actually move the needle.

In the last year, I’ve gone hands-on with GenAI — working with LLMs, LangChain, voice bots, Stable Diffusion, Hugging Face, and building internal tools and chatbots using Python, no-code platforms, and open-source frameworks. I’ve also helped set up AI-infused CRM processes, marketing automation, and internal workflows to improve business efficiency.

I’ve operated as a right-hand to founders — whether it’s setting up GTM, automating ops, shaping product direction, or owning special projects end to end.

Some of my notable achievements include launching Swiggy in Hyderabad from scratch, implementing a pay-per-delivery model at Swiggy, and scaling Recykal's business from $0.5M to $10M in monthly recurring revenue. I have a proven track record of driving operational efficiencies and enhancing business visibility through strategic implementation of tools like Zoho CRM.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Head of Business Process Excellence

Current

Invest4Edu

Jun 2024 - Present (1 year)

Spearheaded the implementation of Zoho CRM, automating lead management and improving conversion rates by 40%. Conducted market research for study-abroad verticals, identifying key strategies and developing a go-to-market strategy.

Zoho CRM Market Research Lead Management Automation GTM Strategy Business Analysis Stakeholder Management Data Visualization

Current

Founder - Writer

Current

The Tool Nerd

Sep 2024 - Present (9 months)

Writes a newsletter on productivity and AI, driving significant traffic and subscriber growth. Built a tools directory with 90% automation using AI and developed tutorials empowering over 100 professionals.

Content Creation Newsletter Writing AI Tools Automation Web Development Digital Marketing User Engagement Tutorial Development

Entrepreneur in Residence

Antler

Sep 2023 - Dec 2023 (3 months)

Selected among the top 5% of entrepreneurs, evaluated and refined innovative business concepts in sustainability and insurance, developing investor decks that attracted funding interest.

Business Development Investor Relations Sustainability Concept Evaluation Pitch Deck Creation Mentorship Networking

Co-Founder

Switcheko

Jan 2023 - Sep 2023 (8 months)

Developed a B2B marketplace for sustainable alternatives, onboarding over 15 partners and establishing a robust vendor network while effectively communicating business value through investor decks.

B2B Marketplace Vendor Management Sustainability Investor Decks Business Operations Networking Partnership Development

General Manager and Head of Product

Recykal

Jun 2019 - Dec 2022 (3 years 6 months)

Scaled marketplace operations significantly while leading a product team responsible for strategy and development of multiple applications, including a price recommendation engine and EPR operations.

Product Management Marketplace Operations Team Leadership Product Development EPR Compliance Data Analysis Strategy Development

Head of Operations

Kheyti

Sep 2018 - May 2019 (8 months)

Conducted training programs to drive adoption of greenhouses, implemented customer success operations, and scaled installations, improving farmer yields and profitability.

Training Customer Success Operations Management Greenhouse Adoption CRM Implementation Agricultural Practices Stakeholder Engagement

Head of Operations & Partner Success

ZestMoney

Apr 2016 - Jul 2018 (2 years 3 months)

Achieved significant increases in customer service capacity and strengthened partner relationships while rolling out products across retail stores, contributing to revenue growth.