Hey everyone, Hannah from KudosWall here. Instead of imparting my usual wisdom on writing a recommendation letter or preparing for freshman year or standing out as an intern, I've decided to tell you all a story about your favorite edtech rockstars, Jag and Nikhil Vootkur. This father-son dynamic duo has redefined the meaning of the phrase "family business" with their internet creation, your favorite online resume builder and portfolio extraordinaire: KudosWall!



Let me be clear: I'm the mass comm girl here. I majored in communicating. With words. English words. Written and spoken plainly. I have absolutely zero understanding of graphic design, software engineering or computer science in any form. The fact that html coding is considered it's own language positively boggles my mind. My idea of being "tech-savvy" is literally just possessing a smartphone… and here I sit at the ripe old age of 23 years. Nikhil, on the other hand, is not yet 15 and already has a firmer grasp on all of these concepts than most individuals well into late adulthood. He has even written on the topic and been recognized by Google. It runs in the family, as Jag has worked in software engineering for much of his career.

So, if like me, you spent your days as a 14-year-old taking embarrassing selfies and blowing your allowance on the latest trends, and therefore find yourself fascinated by these two gents, take a read. I guarantee, it'll make you even prouder to be a KudosWall student… and it'll probably make you really question your pubescent years.

H: Nikhil, what made you decide to be a part of a startup company?

N: My parents and I were driving home from a competition when we started talking about how we wished there was something better to do with trophies than just put them on a mantle somewhere. Well, that idea sort of festered. My dad had worked in software engineering for years, and I was starting to play around with graphics and interface design. I helped make a few demo screens, and that really launched me into it.

H: Jag, besides that fateful car ride, what inspired you?

J: Once the idea came into my mind, it wouldn't let me rest. I just saw so many benefits as a parent and I knew that I had to at least try to make it a reality. KudosWall is, I'm proud to say, the product of that.

H: What about the EdTech industry draws you both in?

N: The cool thing is that I get to see firsthand the intersection between technology and education, because I'm fourteen. I'm part of the age group that new classroom technologies are being tested out on, and being a guinea pig in that sense is really interesting to me. Both the tech and education industries are changing so fast and so norms for students are changing just as quickly… and there is so much that can be done that just hasn't been done yet. For example, resumes for eighth graders may seem ridiculous now, but that may not be the case in two years. That's where I think KudosWall will really make an impact in the coming years.

J: Well, I have worked in software development for a long time, so I know what goes into it and what can come of it… but for the most part, I am the parent of a motivated and intelligent student! There is just so much talent in the younger generation that needs to be recognized and applauded