Nilesh Rathore
Entrepreneur & Product Engineer
Exploring the intersection of AI and delightful user interfaces following the acquisition of his startup, Orb.
Intro
I'm Nilesh Rathore, an entrepreneur and product engineer with a passion for building technology that feels human. Most recently, I was the Co-Founder and CEO of Orb, a consumer crypto social app that I scaled to over 500,000 users and $2.3M in funding before its acquisition in 2025. My career has been a journey from developing high-scale features for apps like MyJio to leading scrappy startups and conducting XR research. I'm obsessed with the idea that complex tech should result in 'delightful' products, and right now, I'm focused on how we can make AI interfaces feel more intuitive and less like talking to a robot. I offer a mix of deep technical mobile expertise and executive experience in scaling and M&A. I'm always looking to connect with others in the SF tech scene who are building the next generation of sticky consumer products.
Networking
What I can offer
- ›Deep technical expertise in mobile and AI engineering
- ›Executive experience in fundraising, scaling, and M&A
- ›Insights on building sticky consumer products
What I'm looking for
- ›expanding my professional network
- ›exploring mutual opportunities in AI and consumer tech
Best fit for
Focus
Current interests
Core competencies
Background
Career
Started as an Android developer at InnoEye, co-founded Dwellfood, led mobile teams at Rain Jobs and Coditas, and most recently served as Co-Founder/CEO of Orb, which was acquired in 2025.
Education
MS in Computer Science from California State University - East Bay (2021–2023); BE in Computer Science from University Institute of Technology, RGPV (2012–2016).
Achievements
- ›Scaled Orb to 500,000+ users and raised $2.3M in funding
- ›Developed features for MyJio app serving 100M+ users
- ›Built food delivery ecosystem that delivered 100,000+ meals
- ›Successfully exited Orb via acquisition in 2025
Opinions
- Complex technology should be used to build 'delightful' products
- AI interfaces should feel less like 'talking to a robot' and more like an enjoyable user experience
Personality
Communication style
Professional yet accessible and modern, balancing technical authority with a builder persona.
Formality — 6/10
Vocabulary