Despite the rise of Indians as global tech leaders, many still encounter racist mockery, particularly for their accents and appearance. This issue recently surfaced in Silicon Valley, where Indian innovators Varun Vummadi and Esha Manideep faced online hate even after their AI startup, Giga, raised $61 million in Series A funding. Instead of celebrating their success, some mocked their looks and backgrounds, with one comment suggesting they should hire “attractive” people for demos. The remark drew widespread condemnation, with supporters emphasizing the importance of their innovative product over superficial judgments. Giga, founded in 2023 and based in San Francisco, specializes in voice-based AI systems capable of real-time customer interactions and multi-language support, impressing both investors and clients. Varun and Esha’s journey highlights the persistent bias faced by Indian professionals in tech, underscoring the coexistence of cultural prejudice and diversity celebration. Their achievements, however, continue to demonstrate that intelligence and innovation transcend superficial biases.
Are Indian AI founders facing racism despite success?
