Swati Priyam began developing software solutions when she was 10 years old. She fell in love with it and dreamed that one day she would start her own business. What she didn’t know was what form it would take, the space it would occupy, or when it would become a reality. Through a serendipitous chain of events, she realized that she had those answers and was ready to start her own business, just five years after graduating from the MSE for Professionals program.
from Dreams to reality
One of those links in the chain came in 2020 when Swati was selected to participate in the first-ever Female Founders School + Microsoft for Startups accelerator program for current and aspiring female founders. The 12 week program provided mentorship and support to the participants as they refined and validated their business ideas and created a plan for growth. “At the beginning I was quite nervous, but when I started meeting with the other founders in my cohort I realized I was in the right place.” Being involved in the accelerator program “taught me to take calculated risks, believe in myself and my ideas, and take a go-getter approach to make it happen.”
Another link in that chain was the support and encouragement she received from her husband, Manish Khemchandani, a fellow graduate of the MSE programs. “I am grateful that he recognized that I am capable and that he has encouraged me to have confidence in my abilities and to make my dream of having my own software company a reality.”
In January of 2021, Swati launched Round Robin Labs, a one-stop solution for consumer based software companies engaged in product development. “Our goal is to help companies build products alongside their users, incorporating user feedback at all stages of product development.” We “help the customer to identify the right target audience for their product, connect with the early adopters who match the identified user personas, and facilitate different types of user research based on the current stage of product development.”
A Roller Coaster Ride
For Swati, the process of launching a business has been both scary and exhilarating. “As the key decision maker, my team looks to me for guidance. But at the end of the day, it is very rewarding. And to be honest, it has been a lot of fun!”
“My advice to students is this — please try to stay connected with your faculty, advisors, mentors and classmates after you have left the program. They will always be cheering for you and will always be proud of your accomplishments.”