Meet Angad Daryani, school dropout and teenage innovator to Praan founder and CEO

Angad Daryani is not your typical tech founder. He is an Indian-origin engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur who has built a reputation for doing things differently, whether it is dropping out of school early or calling out hiring practices publicly.

He is the founder and CEO of Praan, a deep-tech startup working on air purification technology. Based between India and the United States, his company is trying to solve one of the biggest urban problems today, air pollution.

But long before Praan, he was already building things, experimenting, and trying to solve real-world problems.

As a teenager, he stepped away from formal schooling and shifted to independent learning. Instead of classrooms, he focused on hands-on projects, especially in engineering and product development.

That early decision shaped everything that followed.

EARLY BUILDER MINDSET

Daryani started young. At just 13, he founded Shark Kits, a company that created low-cost DIY science kits. The idea was simple. Make engineering hands-on and accessible for students.

He later went on to build Sharkbot 3D Systems, where he worked on developing affordable 3D printers in India. These early ventures gave him experience in design, manufacturing, and running a team.

Even before college, he had already worked on multiple prototypes and products.

LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

His education took a different route. After homeschooling for a few years, he pursued the International Baccalaureate programme, studying subjects like physics, mathematics, and economics.

He later moved to the United States for higher education. Daryani studied electrical and computer engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst before transferring to the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he completed his degree with honours.

Alongside academics, he was involved in startup programmes, engineering teams, and hands-on labs.

BUILDING PRAAN

In 2017, Daryani started working on what would later become Praan. The idea was to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing cities today, air pollution.

Praan focuses on building filterless air purification systems. Unlike traditional systems that rely on filters, these technologies aim to remove pollutants from the air without frequent replacements, making them more scalable.

The company works on both indoor and outdoor solutions and also explores areas like environmental sensing and carbon capture.

GROWING A CLIMATE TECH COMPANY

Over the years, Praan has expanded its work across multiple areas. Its product line includes industrial air purification systems, commercial solutions, and technologies for capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

The company has also attracted global investors and partners. It has raised over $5 million and works with organisations like Microsoft and ANSYS.

A large part of its product development is still rooted in India, with a focus on making solutions that can be scaled across cities.

A CAREER BUILT ON EXPERIMENTATION

Daryani’s career includes more than just running a startup. He has worked with research groups, advised organisations, and contributed to projects across education, innovation, and technology.

From early work at research labs to building teams across countries, his journey shows a consistent pattern. Build, test, learn, and repeat.

Today, he represents a growing group of entrepreneurs working at the intersection of technology and climate challenges.

His work with Praan is still evolving, but the goal remains clear. Find practical, scalable ways to help cities deal with polluted air.