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Ayush Karupakula, a second-year computer science student (CS), has secured $500,000 in pre-seed funding from Y Combinator (YC) for Tropir, a startup that helps developers trace and debug failures in large language model (LLM) pipelines. 

YC is a prestigious startup accelerator known for launching companies like Airbnb, DoorDash, Stripe, and Reddit, and Karupakula’s acceptance into its Winter 2025 batch places him among the next generation of tech founders.

The Road to Y Combinator

Winning a spot in YC is no small feat. The selection process is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 1%. Participation requires a compelling vision, a strong team, and proof of concept that demonstrates potential. For this student and his co-founder Aarush Kukreja (Princeton University), the journey began in late 2024 with an ambitious idea and a scrappy demo.

“The interview was a 10-minute rapid-fire session with YC partners. They grilled us on our prototype, market fit, and drive,” Karupakula said. “We didn’t have everything figured out, but they loved our energy and our willingness to pivot fast.”

Pivoting from Sustainable Design to Developer Tools

Today, the team is building a developer tool that helps teams trace, debug, and improve complex LLM pipelines. It captures how inputs flow across chains of prompts, retrievals, and tool calls—without any code changes—and surfaces the root causes when outputs break. It also suggests better prompts, structural changes, and other ways to optimize pipeline performance.

Tropir initially aimed to help architecture and planning firms design energy-efficient buildings using AI-driven optimization. But after early user feedback revealed budget constraints and limited software adoption in that market, the team shifted focus.

The team’s ability to adapt quickly to demand is a skill Karupakula credits to his experience at ɫ����, where rigorous problem-solving and exposure to cutting-edge technology taught him to iterate fast and stay grounded in user needs.

Leveraging ɫ����’s Startup Ecosystem

For Karupakula, ɫ���� also played a pivotal role in shaping his entrepreneurial mindset. The rigorous CS curriculum provided the technical skills to build innovative solutions, but it was the startup ecosystem that truly sparked his ambition.

“CREATE-X was a game-changer. Taking the Startup Lab class gave me hands-on experience, and attending project showcases opened my eyes to other undergrads’ wild ideas. It’s pure inspiration,” Karupakula said. “And the Grand Challenges Living Learning Community drilled into us the value of stakeholder interviews and rapid prototyping, habits I live by now.”

Hackathons like Hacklytics also helped fuel his passion, exposing him to fast-paced, high-impact projects that reinforced his problem-solving skills and entrepreneurial drive.

The YC Experience: Hustle, Innovation, and Growth

Since joining YC, the experience has been transformative. Relocating to San Francisco, the startup’s founders are now immersed in a high-energy environment where late-night coding sessions and continuous mentorship are the norm. With Garry Tan, YC’s President and CEO, as their designated general partner, they’ve gained insights to refine their approach.

“Being surrounded by founders pushing the boundaries of tech is electric,” Karupakula said. “The energy here is unreal; constant feedback, late-night sprints, and meeting users who get hyped about what we’re building.”

What’s Next?

With YC backing and a new direction, the team is moving fast. Their primary focus is testing their latest concept with users and preparing for a product launch by late spring 2025. The $500,000 in pre-seed funding is being used to expand outbound sales, support cloud infrastructure, and eventually hire engineers to accelerate development. 

“YC’s network is the ideal launchpad,” Karupakula said. “Long-term, we’re committed to building something transformative.”

Advice for Aspiring ɫ���� Entrepreneurs

For fellow students looking to break into the startup world, Karupakula’s advice is simple: “Go for it. Build a rough prototype and get it in front of users, even if it’s not perfect. Lean on CREATE-X for mentorship and connections - they’re gold. And don’t overthink the idea. Pivots are part of the journey. If a second-year undergrad like me can land in YC, you can too.”