Stay Chill, Stay Nerdy: Abhishek Ramshanker on His LaunchX Startup Cogent, Obsessive Ambition, and Balancing School and Startup Life

This is an article feature from the podcast episode: “Stay chill, stay nerdy: Abhishek on his LaunchX startup Cogent, staying chill, and obsessive ambition.” Listen to the full episode here on Apple podcasts or here on Spotify. 

At just 16 years old, Abhishek Gopal Ramshanker is already making waves in the tech world as co-founder of Cogent, an AI ed-tech startup. Despite being a high school junior in the Netherlands, Abhishek and his team have built a platform designed to revolutionize studying with AI-powered tools like smart flashcards and file chat. Within two months of launching, Cogent became the second-ranked education product of the month on Product Hunt and attracted over 500 active users. Cogent also became a proud sponsor of the AwardX high school startup pitch in 2024, offering premium packages to all competition finalists.

The Beginning of a Tech Obsession

Originally from India, Abhishek spent many years in Europe before settling in the Netherlands. Growing up in a tech-savvy family, he fell in love with STEM and began exploring programming through YouTube, Udemy, and online courses. By the tenth grade, he discovered a passion for applying knowledge through building projects and entrepreneurship—a journey that led him to the LaunchX 2024 Berkeley program.

His first ventures were humble but pivotal: a game replicating the T-Rex offline game, a basketball free-throw simulator, and an F1 prediction app. These early projects honed his coding skills and sparked his love for software development. "I’ve always been someone who gets obsessed with things,” Abhishek admits, “whether it’s ninja TV shows or animal documentaries. When I find something I enjoy, I go all in.”

The Birth of Cogent

Cogent was born from a desire to help students navigate the overwhelming world of AI tools. Abhishek explains, “It’s mainly targeted towards students who don’t know how to use these tools. For example, our flashcards pre-generate content from your notes, making studying more efficient.” Cogent also features a file-chat function, where students can train a chatbot on a document, like a research paper, to extract relevant insights.

Building and launching Cogent during the LaunchX program has been an intense learning experience. “This is my first time bringing a tech product to market with actual users,” he shares. The challenges, from managing costs to resolving technical issues, have taught him to stay calm under pressure. “Inside, my mind might be crazy, but on the outside, I stay calm.”

Balancing Chaos and Calm

Abhishek juggles school, SAT prep, and his startup with a balanced mindset. “School has never been my top priority. I aim for a high benchmark but also leave room for my passions—like robotics, my startup, and working with friends,” he says. His mantra? "Stay chill."

This philosophy is vital in high-pressure moments. “There were times we launched features, and things went wrong,” he recalls. “But I’ve learned to step back and fix the problem without panicking.”

Advice for New LaunchX Applicants

For aspiring innovators, Abhishek emphasizes authenticity: “When applying to LaunchX, show your character. They care about who you are.” He also advises teams to maintain clarity and communication, noting that some members may not want to continue after the program. “Be clear, and don’t be afraid to ask others to join your vision.”

During the program, he notes how clear and honest communication is key. “Not everyone will want to keep working on the idea after the program, and that’s okay. Be upfront with your teammates, and if you need to, don’t hesitate to reach out to others who share your vision.” After the program ended, the Cogent team went from its initial LaunchX team of four to two, and then a third student from a different team joined to make up its three cofounders today.

A Vision for the Future

Looking ahead, Abhishek dreams of becoming an expert in a field he’s passionate about while building socially impactful tech solutions. His advice to fellow teens? “Embrace your inner nerd. Passion is powerful, and it’s okay to be obsessed—just stay balanced.”

With a calm exterior and a mind racing with ideas, Abhishek’s journey is a testament to the power of focus, ambition, and staying true to yourself.

Connect with Abhishek here.