Racism in Tech: The Journey of Varun Vummadi and Esha Manideep

Racism in tech remains a concern as Indians emerge as influential tech leaders, yet many are subjected to derogatory remarks regarding their accents and appearances. A recent instance illuminated this issue in Silicon Valley, where Varun Vummadi and Esha Manideep, two young innovators from India, faced relentless online harassment despite their remarkable achievements.

The graduates of IIT Kharagpur have generated excitement with their voice-driven AI startup, Giga, which successfully secured $61 million in Series A funding. This significant milestone places them among India-born entrepreneurs making waves in the global tech sphere. The duo, both recognized in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, shared their accomplishment via a video on X (formerly known as Twitter), highlighting that their technology is already in use by DoorDash and is poised to grow with several Fortune 100 companies.

However, what should have been a time for celebration quickly turned into a moment overshadowed by a surge of racist and appearance-based trolling. Instead of receiving accolades for their innovation, some comments ridiculed their features, accents, and Indian origins. One individual mockingly stated that if they had raised $61 million, they should “maybe hire attractive people for the demo.”

Such remarks sparked an outcry, prompting others to denounce the hateful comments. A user remarked, “When people can’t compete in brilliance, they attack appearance. That’s not humour, that’s insecurity.” Another added, “Watch them become millionaires while you’re stuck with a $12-an-hour job.”

Despite the negativity, numerous supporters rallied around the founders. One user stated, “They have an attractive product — that’s what matters. You don’t use X because Elon Musk is attractive; you use it because it’s a great product,” reflecting the consensus among many.

Giga’s Technology and Founders’ Aspirations

Established in 2023, Giga is based in San Francisco and focuses on developing voice-based AI systems that can manage real-time customer communications, operate in multiple languages, and integrate seamlessly with extensive enterprise infrastructures. Their cutting-edge technology allows AI to speak and chat at the same time, an innovation that has garnered praise from both investors and clients.

A Journey of Sacrifices

The background of the founders is as compelling as their product. Varun turned down a PhD offer from Stanford University and a lucrative $525,000 position as a quant trader. Meanwhile, Esha declined a $150,000 opportunity from a prestigious Indian high-frequency trading firm to chase their startup vision. Varun once expressed on LinkedIn how they left these opportunities to follow their passion for tackling challenging problems in machine learning.

Their experience and the subsequent backlash highlight the ongoing discrimination that Indian professionals encounter in international technology sectors. From derisive comments about accents to xenophobic insults regarding “outsourcing,” these behaviours expose the undercurrents of cultural bias that persist, even in a space that prides itself on diversity.

Nevertheless, for Varun and Esha, the negativity seems to enhance their accomplishments. In a field driven by intellect and innovation, their success is a testament to the idea that brilliance transcends factors like accent and appearance, even when the world momentarily overlooks this truth.