(Technocrat)
In an era where artificial intelligence is reshaping the world, few voices stand out for blending technical excellence with deep humanity quite like Maitreyi Chatterjee’s. A software engineer working at the vital intersection of privacy and machine learning, Maitreyi is not only building safer, more trustworthy technology—she’s living proof that determination and heart can turn modest beginnings into extraordinary impact.
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Raised by a single mother in Kolkata, she rose through sheer grit and talent to earn the prestigious Tata Scholarship, attend Cornell University, and now influence how some of the world’s most powerful AI systems handle privacy and responsibility. Her entrepreneurial spirit shone early with heartfelt inventions for social good and later through co-founding CodeBozu, an innovative edtech startup. Her journey is a powerful reminder that dreams are never too big to chase—and that one person’s light can illuminate paths for many others.
We sat down with Maitreyi to hear her story in her own words. (Technocrat)
TheSpace.ink: Maitreyi, thank you for sitting down with us today. Let’s start at the beginning—can you take us back to your childhood in Kolkata? (Technocrat)
Maitreyi: Of course. I grew up in a small home in the heart of Kolkata, just my mother and me. She was—still is—my biggest inspiration. A single parent who worked incredibly hard every single day, yet she always had time to encourage me, to dream with me. At night, she’d tuck me in and say, “Dreams are too big to wait, beta. Shine bright yourself, and you’ll light the way for others who dare to dream.” Those words stayed with me. They became my motto. (Technocrat)
TheSpace.ink: That’s beautiful. How did that upbringing shape the young Maitreyi? (Technocrat)
Maitreyi: It made me believe that no matter where you start, if you work hard and care deeply, you can go far. I was always curious—loved books, puzzles, figuring out how things worked. In high school, that curiosity turned into my first real project: I built an innovative Android app called Talkies, paired with a simple electronic device.
I’d tell them exactly what my mother told me: Your dreams are never too big to wait for. Start shining today—through hard work, kindness, and courage. There will be challenges, but there will also be people and opportunities that believe in you, just like the Tata Scholarship believed in me.
It was designed to bridge communication gaps for those with hearing and speech disabilities by generating a visual transcript of conversations in real time, allowing back-to-back dialogue without relying on sign language, and even producing an electronic alert sound if the user needed help urgently. It was a heartfelt project, born from empathy and a bit of ingenuity—I just wanted to help make conversations easier for people who faced those challenges every day. It wasn’t perfect, but seeing it work for even one person made it all worthwhile.
We launched a beta version in three districts, tested it with vernacular languages, and gathered valuable feedback from local users. I also created a companion Arduino-based cap to help detect traffic and vehicles from behind for added safety. My talents shone further when I earned a spot in the Regional Maths Olympiad, proving to myself that my sharp mind could tackle even the toughest puzzles. Those experiences showed me that small efforts, driven by heart, could open big doors. (Technocrat)
TheSpace.ink: And one of those doors was the Tata Scholarship. Can you tell us about that moment?
Maitreyi: It was life-changing. The Tata Scholarship, funded by the Tata Education and Development Trust, is incredibly selective—only five students from across India are chosen each year. It’s need-based but awarded on merit, and it covers everything: full tuition, meals, fees—for four years at Cornell University. That’s around $300,000. When I got the news, my mother and I just sat and cried happy tears. It wasn’t just financial support; it was someone saying, “We believe in you.” Because of that scholarship, I could attend one of the world’s most prestigious universities without worrying about the cost. (Technocrat)
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TheSpace.ink: What was it like leaving Kolkata for Cornell?
Maitreyi: Terrifying and thrilling all at once. I’d never seen snow before! There were moments of homesickness, culture shock, the usual challenges. But I carried my mother’s words with me. I studied computer science, dove into research on how machines understand human language in fair and meaningful ways, and graduated cum laude. While at Cornell, I co-founded CodeBozu with my friend Rishi Malhotra—an edtech startup that made learning to code fun and accessible for middle and high school students through interactive, bite-sized tutorials and a hyper-interactive video format where kids could edit and run code right inside the lessons.
It grew to over 500 weekly active users, won awards like Student Business of the Year, and was backed by Cornell’s eLab accelerator. It was an incredible experience in entrepreneurship and teaching the next generation to code. Every step felt like proof that if you keep trying, you really can reach places you once thought impossible. (Technocrat)
TheSpace.ink: Today you’re a software engineer in the Bay Area, working at the intersection of privacy and machine learning. How does that connect to the girl from Kolkata?
Maitreyi: It feels like a natural continuation. I build systems that protect people’s personal information while making AI safer and more responsible. I want technology to reflect the best values—care, fairness, trust. I’ve also co-founded startups focused on tech for social good—like CodeBozu and others—and I enjoy speaking to others about building a future we can all believe in. (Technocrat)
TheSpace.ink: What message would you share with young people, especially girls from similar backgrounds, who have big dreams but feel the odds are against them? (Technocrat)
Maitreyi: I’d tell them exactly what my mother told me: Your dreams are never too big to wait for. Start shining today—through hard work, kindness, and courage. There will be challenges, but there will also be people and opportunities that believe in you, just like the Tata Scholarship believed in me. If a girl from a modest home in Kolkata can make it to Cornell, co-found startups like CodeBozu, and help shape the future of AI, then anyone who dares to try can create their own light. And when you shine, you don’t just brighten your path—you light the way for everyone coming after you. (Technocrat)
TheSpace.ink: Maitreyi, thank you. Your story is truly inspiring.
Maitreyi: Thank you. I’m just grateful to share it and, hopefully, pass a little of that light forward. (Tech
Interview taken by Dr. Mousumi Duttaray
