Ketan Rahangdale
Ketan Rahangdale | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | November 21, 1992 |
| Education | University of Central Florida |
| Occupation | CEO of JOOX Music |
| Website | http://www.jooxmusic.com/ |
Ketan Rahangdale is an American entrepreneur and the CEO of the startup company, EarTop Technologies. He is the youngest person on the Empact 100 list in 2012.[1]
Education
[edit]Ketan Rahangdale graduated from Lawton Chiles High School in Tallahassee, Florida in 2011, where he played tennis.[2] He attended Babson College’s entrepreneurship program as a freshman, later transferring to University of Miami to be closer to his business partners.[3] He is a member of the Launch Pad, the University of Miami’s entrepreneurship program.[4]
Career
[edit]Rahangdale began DJing at parties and concerts at age 12.[3][5] He decided to create wireless headphones and replace audio cables to make it easier for DJs to set up and maneuver.[3] Rahangdale began pitching his idea at elevator and business pitch competitions: He was a semi-finalist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Elevator Pitch Competition and a 2012 ACC Startup Madness finalist.[6]
Rahangdale raised $250,000 in angel funding and partnered with an engineering firm in Orlando, Florida to create the product.[1][3] He and his business partners named the startup company “EarTop.” EarTop was started in Tallahassee, Florida in August 2011 and legally formed in January 2012.[1][3][5]
After exiting EarTop at the age of 20, he co-founded JOOX Music as CEO, a Social Music Community.[7]
Awards
[edit]The Startup America Partnership and Empact named Ketan Rahangdale to their Empact 100 list, which is a group of entrepreneurs under the age of 30.[3] Rahangdale was included in a White House ceremony for the Empact 100, and is the only CEO on the list under the age of 20.[1]
Additionally, Rahangdale won the Kairos 50 award in 2012 & 2013, which recognizes business ventures by university students.[8] He was also a finalist in the Technology Leaders of the Year Awards for 2012 in the Technology Student Entrepreneur category, an award given by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.[6]
Memberships
[edit]Rahangdale is a member of the Kairos Society and President of the Southeast Region.[6][8] He is also a member of the Young Entrepreneur Council of America.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Zax, David. “This College Sophomore and CEO Keeps a Keg at the Office ¬ Even if He’s too Young to Tap it.” Fast Company. Oct. 5, 2012
- ^ Tennis Recruiting Network Player Information: Ketan Rahangdale Accessed Feb. 21, 2013
- ^ a b c d e f Helmer, Jodi. “College Entrepreneur Creates Wireless Headphones." Entrepreneur Magazine. Jan. 26, 2013.
- ^ University of Miami news release. “UM Student Wins Kairos 50 Award.” Feb. 13, 2012
- ^ a b Tracy, Abigail. “America’s Coolest College Start-ups 2012.” Inc. Magazine. Mar. 4, 2012
- ^ a b c LeClaire, Jennifer. “Ketan Rahangdale, “Toy” to Top Tech.” Business Miami. Fall 2012
- ^ Mariotti, Steve. “Top Empact100 Entrepreneurs Take Over United Nations Headquarters for a Day” Huffington Post. Winter 2013
- ^ a b Gallardo, Ariele. “Freshman Entrepreneur Honored.” The Miami Hurricane. March 1, 2012
- ^ Young Entrepreneurship Council Membership Directory[permanent dead link] Accessed Feb. 21, 2013