School Blocked ChatGPT, But This 17-Year-Old Built An AI Startup With 1,000 Users
A 17-year-old US high school student has built an AI-powered platform for neurodivergent job seekers, attracting more than 1,000 users and 20,000 job listings.
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A school’s decision to block ChatGPT did not stop 17-year-old Navya Tuteja from exploring artificial intelligence. Instead, the restriction became part of her experience with AI as she went on to build her own startup, Raaha.
Tuteja, a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia, recently launched Raaha, a free platform designed to help neurodivergent job seekers assess whether a job opportunity could be a suitable match for them. According to Fortune Daily, the platform has already attracted more than 1,000 users and 20,000 job listings.
How The Idea For Raaha Started
The idea for Raaha was influenced partly by Tuteja’s personal experience with her mother, who is hard of hearing, as well as her observations of job advertisements aimed at neurodivergent candidates.
Tuteja noticed that many job listings focus mainly on what employers expect from applicants, while providing limited information about the working environment and what employees can expect in their day-to-day roles.
Raaha was created to address this gap. The platform analyses job listings across different factors and provides applicants with information that can help them assess whether a particular role may suit their needs before applying.
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She Built The Platform Herself
Tuteja developed Raaha herself and has kept the platform free while working on the product. She also wrote the underlying algorithm herself. Although she uses AI in parts of her work, she told Fortune that she mainly uses it for mechanical tasks such as improving the website’s design, drafting emails and making sense of information when she is short on time.
ChatGPT Was Blocked At Her School
Tuteja’s school Wi-Fi blocks ChatGPT, Claude and similar AI tools. She said the restriction meant she used generative AI much less during school hours. At the same time, she said the experience encouraged her to complete exam-related learning and thinking independently. Tuteja is also the president of her school’s AI club, showing how her academic environment has combined restrictions on AI use with opportunities to explore the technology.
Her experience highlights how students are increasingly using AI not only for academic tasks but also to build technology products addressing real-world problems.
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Anjali is an education journalist with over a year of experience in digital and business journalism. She has previously worked with BW Businessworld and ANI, where she gained experience in news writing, editing, research, and fact-checking. At Jagran Josh, she writes education news and covers competitive exams and current affairs, with a keen interest in delivering accurate, informative, and reader-focused content. She holds a BA from Miranda House, University of Delhi, and a postgraduate diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). Anjali enjoys reading and exploring new ideas and perspectives through books.
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