The Iowa Tech podcast recently featured an insightful discussion with Anuj Sharma, the founder of Coltie, a tech company operating out of Ames, Iowa. Coltie aims to enhance the academic experience for students by bridging the gap between them and their potential faculty advisors. Anuj, a professor at Iowa State University, shared his personal journey and motivation for founding Coltie, highlighting his own experiences in academia where matching with the right mentor was crucial for success. Coltie is designed as an integrated platform that connects various stakeholders in academia—students, faculty, and administrators—using an app to provide timely and accurate information. The platform seeks to address the common challenges faced by students, such as finding the right advisor, understanding the resources available to them, and ultimately, reducing the stress and anxiety prevalent in graduate education.

During the podcast, Anuj also elaborated on the innovative use of AI in Coltie's matchmaking process. The platform utilizes natural language processing to create a comprehensive database of faculty and their research areas, allowing students to easily find potential advisors who align with their academic interests. Beyond just matching students with faculty, Coltie also provides tools for departments and local businesses to engage with students through platforms like Coltie Hive and Coltie Local, enhancing both academic and social experiences. With a focus on strategic partnerships and an expanding user base, Coltie is poised to become a significant player in transforming global academic collaboration by making the process of academic matchmaking more efficient and stress-free.

Find this show on your favorite app: https://iowapodcast.com/coltie