Zamp Founders: From Sequoia & Uber to AI Startup Success

Bengaluru-based agentic AI startup Zamp is challenging the traditional path to tech leadership, with a cofounder who skipped college to join the company after high school. The story of Zamp’s founders, Amit Jain and Raghav Saraf, exemplifies a growing trend of young talent prioritizing practical experience in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.

A Chance Encounter at a Hackathon

Raghav Saraf joined Zamp just four days after completing his high school exams in 2022. His path crossed with Amit Jain’s at a blockchain hackathon, where Saraf developed a payment gateway remarkably similar to a project Jain was pursuing at Zamp. The hackathon organizer facilitated an introduction between the two [Memesita].

From Internship to Cofounder

Saraf initially joined Zamp for a three-month summer internship. During this time, he was able to take on significant projects and accelerate his learning. He quickly realized he was learning faster than he would in a traditional university setting and decided to forgo college, a decision that required convincing his parents [Business Insider].

Jain recalls being “interviewed” by Saraf’s father in a coffee shop to ensure the environment was right for his son to join the team [Business Insider].

Experienced Leadership

Amit Jain’s journey to founding Zamp is equally unconventional. Prior to Zamp, he served as a Managing Director at Sequoia India and Southeast Asia, and as Head of APAC at Uber [Zamp.ai]. He spent six to nine months brainstorming startup ideas before conceiving the idea that led to Zamp [Business Insider].

Growth and Recognition

As of March 2026, Zamp has grown to approximately 80 employees and serves a global customer base, including top banks [Let’s Data Science]. The company has received recognition as the AWS “AI/ML Disruptor of the Year 2025” and has been identified by IDC as redefining finance operations and by Gartner as a “Cool Vendor for Agentic AI” [Zamp.ai].

A Gradual Promotion to Cofounder

Raghav Saraf’s promotion to cofounder was a gradual process, reflecting his critical thinking, judgment, and maturity. Jain noted that Saraf consistently displayed qualities beyond those typically seen in leaders. The announcement in 2025 wasn’t a surprise, as Saraf had been taking on increasing responsibility [Let’s Data Science], [Business Insider].

Peer-Like Relationship

The founders describe their working relationship as peer-like and complementary. Saraf leads product development, while Jain focuses on sales, customer relations, and hiring [Business Insider]. Saraf emphasizes the trust and openness within the company, allowing him to build independent decisions, even at a young age [Business Insider].