(August 8, 2025) One late evening in a Boston high school robotics lab, 16-year-old Arjun Goray was trying to make his team’s robot recognise a game object. But the robot just couldn’t see it right. That moment of frustration sparked an idea. What if teams like his could easily teach a robot how to see? That thought later grew into Synodic AI, a platform Arjun would launch at 17 to make computer vision easier for everyone. His journey from a curious teen to a young founder is about solving real problems, building tools that help, and having a family that stood by him.
From Robotics to Building a Company
Arjun grew up in the Boston suburbs and joined his high school’s robotics team. He loved technology and was especially interested in how machines could see the world—known as computer vision. But when he and his teammate Sean Mabli tried to build their own models, they ran into a big problem: they didn’t have enough good image data. They needed thousands of labeled pictures, and it was just too much for one small team.
Sean Mabli and Arjun Goray
So they created Dataset Colab, a platform where teams could share their data and models. It was a simple solution, but it worked. Within six weeks, over 500 users joined. That’s when Arjun realised the problem was bigger than just robotics. A lot of people needed an easier way to train computer vision systems.
That’s how Synodic AI began. Arjun and Sean started building a platform that would help anyone—from students to businesses—create and use computer vision models. They wanted to make it easier for people to train, customise, and deploy computer vision tools without needing a team of experts or expensive infrastructure.
What Synodic AI Does
Synodic AI is an all-in-one platform. Users can upload images, label them, train models, and use them—all in one place. The platform is fast, affordable, and gives users full control over their models. Arjun says they designed it so people could download and use their models anywhere, without being stuck with one cloud provider.
It’s also designed to be easy to use. Whether you’re a high school student or a startup founder, you can build powerful computer vision tools without needing a PhD or a big budget. In Arjun’s words, “Synodic AI is built for collaboration and growth.”
The platform supports different model architectures and offers users the flexibility to choose what suits them best. It’s also optimised for speed and cost—delivering results that are 2 to 3 times faster and cheaper compared to many standard platforms. This makes it especially useful for small teams or organisations with limited budgets.
Working While in School
Running a company while finishing high school wasn’t easy. Arjun would go to classes during the day and work on Synodic AI at night. His family supported him completely. They adjusted their routines, helped him meet mentors, and gave him the time and space to focus on building.
By May 2024, Arjun and Sean launched the first version of Synodic AI. There were bugs, crashes, and long nights of fixing things. But in June, they got their first paying customer. That moment showed Arjun that their idea had real value.
They continued refining the platform over the summer, focusing on user feedback and adding features that early users needed most. Arjun also worked on outreach to small businesses and developers who could benefit from the platform. The goal was clear: grow steadily while keeping the product simple and user-friendly.
Real-World Impact
Synodic AI is already being used in different fields. In factories, it helps spot defects in products. In healthcare, it can look at scans and find early signs of illness. On farms, it can track crop health and help farmers act faster.
Arjun wants Synodic AI to be useful everywhere. He says, “I want to see Synodic AI used to save lives and improve livelihoods.”
His goal is to make powerful AI tools available to everyone—no matter their background or budget. It’s a vision rooted in his own experience: a student who faced a challenge, found a solution, and now wants to share it with the world.
Early Life and Support System
Arjun’s parents moved to the U.S. from India and supported his passion for technology from a young age. He was always curious and liked building things—from simple projects in middle school to more advanced robotics in high school. His family encouraged him to explore, helped him stay grounded, and provided the structure he needed to take on big ideas while still being a student.
He also benefited from being part of the FIRST Robotics community, which gave him hands-on experience and access to mentors who pushed him to think beyond the classroom. The challenges he faced there helped him develop practical problem-solving skills that would later shape Synodic AI.
Looking Ahead
Now 18, Arjun has started college at UC Berkeley. He continues to work on Synodic AI while attending classes. His mission remains the same: help more people build with AI.
He says, “If a high school kid can launch a tech startup, imagine what you can do.”
Arjun’s story is about more than just tech. It’s about curiosity, problem-solving, and using knowledge to help others. For him, this is just the beginning. As Synodic AI grows, Arjun wants to keep building tools that are useful, affordable, and open to everyone.
- Follow Arjun Goray on LinkedIn
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