Ardan Labs Podcast

This podcast features intimate conversations with engineers who are in the forefront of building or teaching technology. Join us as we learn how our guests got started in tech, the type and level of education they've obtained, their work history, and personal stories about their journey. We publish the show on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and the Web biweekly on Wednesdays at 12pm US Eastern Time. Subscribe and STAY TUNED!

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Ardan Labs Podcast

Creativity, AI Systems, and True Foundry with Nikunj Bajaj

May 06, 2026 • Ale Kennedy

0:00 | 1:26:55

In this episode of the Ardan Labs Podcast, Ale Kennedy talks with Nikunj Bajaj, co-founder of True Foundry, about his journey from India to Silicon Valley and his work building modern AI infrastructure. Nikunj shares insights from his time at Meta, where he worked on large-scale machine learning systems, and how those experiences shaped the foundation of True Foundry.

The conversation explores the evolution of AI—from early machine learning systems to today’s generative models—and the infrastructure required to support them. Nikunj also discusses leadership lessons, long-term thinking, and what it takes to build and scale an AI startup in a rapidly changing landscape.

00:00 Introduction

07:38 IIT and Early Academic Journey

16:45 Internships and Career Decisions

29:15 Research at UC Berkeley

36:37 Entering the Workforce and AI Evolution

40:16 Leadership Lessons from Meta

46:42 Leaving Meta and Starting a Startup

52:50 Building During the Pandemic

01:00:44 Founding True Foundry

01:06:31 Product Development and Early Challenges

01:10:31 Evolution of AI Infrastructure

01:13:35 Vision for True Foundry

01:20:55 Reflections and Lessons Learned

Connect with Nikunj:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikunj-bajaj-10476824/

Mentioned in this Episode:

True Foundry: https://www.truefoundry.com

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