Want a job in a top Indian startup?Traditional interviews may already be outdated. 🚀In this episode of Techie Talks with Kuldeep, I speak with Sangya Srivastava (CXO, @WhereUElevateOfficial ) about how hackathons and skill-based hiring are quietly replacing resumes and degrees.Hackathons are no longer just coding events.They are becoming the fastest way to get hired — even before your resume is seen.👇 In this episode, we cover:★From IBM to CXO: Sia's inspiring career journey.★The Hiring Shift: Why experience and skills matter more than degrees.★Hackathon Strategy: How to use competitions to get noticed by recruiters.★The "Human Touch": Why AI can't replace everything in the hiring process.★Advice for students and upcoming professionalsTime Stamps:00:00 Highlights01:19 Sanga's Background and Role at Where You Elevate03:55 Ensuring Smooth User and Brand Experience08:28 Hackathons for Skill-Based Hiring14:52 Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Industry18:30 Challenges Faced by Tier 2 and Tier 3 Institutions22:47 Role of Sales, Marketing, and Brand Strategy26:37 Understanding User Perspectives27:09 Balancing Platform Complexity27:52 Hackathons and Hiring28:42 Pitching to Organizations32:30 The Importance of Skill-Based Competitions35:43 Retaining Talent in Organizations41:18 Continuous Innovation and Alignment45:58 The Role of AI in Hiring50:36 Advice for Upcoming Professionals54:05 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsWhether you are a student exploring tech or a professional looking to level up, this conversation bridges the gap between academic learning and industry reality.Connect with Techie Talks with Kuldeep:YouTube Channel: @techietalkswithkuldeep WhatsApp Channel: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7Q4JHAjPXUt8hBgm2TLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techietalkswithkuldeepFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574642927780Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techietalkswithkuldeepLearn more about Sangya Srivastava and Where U ElevateSangya Srivastava : https://www.linkedin.com/in/sangya-srivastavaWebsite: https: https://whereuelevate.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/whereuelevate#TechieTalksWithKuldeep #Hackathons #founderjourney #ai #HiringTips #StartupIndia #CareerGrowth #podcast #techentrepreneur #SkillBasedHiring #TechCareers

In this episode, our CTO breaks down the real gap between college education and industry expectations. Sunil Kumar, CTO of Where U Elevate, reveals why practical skills in GenAI, Cybersecurity, and Blockchain are now beating traditional credentials.We discuss why degrees won't guarantee job success in AI, security, and open innovation on the Where U Elevate podcast. Learn about cybersecurity, GenAI, and network security from an industry expert.If you are a student from a Tier-3 college, an aspiring entrepreneur, or a tech professional, this interview is your blueprint for the future of work. We dismantle the myths of tech hiring and explain why the "Tech Talent Shortage" is actually a connection problem you can solve.💡 WHAT YOU WILL LEARN TODAY:★ The Degree Gap: Why 90% of tech grads aren't "Industry-Ready."★ Open Innovation: How startups solve tech bottlenecks using external talent.★ The CTO Playbook: Sunil’s "Logic Magic" framework for product engineering.★ Hackathons as a Career Shortcut: How to bypass the traditional HR screening.★ AI Realism: Why AI won't take your job, but a person using AI will.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS (Jump to what matters):00:00 Introduction: The Truth About Degrees in 2026 00:45 Who is Sunil Kumar? (CTO, Where U Elevate) 01:09 The Tier-3 Success Story: Sunil's Journey 02:54 Reality Check: Why most startups fail early 06:36 A Day in the Life of a Global CTO 08:32 DEEP DIVE: What is Open Innovation? 15:46 Logic Magic: Building Tech-Driven Solutions 19:36 Using Hackathons to Hack your Career 21:54 The Drill Platform: Automating Innovation 24:15 GenAI in Competitive Tech 26:33 Fixing the Broken Recruitment Pipeline 33:36 How to build a "Bottom-Up" Engineering Culture 40:00 CTO Hack: How Sunil uses AI to double productivity 46:41 The #1 Advice for New Entrepreneurs💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION:Question of the day: Do you think a degree is still necessary to become a CTO? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! 👇Connect with Techie Talks with Kuldeep:YouTube Channel: @techietalkswithkuldeep WhatsApp Channel: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7Q4JHAjPXUt8hBgm2TLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techietalkswithkuldeepFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574642927780Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techietalkswithkuldeepLearn more about Sunil Kumar and Where U ElevateSunil Kumar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunil-wue/Website:https: https://whereuelevate.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/whereuelevate/#TechieTalkswithKuldeep #CTO #OpenInnovation #NationalStartupDay #StartupIndia #TechLeadership #NoDegreeJob #GenAI #WhereUElevate #FutureOfWork

In this episode of Techie Talks with Kuldeep, we sit down with Sandeep Rawat, Co-Founder and CTO of OpsTree Solutions and BuildPiper. From his early roots in Uttarakhand to leading tech transformations at giants like Xebia, Nagarro, and Snapdeal, Sandeep shares a masterclass on building a career and staying relevant in the evolving IT landscape with latest technologies Cloud, DevOps and AI🚀 What you will learn in this episode:The transition from a software engineer to a Tech Co-Founder and CTO.The origin story of BuildPiper and solving complex Kubernetes delivery challenges.Deep dive into the current state of DevOps, Cloud Computing, and AI in 2026.Why Open Source contributions and community engagement are career game-changers.Essential advice for aspiring tech professionals on balancing hard technical skills with leadership and soft skills.Whether you are a student or a senior professional, this conversation provides a roadmap for navigating the Next-Gen AI and Cloud era.00:00 Precap00:30 Introduction and guest welcome01:14 Sandeep's background, education and entry into IT Industry15:00 Working experience with Xebia, Nagarro, Snapdeal and co-founding OpsTree Solutions21:30 Start-up idea of BuildPiper with Shankar Jha27:00 Understanding DevOps and Cloud34:23 Artificial Intelligence and Its Impact in the IT spectrum39:10 Learning journey and importance of mentorship50:00 Advices for the aspiring tech professionals and the next generation of leaders58:26 Conclusion and final thoughts👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more inspiring interviews and startup stories!Connect with Techie Talks with Kuldeep:YouTube Channel: @techietalkswithkuldeep WhatsApp Channel: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7Q4JHAjPXUt8hBgm2TLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techietalkswithkuldeepFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574642927780Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techietalkswithkuldeepLearn more about Sandeep and OpsTreeSandeep Rawat: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-rawat-devops/Website: https://opstree.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/opstree-solutions/#devops #interview #podcast #machinelearning #artificial_intelligence #journey #motivation #careeradvice #education #cloudcomputing #itindustry #technolovers #technology