Building tech
for the overlooked.
I build open-source wildlife tech and tech for good, back founders, and write honestly about the parts of entrepreneurship nobody talks about. Based in Chennai. Started with nothing in rural Tamil Nadu — still figuring it out, still shipping.
The long version
Grew up in a small town in Tamil Nadu. Found my way into startups through sheer stubbornness — failed projects, expensive mistakes, and a few wins that mattered. Over 18+ years, I've been a founder, operator, investor, and the person founders call at 2am when everything is on fire.
Today I run Lvl1 Accelerator, back early-stage companies, and build open-source AI tools for communities that mainstream tech tends to overlook — conservationists, non-profits, small publishers, independent teams. Not because it's a good story, but because someone has to.
I also write. My newsletter and books aren't strategy decks — they're honest conversations about the parts of building nobody talks about. The loneliness. The self-doubt. The moment you realise your product solves a problem nobody actually has. I've been there. Most good founders have.
If you're building something real — or trying to figure out whether to start — I'm probably interested. Let's talk. You can reach me directly at arunrajiah@gmail.com.
Wildlife Tech
An open map of bird and animal movement, an open detection format, and apps for backyard stations and camera traps.
Open Source
AI tools and web apps for the teams mainstream tech ignores. Free, self-hostable, no enterprise pricing BS.
Mentor and Investor
Managing Partner at Lvl1 Accelerator. I back early-stage founders and help with the non-obvious stuff: hiring, GTM, and knowing when to pivot.
Author
Three books and a weekly newsletter. No highlight reels — just honest writing about what building actually looks like.
An open stack for watching wildlife
Tens of thousands of backyard stations and camera traps already detect animals with AI. Almost none of that data is shared. These tools connect it, from the sensor to a live world map.
A live, open world map of where birds and animals are and where they are going. Range shifts, surges, first arrivals, and a free read API for all of it.
Live Map · Open Data · AGPLWildlife Detection Exchange: a small open JSON format for AI wildlife detections, mapped field by field to Darwin Core so community sensor data can reach GBIF.
Open Standard · Darwin Core · DOIOne Python file, no dependencies. Sends detections from BirdNET-Pi, BirdNET-Go, or a camera trap to the open map. Location is rounded to about 1 km on the device.
Raspberry Pi · Python · PrivacyFree iOS and Android companion app for BirdNET-Pi, BirdNET-Go, and BirdWeather stations. Live detections, audio playback, and rare bird push alerts.
BirdNET · iOS · AndroidRecord a clip, get ranked species candidates. A self-hosted API on Google's open Perch 2.0 model (CPU only, no API keys) plus an early Android companion app.
Bioacoustics · Perch 2.0 · Self-hostedSelf-hosted review UI for Google's SpeciesNet camera trap classifier. Review, correct, and export thousands of images without sending them anywhere.
Camera Traps · SpeciesNet · Self-hostedMore projects I'm building
Free tools for communities that mainstream tech tends to leave behind.
Local-first AI memory across Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini via MCP. Private by design — memories never leave your machine. Open-source mem0 alternative.
AI · Privacy · MCPFree, GPL-licensed Advanced Custom Fields Pro alternative for WordPress. Repeater fields, flexible content, 20+ field types — no Pro licence ever required.
WordPress · GPL · ACF AlternativeRun multiple isolated Supabase instances on one server. Each client gets its own Postgres, Auth, and Storage — without the per-project Supabase Cloud bill.
Self-hosted · Supabase · AgenciesAsk your cameras questions in plain English — via Home Assistant and Frigate NVR. "Who arrived at the front door today?" → clipped video, 100% local.
Home Automation · Frigate · AIYour team uses Odoo without logging in to Odoo. Apply for leave, approve requests, update CRM, and validate stock by chat on Telegram or WhatsApp, in 15 languages.
Odoo · AI · Self-hostedWordPress plugin that auto-generates SEO-optimised blog posts from RSS feeds using an LLM. Auto-publish or queue for review — free + Pro from $39/yr.
WordPress · AI · PublishingKeep open source free
Everything I build is free and open. If it's saved you time or helped your team, a sponsorship means more time to keep building it.
♥ Sponsor on GitHubNeed help or have a feature idea?
Priority support, feature requests, bug reports, and consulting — all handled through Hub.
hub.arunrajiah.com
Submit a private ticket, request a feature, report a bug, or book a consulting session. Priority support includes a 8-hour response SLA — I personally respond to every ticket.
Latest from the newsletter
Thoughts on data, technology, and building companies in India — and beyond.
Published works
Long-form thinking on technology, startups, and the world being built around us.
Becoming the Seed: A Journey of Growth and Entrepreneurship
A deeply personal exploration of what it truly means to grow as an entrepreneur — beyond metrics, milestones, and startup tactics.
Boss on the Run
He built the company. Then the company turned on him. A novel about what happens after the betrayal — when the man who built everything is left with nothing.
Founders at Day One: Answers to the Questions That Keep You Awake at Night
The raw, unfiltered questions that emerge at every stage of the startup journey — answered honestly for aspiring founders standing at the edge.
Find me online
Founder, investor, contributor, or just curious — I'd love to hear from you.