61Rushi Manche co-founded a blockchain technology company that introduced the first modular blockchain network built to unite high performance with liquidity and composability. In his early twenties, he and his partner chose to leave their internships and withdraw from Vanderbilt University to fully commit to building the company. Their early commitment led to securing $3.4 million in pre-seed funding from over 25 angel investors and forming a team of more than 70 members.
In 2023, just one year later, the company successfully closed a $38 million Series A funding round. The round attracted investment from respected firms, including Hack VC, Placeholder, Archetype, Maven 11, Robot Ventures, Figment Capital, Nomad Capital, Bankless Ventures, OKX Ventures, dao5, and Aptos Labs. His leadership was instrumental in establishing a strong technical foundation and scaling the organization with a focus on performance and developer experience.
Rushi Manche concentrated on building a blockchain ecosystem that enabled developers to create secure applications that function across multiple networks. His goal was to reduce risks, such as hacking and incompatibility, that often trouble blockchain users. He believed that blockchain programming offered a more secure and efficient alternative for modern systems, especially in industries where digital assets are critical.
The modular framework implemented in the system allowed tasks to be split into distinct layers, each handling specific operations independently. This structure supported greater flexibility and ease of scaling. The platform incorporated a specialized programming language introduced by a major tech company, delivering a faster and more secure Ethereum layer-2 network. A dedicated token was also introduced to support the broader ecosystem.
Before co-founding the company, he worked as a Software Engineer at Aptos Project, contributing to the development of smart contracts for decentralized exchanges and cross-chain financial tools. He also founded Ensemble, an AI-powered test preparation platform that partnered with 53 high schools to provide free academic support for students.
His experience at UnitedHealth Group included migrating APIs to AWS infrastructure, which resulted in an 84% reduction in costs. He also helped transition systems from outdated technologies to more modern, scalable solutions. As a freelance Full Stack Developer, he revamped user and admin interfaces, updated backend systems, and integrated cloud-based services using contemporary frameworks.
He holds a Seal of Biliteracy in French and completed multiple online certifications through Udemy in blockchain development, machine learning, natural language processing, and full-stack web technologies.
His accomplishments have earned him numerous honors. In 2021, he received the Ingram Scholarship at Vanderbilt University. He was awarded the Burger King McLamore Scholarship and was a semifinalist for both the Elks National Foundation and Coca-Cola Scholarships. He earned the title of National AP Scholar for his performance across multiple Advanced Placement exams.
Further recognitions include the Certified Young Investment Analyst Designation and first place in the New Jersey State Stock Pitch Competition, sponsored by the Young Investors Society. He finished in the top three percent of the Diamond Challenge Entrepreneurship Competition after presenting an app designed to reduce food waste. In 2020, he received the New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Award for public service. He was a finalist in the Seton Hall Pirates Pitch Business Plan Competition, where he proposed a solution to address educational inequality.
Alongside his professional and academic efforts, he and his family have supported healthcare-related charitable initiatives in India for over a decade. During high school, he actively volunteered with organizations such as UNICEF and the Samaritan Homeless Interim Program.
Born in Springfield, Illinois, Rushi Manche enjoys playing basketball, traveling to new places, and spending time outdoors.