It can be tough for fresh e-commerce startups to compete with the big names (not to mention the millions of competitors you must contend with), but sometimes, all it takes is a little innovation to make a name for yourself and stand out from the crowd.For tech innovator and startup founder Raj Jaiswal, e-commerce success means leveraging modern technology to solve specific and significant customer problems while staying nimble in a digital market that’s always changing.
To strike this balance, Raj embarked on a journey of trial and error, diverse experiences, and personal growth — gaining valuable insights from every step along the way.
Learn more about the challenges he’s discovered in e-commerce entrepreneurship, how he’s blended tech acumen with business savvy, and how he’s changing the face of e-commerce with Neyon.
The Challenges That Early-Stage E-Commerce Startups Face
Raj knows full well that startups face a lot of challenges, especially when coming up with the right ideas, building a solid team, and knowing when to pivot.
For example, happen because the wrong idea is chosen. Surprisingly, many entrepreneurs put too much money and effort into refining a product without checking if customers even want it or are willing to pay for it.
When it comes to building a team, Raj knows that the success of any given startup depends largely on the people behind it. Even with a groundbreaking idea, any new startup will likely fail (, no less) if it doesn’t have a strong and adaptable team to bring that idea to life. That’s because technical skills and experience aren’t the only ingredients for success — passion, a shared vision, and creativity are what truly drive a startup forward.
Finally, Raj notes that an inability to pivot when things aren’t going as planned (like a change in leadership or market demand) is a sign of a rigid team. It’s one of the top reasons that startups don’t make it. But while it can be a challenge, are more likely to keep innovating. This not only keeps their ideas fresh but also makes them more appealing to venture capitalists, boosting their chances of securing funding.
To tackle these challenges, Raj is turning to artificial intelligence — and in doing so, he’s bringing efficient workflows and scalable infrastructure to modern e-commerce.
The Building Blocks of Innovation: How Raj Jaiswal Learned to Blend Technical Skills with Entrepreneurship
In Gujarat, India, . Growing up there, Raj Jaiswal was surrounded by a culture that celebrates building something from scratch. On top of the local culture, his parents were both entrepreneurs, and as Raj watched them build their businesses, it sparked a love for innovation and problem-solving that paired nicely with his fascination for technology.
Upon reaching adulthood, Raj decided to take a leap and move to the U.S., eager to dive into the world of tech startups. His big break came when his first startup got accepted into Brown University’s Summer B-Lab incubator.This initial experience building a startup was in the form of an on-campus delivery platform called Fetchum. It was here that Raj created real-time matching algorithms and built multi-profile app interfaces that made it easier for students to connect with local vendors and get their deliveries quickly.
But Fetchum also taught him the unpredictable nature of entrepreneurship and the importance of pivoting when challenges arise. “When my co-founder at Fetchum had to step down,” Raj explains, “I unexpectedly took on the role of CEO in addition to my CTO duties, handling everything from fundraising to operations.” This experience pushed him to quickly master time management, seek mentorship, and broaden his skills beyond tech — making him a more adaptable and well-rounded leader.
In his next role, Raj got a firsthand look at how crucial solid ideation is. One of his proudest achievements was his work at Circulation, a health-tech startup that modernized non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT). As one of the organization’s early engineers, Raj was instrumental in building the core technology behind the platform, including developing its scheduling and booking systems and integrating it with ride-sharing platforms like Uber and Lyft.
It was through this experience that Raj learned the value of creating a solution that truly solves a customer’s problem. “It wasn’t just about building impressive tech,” he says. “It was about understanding the real needs of patients who struggled to get to medical appointments.” The success of Circulation, which led to its acquisition by ModivCare, showed him that a smart idea only works if it addresses a genuine need and if there’s a strong, adaptable team to bring it to life.
Next, at GoPuff, a fast-growing delivery startup, Raj Jaiswal used his technical skills to tackle big challenges in supply chain management. Leading a team of six, he developed systems for real-time procurement enabled by real-time demand forecasting and improved how the company processed and stored large amounts of data. By leveraging complex data migration strategies to optimize these workflows, Raj saved the company 90% in supply chain data storage costs while ensuring a reliable procurement process.
How Neyon Revolutionizes E-commerce
Raj is now channeling his passion into his new startup, Neyon, which is set to shake up online shopping. With Neyon, he’s building an AI-powered search engine focused on the apparel industry, aiming to make shopping more intuitive, personalized, and efficient.
Leveraging cutting-edge natural language processing, computer vision, and machine learning, Neyon will have a robust suite of tools like image recognition and conversational AI that understand what customers are looking for and help them find it faster.
“I had an ‘aha’ moment while trying to find a specific coat online,” Raj recalls. “After 30 minutes of searching with no luck, I thought, ‘There has to be a better way.’ That frustration was the spark that led to Neyon.”
With Neyon, Raj believes that AI can bridge the gap between what shoppers imagine and what they find online. It isn’t just about making shopping easier; it’s about solving a real customer problem — helping people discover the relevant and stylish clothes they truly want.While Neyon’s tech is powered by AI, Raj credits his success to the insights he’s gained throughout his journey. “I spotted this major customer pain point because my time at startups taught me to see the real impact of a problem and whether a solution can truly take off."
He also credits Neyon’s ability to pivot and adapt to his team-building experience. “I’m confident Neyon can handle whatever the e-commerce market throws our way because I’ve built a team that’s not just packed with tech skills but also knows how to think creatively to solve problems.”
Going Beyond Innovation With Raj Jaiswal
But Raj’s vision goes beyond Neyon. As the NYC Ambassador for the Brown University Alumni Entrepreneurship Group, he mentors alumni, organizes events, and builds connections within the startup community. By sharing his experiences and guiding aspiring entrepreneurs, Raj is committed to shaping the next generation of tech innovators. “This way,” Raj says, “we can build a future where AI technology and innovation truly serve people, not just profits. That’s the core lesson startups need to remember.”
Raj Jaiswal believes that true startup success comes from balancing tech innovation with essential entrepreneurship skills. His journey, shaped by the promise of AI and the pitfalls of overlooking the bigger picture, taught him the importance of mastering ideation, team building, and pivoting to revolutionize consumer tech.
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