Meet Nandita, aspiring entrepreneur.
Nandita Gurwara, on co-op with tech startup New England Marine Monitoring, aims to apply her experience to her own fashion business.
After earning her undergraduate degree in computer science from Bhilai Institute of Technology, in her native India, Nandita Gurwara came to Boston for a Master of Science in Computer Science from Northeastern’s Khoury College. While on a visit home to India, Gurwara received an email from Northeastern’s Roux Institute about co-op opportunities in Portland, Maine. In a serendipitous moment, and compelled by her inner voice, she decided to stay up all night to attend the 5 a.m. webinar to learn more.
“I was amazed at how talented and kind the employers were,” she says.” I applied for a co-op right away, and the rest is history.”
Nandita on a co-op kayaking excursion in Maquoit Bay, Maine.
I’ve always wanted to work for a startup because the experience you gain is unmatched.”
Nandita Gurwara
Co-op, New England Marine Monitoring
Gurwara accepted a co-op to work with Portland-based startup New England Marine Monitoring, which specializes in providing expert video review, technical support, and program management to electronic fisheries monitoring programs in New England. At the company—one of six resident startups on the Roux Institute campus—Gurwara manipulates data, such as knot speed for a trip or the outputs generated by the AI algorithm that NEMM uses, to create actionable visualizations.
NEMM has been a great experience for Gurwara, an aspiring entrepreneur. “I’ve always wanted to work for a startup,” she says, “because the experience you gain is unmatched.” Gurwara has also taken advantage of entrepreneurship-focused events organized by the Roux Institute’s Chris Wolfel.
As for her future plans, Gurwara imagines building a data-management tool to help companies use their data to grow and improve, or perhaps combining her love of technology and fashion. “Projects I’m working on for NEMM will prepare me for the kind of work I need to do to succeed.”
She’s also made Portland her home. “I’ve never seen a more beautiful city,” she says, “and the people are so kind and warm. I’ve always been a small-town girl, so Portland matches my speed perfectly.”