The College Dropout Who Built a SaaS Empire
When Ananya Sharma left her engineering college in her second year, people around her called it a mistake. But she had a different vision. Disillusioned with rote learning and outdated curricula, she decided to take control of her education and career.
Today, Ananya is the founder and CEO of TaskZen, a remote team productivity SaaS tool used by over 10,000 users globally.
The Decision to Drop Out
Ananya always had a knack for technology, but she felt restricted by the traditional education system. “We were learning outdated languages, with no focus on real-world skills,” she recalls.
With the support of a few mentors she met on Twitter and through online communities like Indie Hackers, she made the bold decision to drop out and focus full-time on learning and building.
Building from Scratch
Starting with JavaScript and Python, Ananya dedicated herself to building real applications. Her first few products failed—but they taught her about UX, databases, and customer behavior.
She also worked as a freelancer to support herself, developing web apps and automating workflows for small businesses.
Then came her breakthrough idea: TaskZen—a simple, intuitive platform for remote teams to manage tasks, track productivity, and reduce burnout.
From MVP to Product-Market Fit
The first version of TaskZen was basic—built in three weeks using React and Firebase. Ananya launched it on Product Hunt and got a decent response. She used the feedback to iterate rapidly, adding features like team reports, async check-ins, and Slack integration.
Within a year, she hit $10,000 MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue)—and investors started calling.
Key Takeaways for Tech Aspirants
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You Don’t Need a Degree to Succeed: Skills and execution matter more.
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Start Small, Build Fast: MVPs and quick iterations lead to better products.
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Learn in Public: Sharing progress builds trust and opens doors.
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Communities are Gold: Indie Hackers, Reddit, and Twitter DMs can change your life.
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Solve Real Problems: Her product worked because it solved her own remote workflow issues.
Ananya’s Advice to New Developers
"Don't wait for the perfect moment or a certificate. Build something today, however small. The world values doers, not just degree-holders."