Prarthana Anand is a dynamic entrepreneur and founder of Outlaw, a platform designed to empower early-stage founders by providing guidance, resources, and a network they might otherwise lack. From being a professional athlete to pivoting into engineering and eventually the world of startups, Prarthana’s journey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and vision. Humans of Fuzia features her story to inspire women across our 5 million-strong community, highlighting how perseverance and innovative thinking can turn challenges into opportunities.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about your journey and what inspired you to become an entrepreneur?
Prarthana Anand: I started out as a professional badminton player at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, but after an injury, I pivoted into engineering. I tried several paths, including modeling and social initiatives like Youth for Dementia, before pursuing a master’s in engineering management at Duke University. During this time, I worked on a fashion tech startup called Outset, which focused on women exchanging clothes. After a short stint in corporate strategy at DoorDash, I realized I wanted to make a more direct impact and returned to India to explore medtech. While experimenting with a Radiology AI Assistant, I noticed early-stage entrepreneurs often lack guidance and resources, which inspired me to start Outlaw—a platform that helps founders navigate challenges, connect with experts, and execute their ideas.
Q: How does Outlaw work?
Prarthana Anand: Founders join the platform with their idea. AI models within Outlaw identify their three most pressing problems, and we connect them with relevant subject matter experts who can provide guidance or help execute solutions, like marketing strategies or business plans. We also help founders conduct consumer surveys and web sentiment scans, which we consolidate into actionable reports. One of our founding members, Dr. Muthukumar Swamy from the Indian Institute of Science, has spent 20 years researching the right questions to ask startups at each stage to increase their chances of success. The vision is to not only support founders but also create a marketplace akin to Kickstarter, where startups can validate their ideas with paying customers.
Q: Who is your target audience?
Prarthana Anand: We’re starting with U.S.-based founders, as they’re generally more open to new platforms. The broader vision is to connect founders globally—from small towns in India, Peru, or Africa—to experts and networks in San Francisco or Dubai, which they might not otherwise access.
Q: What are your thoughts on women empowerment, especially in entrepreneurship?
Prarthana Anand: I’ve been fortunate to have strong female role models—my grandmothers, my mother—who inspired me with their independence and work ethic. I’ve also had the support of men in my life, like my father and brother, which has been invaluable. Women entrepreneurs face challenges, but perspective is key. By focusing on the opportunities rather than obstacles, women can leverage their natural strengths: multitasking, emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking. I genuinely believe women are designed for entrepreneurship in many ways, balancing empathy with business acumen.
Q: How do you view the role of AI in business and creativity?
Prarthana Anand: AI is a tool to accelerate human creativity, not replace it. On Outlaw, AI enhances the value of subject matter experts by helping extract and analyze insights efficiently. It amplifies human potential, but the core sense of being human—intuition, judgment, empathy—remains irreplaceable.
Q: What advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs, especially women?
Prarthana Anand: Think of this as advice to my past self. Nobody has it all figured out—even successful entrepreneurs are learning as they go. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Have the courage to take the leap, and trust yourself—because the journey can be lonely, and you are your best ally. Women should support each other and share experiences, because entrepreneurship can often feel isolating.
“Have the courage to take the leap. Trust yourself, and the world will follow.” – Prarthana Anand
Connect with Prarthana Anand:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/prarthana-anand-?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
http://www.outlawlabs.co/
Want to be featured?
If you’d like to be featured in the Humans of Fuzia series, email us at fuziatalent@fuzia.com.
