Akhi is the Global Innovation Lead at General Motors in Detroit. Previously he co-founded Move Co. in San Francisco.

Akhi builds stuff, from products to startups to furniture. He believes that making anything good requires making a mess first. Akhi has worked around the globe and speaks Hindi, Spanish, and just enough Italian to get by.

Global Innovation

General Motors | Detroit | 2018 – Current

My team and I get GM-adjacent business ideas off the ground, develop an MVP, and integrate the new venture back into “the mothership.” Then like a theater troupe, we rinse & repeat with similar roles in a brand new “play.” We launch or invalidate ~6 concepts every year, and in the process try teach the rest of GM human centered design & lean principles. It’s the best job in the whole corporation.

 

Universal Socket Prosthetic

Jacobs Institute | Berkeley | 2018

Through much trial & error, my ME178 team and I designed an open-source 3D Printable prosthetic arm for Claws from Carter. The Universal Socket Prosthetic enables children to play sports through simple to attach prosthetics that are cheap to print so it’s ok to break them. Recognized in Fast Co.’s 100 World Changing Ideas. Invited by Dubai D3 to present at the Global Grad Show 2018 for Dubai Design Week.

 

Global Product Marketing

Electrolux Professional | Venice, Italy | 2017

It may have looked like an extended vacation, but I managed to jump through the Italian Embassy’s hoops and actually get a job at Electrolux in Venice. While I learned tons about how to sell the world’s greatest commercial kitchens, my favorite learnings are: First, that with the right accent and hand movements, my Spanish can pass for Italian & second, that seemingly no one in Italy goes to work in August.

 

Chief Product Officer

Move Co. | San Francisco | 2015–2016

In the Bay Area, everyone & their grandma has a startup. In fact, Move Co. was my third, I think. The only difference between this and the first two is not giving up. We started in a whirlwind of ideas with dreams to solve every problem in the home, but eventually we found our focus and solved high quality grocery delivery. Though, starting in a whirlwind is something I still do today for every idea.

p.s. you might see the startup listed elsewhere under previous names like Inhabit and/or Movebutter. I’m sure you’ll agree it’s got a much better name now.

A little more about me: I’m really, really into cooking. Sometimes I view food as an analogy for my job. My favorite movie is Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. I’m frequently in situations where I ask myself what Ferris would do in my shoes. My favorite conversations are talking people through their business ideas to help frame them up. No joke, hit me up if you want to talk out your idea.