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At just 22,  has already achieved what many entrepreneurs spend decades striving for: building a startup that improves lives. His company,, tackles the overwhelming complexity of the supplement industry with a data-driven, personalized approach that is reshaping how people think about health and wellness. Raised in Seattle, Washington, in a family deeply rooted in the tech industry, Khushang had early exposure to

 innovation and entrepreneurship. His upbringing offered him a choice: follow the traditional path of pursuing computer science at the University of Washington or take a leap toward building his dreams in CU Boulder’s entrepreneurship program. For Khushang, the decision was clear. “I could always learn computer science at some point,” he said, “but this was my chance to chase a dream.”

CU Boulder’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and the New Venture Challenge

At CU, Khushang dove into the entrepreneurial scene and explored the university’s entrepreneurial opportunities for students. Khushang decided to take the New Venture Launch, led by Brad Werner, which emphasizes weekly pitching and refining business ideas. he course emphasizes hands-on learning, encouraging participants to pitch their ideas weekly, receive constructive feedback, and iteratively refine their concepts. This rigorous process not only helped Khushang hone his presentation skills but also provided him with a dynamic platform to validate his ideas, develop a compelling business model, and cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset.

One of his most notable achievements was the New Venture Challenge (NVC), CU Boulder’s prestigious startup competition, two years ago. His dedication to learning, particularly in robotics and AI hallucinations, complemented by his entrepreneurial drive, helped him to win the competiton. With the prize money, he developed a website and began refining his ideas. Winning NVC not only brought Khushang a $50,000 prize but also opened the doors to a wealth of opportunities. The competition connected him with influential figures in Colorado’s entrepreneurial scene, enabling him to pitch to investors and B2B partners, ultimately raising an additional $125,000 in funding. These connections also provided access to advisors and ongoing opportunities to speak at events, solidifying Khushang’s place in the startup ecosystem. Reflecting on the experience, he emphasized the lasting impact of the competition:

“So much of the benefits came afterward, from raising capital to building partnerships. I’m still reaping the rewards.”

CLD-9: Simplifying and Transforming the Supplement Experience

All while building his venture, Khushang also became deeply involved in the world of fitness and biohacking. His passion led him to establish an athletic club at CU Boulder, which quickly grew to over 250 members, becoming one of the university’s fastest-growing organizations. Constant exposure to athletes and conversations about supplements, compounded with his family’s discussions about medical needs, sparked a recurring question: “What supplements should I take?” This question, along with Khushang’s hours of research and frustrations with the supplement industry, inspired the initial concept for CLD-9.

started as a solution to a widespread problem: the overwhelming complexity of choosing the right supplements. Khushang recognized that the issue wasn’t a lack of available products but a lack of guidance on what to take. Leveraging advancements in large language models and transformer-based technologies, he and his team developed a system to help users navigate this complexity. Within its first month and a half, the software

 attracted over 1,000 users, demonstrating significant demand. However, Khushang quickly identified a second challenge: purchasing supplements could be expensive and inconvenient, and many people disliked taking multiple pills daily. This realization led to the creation of a personalized supplement product that simplified the entire process. Cloud9 relaunched to strong reception fulfilling its mission of making the supplement journey effortless for its customers.

At the core of Cloud9’s mission and values lies a commitment to transparency and efficiency. Khushang was deeply disillusioned by the supplement industry’s lack of accountability, with companies making unfounded claims purely to drive profits. CLD-9’s approach reduces waste and simplifies the customer experience, creating a more sustainable supplement ecosystem. By integrating transparency into every aspect of the business, Khushang hopes to transform the industry into a more trustworthy space for consumers.

“We make the supplement industry a better place.”

Redefining Entrepreneurship at 22

From developing cutting-edge software to creating a fully personalized supplement product, Khushang’s journey was as innovative as it was demanding. The personalization aspect was particularly ambitious: Cloud9 provides 28 million unique combinations of supplements tailored to individual needs. Achieving this level of customization required Khushang to pivot from simply managing a tech company to also founding a robotics company. “We built the world’s first machine that can personalize supplementation down to the milligram,” he explained, highlighting the technological ingenuity behind the venture. Managing these complex demands while maintaining time efficiency was no small feat, especially at such a young age. “Most people build larger startups at 30 or 40. Taking this on at 22 has been a whole other level of stress,” Khushang shared. Yet, he attributes much of his success to surrounding himself with exceptionally talented people who share his vision.

Despite the challenges, Khushang believes that entrepreneurship has fundamentally shaped him as a person. He emphasized that starting a business forces you to quickly master new skills, grow in resilience, and operate at a level far beyond that of your peers. However, he also acknowledges the risks of burnout and the importance of balancing personal health with professional demands. For him, maintaining a healthy lifestyle became essential not just for his well-being but for the success of Cloud9.

“Entrepreneurship is the fastest way to become the best version of yourself.”

Khushang also describes entrepreneurship as “an ability for one person or a team of people to have an active say in what their reality looks like or will look like.” Whether building a business, saving the planet, or forming a community, he believes entrepreneurship is about shaping a vision and bringing it to life. Drawing parallels between Cloud9 and the athletic club he founded at CU Boulder, he reflected on the power of community in achieving shared goals. “The more our members connected with the club’s vision, the bigger our impact became,” he said, a principle he carries forward into his entrepreneurial journey. For Khushang, entrepreneurship is not just about innovation, it’s about a collective vision that inspires others to believe in and contribute to a better future.