Yash Kulkarni
CEO @ PurpleRain TechSafe | Working with Trace Labs to find missing persons via strategic investigation | Co-Founder and Host, CodeQuestt Hackathon
Driven by a passion for cybersecurity, software development, and technological innovation, I've spent over five years at the intersection of tech leadership, ethical hacking, and digital problem-solving. As the Founder & CEO of PurpleRain TechSafe, I lead a cybersecurity startup dedicated to safeguarding small businesses through cutting-edge, affordable security solutions. I am also the Co-Founder of CodeQuestt Hackathon, where I design and execute large-scale hackathons aimed at empowering the next generation of tech innovators.
My technical expertise spans ethical hacking, OSINT (Open Source Intelligence), Python, Linux system administration, and web development. I've spearheaded the creation of advanced security tools, implemented microservices architectures, and optimized UI/UX design to enhance digital efficiency and scalability. In addition, I leverage my investigative skills as a Development Volunteer with Trace Labs, using OSINT to support efforts in locating missing persons and participating in global Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions.
Throughout my journey, I've earned recognition for my achievements, including a special invite to IIT Delhi's Ethical Hacking seminar, first place at C.O.D.E Hack 2023, and the Best Personal Website Design 2024 award. These accolades reflect my ability to innovate, lead, and solve complex challenges under pressure.
Beyond the technical realm, I am a strategic thinker and communicator, sharpened by my experiences in Model United Nations (MUNs), debating, and team-based competitions. I apply these skills to manage diverse teams, mentor talent, and foster meaningful collaborations.
Education
Columbia University
Start Me Up Bootcamp (Summer 2025) | Jun 2025 - Jul 2025
Accepted into Columbia University's highly selective Start Me Up Bootcamp, affiliated with the National Science Foundation's I-Corps program. Engaged in a two-week intensive focused on Lean Startup methodology, customer discovery, and market validation. Eligible for NSF I-Corps Teams program and $50,000 startup grant.
St. Mary's School
Grade 12th | Feb 2025 - Apr 2026
Chandigarh Baptist School
Grade 11th | Apr 2024 - Feb 2025
Activities: Hacking, Chess, Debates, Keyboard
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
Ethical Hacking Bootcamp (Invite-only) | Apr 2024
The Gurukul
Grade 6th to 10th | Apr 2018 - Mar 2024
Activities: Hacking, Chess, Robotics, Coding, Music Club (Keyboard), Prefect, Assembly Organizing Committee
Work Experience
PurpleRain TechSafe
Chief Executive Officer & Founder | Jan 2025 - Present
India, Germany and Los Angeles
Cyphersec Org
Founder & CEO | Jan 2025 - Present
India
HackSkye Hackathon
Co-Founder and CEO | May 2025 - Present
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Maximally
Chief Financial Officer | May 2025 - Jun 2025
Chandigarh, India
Oversaw all company transactions, allocated and budgeted money for various departments. Served as advisor on Partnership and Sponsorship affairs.
HackSkye Hackathon
Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer | Nov 2024 - Jan 2025
Chandigarh, India
Directly managed judges and ensured quality of event for 2000+ attendees. Raised ₹4 Lakh INR in sponsorship within 2 months, all of which was distributed as prizes.
CodeQuestt
Co-Founder | Jun 2024 - Jan 2025
Organized hackathons designed to foster innovation and creativity in students and developers. Managed planning, collaborations with schools and professionals, and handled partnerships to create impactful experiences for participants.
Zimmer Biomet
Web Development UI/UX | Jul 2024
Trace Labs
Development Volunteer | Jan 2023 - Dec 2024
Used OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) to assist in locating missing persons. Gathered and analyzed publicly available data to generate actionable leads, collaborated with a global team of volunteers, and participated in Capture the Flag (CTF) events.
Technical Skills
Notable Projects
Waymap Automated Vulnerability Scanner
Jun 2024 - Present
A fast and optimized web vulnerability scanner built for penetration testers. Helps in identifying vulnerabilities by testing against various payloads.
Vuln-Scanner (Previously WayMap v1.1)
Jul 2024 - Dec 2024
A simple yet powerful vulnerability scanner tool designed to identify security flaws in systems and applications. Written in Python with detailed reporting capabilities and distributed under the MIT License.
Racist-O-Meter
Aug 2024 - Oct 2024
A Python tool that checks if given text contains unwanted, offensive, or rude words. Acts as a content filter for text validation.
Mundane Existential Crisis Generator
Aug 2024 - Sep 2024
A creative web project that generates bizarre, thought-provoking questions at the click of a button. Features Question History to revisit generated queries. Blends web development, creativity, and philosophy.
IoT Security Analysis and Exploitation Toolkit
Oct 2023 - Feb 2024
Comprehensive toolkit to analyze and exploit vulnerabilities in IoT devices with features including scanning, vulnerability assessment, and automated exploitation.
Awards & Recognition
Best Personal Website Design 2024
International Web Developers' Summit | Jan 2025
1st place out of 9,805 submissions
Model United Nations - Best Delegate
UNODC Committee | Oct 2024
Represented Guatemala, focused on Illicit Financial Flows
Special Invite to IIT Delhi Ethical Hacking Seminar
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi | Mar 2024
First Place at C.O.D.E. Hack 2023
Strawberry Fields High School | Oct 2023
Picasso's Paradise event - Senior Division