Kalyani Ramadurgam, an Indian-origin technology professional, has been recognised on the Forbes 30 Under 30 United States list for 2026 in the finance category. She earned the honour as the co-founder of Kobalt Labs, a startup she launched alongside Ashi Agrawal, a former software engineer at Affirm. Her work sits at the intersection of financial technology and artificial intelligence, with a focus on solving long-standing compliance challenges in the financial sector.
Ramadurgam began her journey with a background in computer science, where she developed a strong interest in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Her academic training equipped her with core skills in software systems, data handling, and automation. Rather than relying only on formal education, she continued to sharpen her expertise through hands-on professional experience, allowing her to understand how technology operates in high-stakes environments.
Before starting her own company, Ramadurgam worked at Apple in a sensitive role linked to safeguarding Apple Pay from misuse by terrorist networks. During this time, she gained firsthand exposure to how compliance systems function within large global corporations. Despite Apple’s scale and resources, she observed that many compliance processes were slow, heavily manual, and dependent on outdated workflows.
She noticed that teams responsible for reviewing documents and managing regulatory risk often faced pressure due to inefficient systems. Manual checks consumed significant time and increased the possibility of oversight. These challenges were not unique to one company but reflected a broader issue across the financial industry, where legacy compliance methods struggled to keep up with growing regulatory complexity.
This experience became the foundation for her entrepreneurial leap. Ramadurgam realised that artificial intelligence could significantly reduce the burden of repetitive compliance work. With this insight, she co-founded Kobalt Labs, a startup dedicated to improving how banks and fintech companies handle risk management and regulatory reviews.
Kobalt Labs develops AI-powered tools that assist financial institutions in analysing policies, contracts, and compliance documents more efficiently. Tasks that previously required days or even weeks can now be completed in a fraction of the time. The company’s approach is designed to support human teams rather than replace them, allowing professionals to focus on higher-value decision-making.
As financial regulations continue to evolve and become more complex, Ramadurgam’s work addresses a growing industry need. Her journey highlights how practical exposure to real-world problems can spark meaningful innovation, and how technology, when applied thoughtfully, can transform critical systems within global finance.
