Rushi Manche

Rushi Manche is the co-founder of a blockchain technology company that developed the first modular blockchain network designed to combine performance, liquidity, and composability. In his early twenties, he and his partner decided to leave their internships and withdraw from Vanderbilt University to fully commit to building their company.  This bold step led to early success, including $3.4 million in pre-seed funding from over 25 angel investors.  They went on to make a growing team of more than 70 individuals, laying the foundation for long-term innovation and development.

In 2023, just one year after launching the company, they secured a $38 million Series A funding round. This funding milestone represented both the strength of their vision and the support of significant investors. The round included participation from established venture capital firms such as Hack VC, Placeholder, Archetype, Maven 11, Robot Ventures, Figment Capital, Nomad Capital, Bankless Ventures, OKX Ventures, dao5, and Aptos Labs. Their progress demonstrated the trust placed in the company’s approach and its capacity to drive new standards in blockchain technology.

Thinking Outside the Box

As a digital native and a member of Generation Z, Rushi Manche saw the value of creating a blockchain ecosystem that offered secure, interoperable solutions. His goal was to create an environment where developers could build applications that could interact across multiple networks without compromising security. His approach focused on eliminating vulnerabilities and reducing risks for users who manage digital assets, aiming for safer and more reliable systems compared to traditional frameworks.

The modular blockchain structure allowed the company to break complex systems into separate layers, each performing distinct functions. This architecture made it easier to scale, maintain, and customize applications to meet various needs. The use of a specialized programming language further supported the creation of secure and stable blockchain components. The model enabled developers to build with greater flexibility while maintaining a high level of trust and performance.

The Inspiration Behind Rushi Manche to His Blockchain Company

Unlike others in the tech world who overlooked the blockchain programming language developed by Meta, he recognized its potential. His early decision to adopt this underutilized technology provided an opportunity to deliver greater security and performance within the blockchain space. This foresight helped him position his company as a forward-thinking player in a highly competitive industry.

The launch of their Ethereum layer-2 network was a significant step forward. Built using a virtual machine based on that language, it introduced a system capable of faster processing and stronger protections. He challenged the industry norm of tolerating frequent, large-scale hacks by designing systems that prioritized security alongside speed. The infrastructure they introduced sought to set a new standard for blockchain reliability. As part of the project’s development, he also led the launch of a cryptocurrency token tied to the company’s ecosystem.

Additional Professional Experience

Rushi began working in software engineering at a young age and showed a strong interest in cryptocurrency long before entering college. His early experience helped form the technical foundation that would support his later projects.

Before co-founding the blockchain company, he served as a Software Engineer at Aptos Project for three months. There, he worked as a Smart Contract Developer, contributing to the development of a decentralized exchange and cross-chain index fund platform. His work involved implementing secure and efficient smart contract features to support safe transactions.

He also created Ensemble, an AI-powered test preparation platform that offered free study materials to high school students. Fifty-three high schools across the country adopted this platform, making it a tool to support academic achievement. By embedding the platform into school lesson plans, he helped expand educational access through the use of artificial intelligence.

At UnitedHealth Group, he spent three months as a Software Engineer. His responsibilities included migrating seven APIs from on-premises servers to AWS cloud infrastructure. This transition reduced costs by 84% and enabled improvements such as autoscaling, regional flexibility, and modernized cloud-based features.  He also transferred the technology stack from ElasticSearch and OpenShift to AWS S3, OpenSearch, and Elastic Kubernetes Service. 

As a freelance Full-Stack Developer, he contributed to a project called Stories in the Cloud. He redesigned the user and admin portals using React and Bootstrap and handled backend upgrades, moving from PHP to a Node.js/Express API and integrating MySQL. He also managed DevOps using AWS services, including Lambda, Route 53, RDS, and Elastic Beanstalk.

Certifications

Rushi earned the Seal of Biliteracy in French and completed a range of professional certifications through the online platform Udemy. His training covered areas such as machine learning, blockchain development, and programming. Certifications included Clustering and Classification with Machine Learning in Python, Natural Language Processing, Blockchain Developer Bootcamp with Solidity, Complete Python Bootcamp, and courses on JavaScript, React, and PHP systems.

Honors and Awards

Throughout his academic and professional journey, Rushi has earned recognition at the state, national, and international levels for his work in entrepreneurship, leadership, and public service. His ability to merge technical expertise with social purpose has been a key theme in many of these honors.

In 2021, he received the Ingram Scholarship at Vanderbilt University, an award presented to students who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to addressing social issues. That same year, he earned the Burger King McLamore Scholarship and was an Elks National Foundation Semifinalist, receiving a $4,000 scholarship. He was also named a semifinalist for the Coca-Cola Scholarship.

He earned the title of National AP Scholar, an award given to students who achieve an average score of at least four across eight or more Advanced Placement exams. His achievements in investing earned him the Certified Young Investment Analyst Designation and first place in the New Jersey State Stock Pitch Competition, awarded by the Young Investors Society.

As a participant in the Diamond Challenge Entrepreneurship Competition, he and his team presented an app focused on reducing food waste. The project placed in the top three percent of submissions. He also competed in the Seton Hall Pirates Pitch Business Plan competition, where he ranked in the top four percent among over 60 countries. His proposal focused on addressing educational inequality and was presented to a panel of entrepreneurs and investors.

In 2020, he was awarded the New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Award. This honor is bestowed upon individuals who demonstrate a measurable impact on their community through public service. It recognizes a commitment to making a difference without expecting recognition, and it highlights vision and dedication through action.

Charitable Work: A Family Endeavor

Charity has been part of Rushi Manche’s life since high school. Alongside his family, he has supported numerous healthcare-related causes in India over the past decade, including funding for children’s hospitals and heart research. His volunteer work included efforts with UNICEF and the Samaritan Homeless Interim Program, where he contributed time to programs focused on helping underserved communities.

Personal Life

Rushi was born in Springfield, Illinois. Outside of his professional interests, he enjoys basketball, travel, and spending time outdoors. These interests provide him with a respite from the demands of technology, enabling him to maintain a personal balance.

Rushi Manche continues to lead with purpose, applying his engineering skills, leadership, and community focus to projects that aim to improve systems, expand opportunities, and strengthen security in the digital world.