Pushing Limits: Harsha Vardhan’s Leap from Data Science to Digital Discipline
For Harsha Vardhan, routine has never been an option. With more than six years of experience in data science and artificial intelligence, he had what most professionals aspire to — a secure career and steady growth. Yet, when comfort began to feel limiting, he did what he has always done best: stepped away to test himself.
“Whenever there’s a choice between playing safe and taking a risk, I always push my limits,” he says. That mindset first took him from engineering in Hyderabad to a master’s program in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in the United Kingdom. Later, after several years in corporate roles, it pulled him back to India to start something on his own.
Discovering a Space to Build
The decision to leave his job wasn’t impulsive; it was a quiet resolve to create something meaningful. Harsha had long been fascinated by how technology shapes behaviour and how difficult it can be to stay in control of it. His early idea was simple: build a tool to reduce digital addiction.
But he wasn’t sure where to begin until he came across LEAD, Bower’s executive venture building program. “I actually visited the campus for a VC workshop,” he recalls. “That day I spoke to the team here, and within a week I decided to join. The energy at the campus was so positive; it felt like the right place to start.”
LEAD gave structure to his instinct. Through weekly sessions and one-on-one feedback, his raw idea began to take shape. “Initially, I thought an app alone could solve digital addiction,” he admits. “But through discussions with mentors like Kiran Babu (Founder, CEO, Rava.Ai), sir, I realised it had to be an ecosystem, not just a product.”
Building QuitApps
Today, Harsha is leading a six-member team developing QuitApps, a focus and productivity platform that helps users limit their screen time in a disciplined way. The minimum viable product is ready, and an Android launch is planned soon.
“Phones already have screen-time settings, but they’re easy to bypass,” he explains. “We designed QuitApps so that once your daily limit ends, you can’t extend it. Especially for students, that strictness helps build consistency.”
The app also includes scheduling and goal-based features, with a gamified system that rewards users for meeting focus targets. Over the coming months, Harsha’s team will test the product in five to ten schools before expanding its reach. “Our focus right now is B2B,” he says. “But we’ll open it to regular users to gather feedback and keep improving.”
Learning by Doing
Inside the LEAD classroom, Harsha found a community that made entrepreneurship tangible. “Everyone around you is building something,” he says. “Some are working on SaaS products, others on eco-friendly goods. Every weekend we exchange ideas and learn from each other’s approaches.”
He credits the program for helping him translate ideas into execution. “The mentors don’t hand you solutions; they challenge your thinking. You start to view problems the way founders do.”
That attitude also changed the way he plans. “I create two- or four-week sprints, but things always shift. Business never goes exactly by plan. At LEAD, I learnt to adapt quickly — to pivot when needed without losing focus.”
A Mission with Meaning
For Harsha, QuitApps isn’t just another productivity tool. It’s a response to a growing social challenge: our struggle to stay present. “Everyone wants to reduce their screen time, but most need an external push,” he says. “If our app can help even a few students or professionals stay mindful, that’s real impact.”
Even as he prepares for launch, he keeps returning to the LEAD campus. “Just being there gives you energy,” he smiles. “You don’t need motivation when the environment itself drives you to build.”
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