From Stanford Class Project to LinkedIn Acquisition: Akshay Kothari’s Journey Building Pulse

n 2010, Akshay Kothari and his co-founder Ankit Gupta created Pulse, a news app that began as a Stanford class project and grew into a global sensation with 33 million users, culminating in a $90 million acquisition by LinkedIn in 2013.

Akshay’s journey—from hacking together a barebones app to navigating the life-changing impact of an acquisition and eventually joining Notion as COO—offers a masterclass in entrepreneurship, resilience, and purpose.

In this blog, we explore his story, the role of constraints and luck, and actionable lessons for aspiring founders, whether high schoolers or Stanford students.

A Class Project That Changed Everything

Pulse was born in an 11-week Stanford Design School course called Launchpad, which mandated launching a product publicly or failing the class. This constraint forced Akshay and Ankit to act fast. “We hacked it together,” Akshay recalls.

The initial Pulse was a simple RSS reader without a backend, fetching feeds directly on the device. Despite its simplicity, its sleek design struck a chord with users.

The timing was impeccable. The iPad had just launched in 2010, and with fewer than 100 news apps in the App Store, Pulse filled a gap. “Millions were buying iPads, figuring out what to do with them,” Akshay says.

“News and media were early hits.” Weeks after launch, Steve Jobs highlighted Pulse in a keynote, turning it into an overnight sensation. “It was pure luck,” Akshay admits.

“We pushed it to the App Store, and people found us because we were one of the few apps out there.”

The Power of Constraints and Luck

The Launchpad course’s 11-week deadline was a game-changer. “Without that constraint, I’d have spent three months perfecting it,” Akshay says. Constraints, he argues, drive innovation.

“Some of the world’s greatest creations come from constraints—wars, paranoia, or class deadlines.”

Luck was equally pivotal. The iPad’s launch created a wave, and Pulse rode it perfectly. “It’s like surfing,” Akshay explains. “You need skill, but the wave has to be there.” Steve Jobs’ endorsement, likely due to Pulse topping the App Store, was another stroke of fortune.

Hard Work and the Stanford “Unfair Advantage”

Pulse wasn’t Akshay’s first attempt. He spent five quarters at Stanford working on projects that fizzled out. “The hard work was there for all of them,” he says. “But with Pulse, the timing worked out.” Persistence paid off.

Stanford’s ecosystem gave Akshay an edge. “Entrepreneurship is in the air,” he says. Starting a company is Plan A; a job is Plan B.

When Akshay accepted a Microsoft job to secure his visa, peers sympathized, assuming his startup dreams had failed. But when Pulse took off, he called Microsoft to back out.

“You’re surrounded by incredible entrepreneurs,” he says. “You think, ‘If they can do it, I can too.’” This creative confidence, fueled by Silicon Valley’s proximity, is what Akshay calls its “unfair advantage.”

Scaling to 33 Million Users and LinkedIn’s Acquisition

Pulse’s growth hinged on distribution. Over three years, it expanded from iPad to iPhone, Android, and secured preloaded deals with Samsung and Kindle Fire. Publisher partnerships enriched content, and an ad business added revenue. By 2013, Pulse had 33 million users, making it ripe for acquisition.

LinkedIn’s $90 million acquisition was a strategic fit. Pulse had content and publisher relationships but lacked identity data. LinkedIn had deep user data but limited content. “It was a great match,” Akshay says. Today, LinkedIn’s content-rich homepage reflects Pulse’s influence.

What Happens When $90 Million Hits?

The $90 million acquisition was life-changing, but not in the way many imagine. “I didn’t own 100% of the company,” Akshay clarifies.

With a co-founder, employees, and investors holding stakes, and a vesting period spreading payouts over years, the windfall wasn’t a single check. Still, it prompted introspection.

Growing up in a humble, middle-class family in India, Akshay was used to having enough for needs, not wants. “I was blessed with that upbringing,” he says.

Even a $60,000 job after Purdue felt like a fortune. Post-acquisition, the biggest shift was freedom. “I could live comfortably and visit home without worrying,” he says.

Small conveniences, like not stressing over $20 expenses, became his indulgence. “I’d park in paid parking to make life easier, but I didn’t buy anything big.”

At 26, the acquisition forced Akshay to ask, “What do I want if money isn’t a constraint?” Initially, he didn’t have answers. “I didn’t change much,” he says. Over time, he realized money enables bigger dreams, not complacency.

“The high of building products and seeing customers use them is more fulfilling than an expensive watch or car,” he says. The acquisition gave him the safety net to take risks, like joining Notion later.

From LinkedIn to Notion: Finding Purpose

Akshay’s journey didn’t end with Pulse. After the acquisition, he worked at LinkedIn, including a stint in India. But his next chapter began serendipitously.

In 2013, inspired by Pulse’s angel investors, Akshay made his first investment in Notion, a company founded by his friend Ivan Zhao. “It was a win-win,” he says. “If it worked, great. If not, I supported a friend.”

Five years later, as Notion hit early market fit, Ivan asked Akshay to join as COO. Akshay, drawn to Notion’s vision of empowering everyone to build software, took the leap.

“Back in 2013, only a few could build software,” he says. “Today, AI makes it accessible to all.” Seven years later, Notion has exceeded his expectations, fueled by a passionate community. “Watching what people build with Notion is so fun,” he says.

Akshay’s drive stems from his wiring. “After two weeks of vacation, I get bored,” he laughs. Work isn’t work—it’s fun. “I’m too young for the yacht life,” he says. Building products gives him a high that wealth alone can’t.

Lessons for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Akshay’s story offers timeless lessons for anyone building the next big thing:

Embrace Constraints: Tight deadlines, like Launchpad’s 11 weeks, force you to ship and iterate. “Constraints breed creativity.”

Ride the Wave: Success requires timing. Pulse capitalized on the iPad’s rise; today, AI is the wave. Stay alert to trends.

Prioritize Distribution: A great product needs users. Pulse’s 33 million users came from platform expansions and partnerships.

Surround Yourself with Inspiration: Stanford’s ecosystem gave Akshay confidence, but similar hubs exist globally, like India’s startup scene with Freshworks and Zoho.

Persist Through Failure: Pulse succeeded after multiple flops. Keep experimenting.

Lever przynajmniej AI: Today’s AI tools lower barriers, letting anyone prototype ideas. “The floor is lower,” Akshay says.

Find Purpose Beyond Money: Wealth enables comfort, but building impactful products is more fulfilling. “The high of seeing customers use your work beats buying a yacht.”

Don’t Fear Risk: A safety net, like Akshay’s acquisition, lets you dream bigger and take chances.

The Global “Unfair Advantage”

Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurial culture is unique, but it’s not exclusive. In India, Akshay sees a similar spark. “When I grew up, we admired Infosys and TCS,” he says.

“Now, people see Freshworks and Zoho and think, ‘I can build a software company too.’” Success breeds confidence, and global startup ecosystems are catching up.

‍