Neha Suresh
| Neha Suresh | |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, software engineer |
|---|---|
| Known for | Co-Founder and CEO of April |
| Education | Carnegie Mellon University (MSSM, 2024) |
Neha Suresh is an Indian-origin entrepreneur and software engineer based in San Francisco. She is the co-founder and CEO of April, a voice-based artificial intelligence executive assistant designed to help professionals manage email and calendar tasks hands-free.[1] The company is backed by Y Combinator.
Early life and education
Neha Suresh holds a Master of Science in Software Management (MSSM) from Carnegie Mellon University, which she completed in 2024.[2] Prior to attending CMU, she worked as an engineer for approximately seven years. During her time at Carnegie Mellon, she began exploring entrepreneurship and developing startup ideas alongside classmates, many of whom were also pursuing accelerator programs.
Career
Before founding April, Suresh worked on Flame, an AI-driven API testing startup, while a student at Carnegie Mellon's Integrated Innovation Institute.[3] She also had experience in product management prior to founding April.
Suresh co-founded April, a voice-first AI assistant that enables users to process emails and manage calendar events using voice commands. The product is designed for use during activities such as walking, driving, or exercising, allowing users to reach "inbox zero" and maintain an organized calendar without manual screen interaction. The company's website describes April as a tool that processes emails and events hands-free.[4]
April received backing from Y Combinator and was selected for Carnegie Mellon University's VentureBridge 2025 cohort, a program of the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship that provides CMU-alumni-founded companies with capital, co-working space, mentorship, and access to investor demo days.[5]
In August 2025, Suresh attracted widespread attention on social media after posting on X (formerly Twitter) that 80-hour workweeks were a "baseline" for startup founders and advocating for 14-plus-hour workdays. The post generated significant debate online regarding hustle culture and work-life balance, and was covered by numerous Indian and international media outlets.[6]
References
- ↑ "April - Voice AI Executive Assistant". 'April}'. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Student Spotlight: From Student to Start-up - Integrated Innovation Institute". 'Carnegie Mellon University}'. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Student Spotlight: From Student to Start-up - Integrated Innovation Institute". 'Carnegie Mellon University}'. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "April - Voice AI Executive Assistant". 'April}'. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "VentureBridge 2025 Cohort Article - Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship". 'Carnegie Mellon University}'. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "US-based Indian founder calls 80-hour workweek a 'baseline,' says without 14+ hours a day, 'you won't make it'". 'The Economic Times}'. Retrieved 2026-03-19.