Rahmathulla is the CTO and Co-founder of Mykare Health, a health tech startup based in Kochi, Kerala. 

He began his career as a Software Developer and has evolved through roles in DevOps, Database Administration, Data Analysis, Product Development, and Project Management. 

INDIAai interviewed Rahmathulla to get his perspective on AI.

Can you tell us about Mykare health?

Mykare Health is a multi-award-winning startup on a mission to solve the inefficiencies in India's healthcare system & to provide empathy and care to the 700 million missed middle-class population of India.

We are building India's most significant asset-light hospital chain by utilizing under-utilized hospitals and surgeons. We operate in 12+ cities in India with a network of 210+ hospitals, 2500+ beds, 1000+ doctors and have served more than 1 Lakh patients.

What or who inspired the software developer to become a co-founder?

The journey from being a software developer to becoming the CTO and co-founder of Mykare Health was challenging; there were many ups and downs.

As a kid, I wanted to become a cricket player. But life had different plans for me. I had a sudden asthma attack that made me stop playing cricket. My parents then gave me a personal computer as a gift. With just 20GB of storage and 256MB of memory, this computer became my gateway to the amazing world of innovation and possibilities.

With my tech-savvy spirit, I started my career in Software development in the Healthcare domain. I had to take on various roles throughout my career, including being a full stack developer, DevOps specialist, database administrator, data analyst, test engineer, AI researcher and tech lead. My eagerness to learn and diversify my skills played a big part in my journey to becoming the CTO.

More importantly, my life has been closely connected to healthcare challenges. As an asthma patient, I have experienced the significance of accessible and efficient healthcare services. Tragically, I lost my mom during a Healthcare journey. These personal experiences were powerful signals that led me to co-found Mykare Health with Senu and Joash. 

What were the initial challenges you faced as a CTO of a startup? How did you overcome them?

One of the significant challenges we encountered was setting up our initial, stable team. We started in a small room with a single table, where we could not stretch our hands due to space constraints. The first member we hired for the tech team resigned after three days, and the first three members still needed to complete the probation period. Attracting and retaining skilled and talented members took a lot of work initially.

To overcome these challenges, we shifted our hiring focus towards individuals with the right positive attitude rather than just skills. We also ensured our new team members aligned with the company's culture and values. This strategic shift attracted the right individuals and significantly improved our retention rates, contributing to a more stable and committed team.

Another challenge was budget constraints. As a bootstrapped startup, we frequently faced financial limitations in the initial stages. 

We cautiously approached hiring, technology selection, and infrastructure to navigate this challenge. We cross-trained our team members in multiple technologies, allowing us to do more with less. We primarily chose open-source technologies to save costs and developed most tech products in-house, including CRM and Notification modules. This approach significantly reduced our subscription costs and allowed us to maintain control over our technology stack. Additionally, we used startup credits from tech events and accelerators to access cloud services, digital tools and other technologies.

These resourceful strategies enabled us to overcome budget constraints and maximize our available funds.

What kind of products have Mykare developed so far? Is it in use now? Can you share a glimpse of those? 

Mykare has developed a healthcare ecosystem to support patients throughout their treatment journey. It comprises a diverse range of products, including web applications, mobile applications, informational platforms, internal systems, and AI chatbots, enabling patients to connect with expert doctors, access insurance support, obtain medical loan assistance, and receive post-treatment care.

The ecosystem also includes a centralized AI data management platform, Mykare Brain, which facilitates data flow to our platforms, ensuring a seamless patient experience. The ecosystem has already helped more than 1 lakh patients to transform their healthcare experiences.

Do you have any healthcare solutions and advice for the existing healthcare problems in India?

Addressing the healthcare challenges in India requires a holistic approach involving both patients and healthcare facilities.

On the patient side, 65% of the people in India and 85% of international patients coming to India are looking for budgeted Healthcare facilities for their treatments. The majority of the facilities in India are in small and medium segments. The process must be more cohesive when the patient travels to small-budgeted hospitals. They need help getting a seamless booking experience and on-ground, end-to-end personalized care.

On the hospital side, over 90% of India's Healthcare facilities are in the small and medium segment, and they need more visibility, building trust, revenue leakage and underutilized resources.

Mykare addresses these issues by utilizing the underutilized facilities and their experienced surgeons, making healthcare more accessible and efficient. Mykare uses technology to empower hospitals, improve patient access, and boost their visibility in the healthcare landscape.

What are the skills you expect from a fresher to join your organization?

Mykare Health welcomes freshers and students eager to join us as full-time employees and interns. What makes us different is that we value skills and the right attitude more than academic degrees and professional certificates. These qualities make a significant difference in our team.

We consider each day an opportunity to tackle new challenges, and we strongly emphasize the problem-solving skills of every individual. These skills are critical in our daily operations as we work to provide innovative solutions and deliver high-quality healthcare services to our patients.

What advice would you provide to students who wish to pursue a career in artificial intelligence?

The key is to keep learning, stay curious, and always be open to trying new things!

I recommend reading research papers, attending AI conferences, following tech blogs and joining AI communities to keep up with the latest AI trends. It's all about staying connected and networking with professionals. 

Additionally, build a strong foundation in math and computer science. AI depends on math concepts like algebra, calculus, statistics, and probability. You will also need strong computer science skills, including programming languages like Python, Java, etc. Familiarize yourself with machine learning algorithms, libraries, and frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch.

My most important advice is to get hands-on with AI projects.

Whether it's building chatbots, creating image recognition systems, or working on recommendation engines – choose projects that resonate with your passion. These practical experiences will make you stand out.

What books or magazines would you recommend to students? 

I recommend 'The Hundred-Page Machine Learning Book' by Andriy Burkov for those looking to dive into machine learning. It's a fantastic starting point and provides a practical, hands-on guide to quickly get you started in machine learning. It's an excellent resource for those eager to kickstart their journey in this field.

Another great book to consider is 'Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning' by Christopher M. Bishop. It is a more detailed guide exploring the complexities of pattern recognition and machine learning.