Lavanya Poreddy, Founder & CEO of AskSheldon – Making College Guidance Accessible for Every Student | TiE Women’s Program Silicon Valley 2025
At the TiE Women’s Program – Silicon Valley, we spotlight founders who are building solutions that actually solve real-world problems. Lavanya Poreddy, Founder & CEO of AskSheldon, is doing exactly that — using AI to make college counseling accessible, personalized, and affordable for every high school student.
The Problem
Most students don’t get the college guidance they need. Schools are stretched thin — with counselor-to-student ratios often reaching 1:400 or worse. Private college counseling can cost thousands, making it inaccessible for the majority of families.
The result?
Students are left to navigate one of the most important decisions of their lives alone.
AskSheldon’s Solution
AskSheldon is an AI-powered virtual college counselor that gives students the personalized guidance they deserve — anytime, anywhere.
It helps students:
- Identify the right schools and majors
- Plan academics and extracurriculars strategically
- Understand scholarships and financial aid
- Build a competitive and authentic application strategy
Smart, thoughtful guidance — without the gatekeeping.
Why It Matters
College access shouldn’t depend on:
- Zip code
- Family income
- Available counselor time
By democratizing high-quality guidance, AskSheldon levels the playing field — helping more students find the right fit, pursue meaningful paths, and avoid unnecessary debt.
This is about more than college applications — it’s about opportunity at scale.
About the Founder
Lavanya Poreddy is a founder with both lived experience and execution mindset. She knows what it means to navigate the complexity of the college admissions process without support — and she’s building a solution that ensures others won’t have to.
Her work reflects a mission-driven approach backed by sharp product thinking and thoughtful AI use — the exact kind of founder the TiE Women’s Program is proud to champion.
Powered by TiE Women – Silicon Valley
The TiE Women’s Program champions women founders through:
- Expert-led masterclasses
- 1:1 mentorship
- Access to investors and industry networks
- Pitch opportunities
When women founders get the right support, innovation accelerates — and communities strengthen.
Watch Lavanya’s Pitch
👉 Watch Lavanya share AskSheldon’s vision for accessible and equitable college guidance at the TiE Women’s Silicon Valley