Grandfather Sold House for His Education, Today, He Runs a Hyderabad-Based AI Startup Earning ₹60 Lakh Annually

Artificial Intelligence has quietly become the backbone of modern life.

Banks use it to detect fraud, e-commerce giants use it to predict what we’ll buy next, and chatbots like ChatGPT are used by millions every day.

This is why it is of utmost importance for these AI models to be validated to keep them secure.

“When a company’s financials are audited, specialists certify whether the numbers are reliable. But when it comes to AI systems ,  arguably even more critical ,  most companies run them without regular validation. If a model drifts, breaks its data pipeline, or starts learning harmful patterns, it can cause massive losses,” said Vishwanath, founder of Dr. Pinnacle, in an exclusive conversation with Startup Pedia.

That’s where Hyderabad-based founder Vishwanath Akuthota, the founder of Dr. Pinnacle, saw an urgent gap.

“Everyone in the world can build an AI model if they have the money. But building is only 20% of the work. Securing, monitoring, and keeping it alive for the long run ,  that’s the real challenge,” said the founder of Dr. Pinnacle, top AI and cybersecurity consultant. 

For him, AI isn’t just about algorithms; it’s about responsibility. And his company, Dr. Pinnacle, has positioned itself as the “doctor” that keeps AI systems healthy, secure, and future-ready.

Dr. Pinnacle: The Doctor of AI

Founded five years ago in Hyderabad, Dr. Pinnacle is an AI consulting firm dedicated to validating, governing, and securing AI systems.

The name itself carries meaning. Vishwanath explained,

“I always wanted to pursue a doctorate in computers, but I never finished it. So I named it Dr. Pinnacle. Pinnacle means the highest peak. Our job is to keep AI models in check to ensure they’re functioning well.”

Today, Dr. Pinnacle offers a range of advanced services:

AI Model Validation: Auditing AI platforms to predict their performance over six months or more, ensuring they don’t fail unexpectedly.

Applied Cybersecurity for AI:Using observability frameworks to track “model drift” and detect security threats before they cause harm.

Blockchain Solutions:Building communication layers between applications using blockchain, ensuring transparency and stability.

Estate Chain Services:Enabling clients to monitor all their properties on one transparent digital chain.

Applied Quantum Computing: Running research and building simulations for education and consulting.

Data Engineering & Consulting: Providing implementation and advisory services to Fortune 500 companies across the globe.

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Bootstrapped Beginnings on ₹1 Lakh

Unlike many startups that chase funding from day one, the Hyderabad-based AI consulting startup Dr. Pinnacle began on a shoestring. Vishwanath invested around ₹1 lakh ,  just enough to buy a domain, build a website, and register his brand.

“It was completely bootstrapped. Even today, we’ve never taken external funding. We survive on the strength of our clients,” the Hyderabad-based entrepreneur said while in conversation with Startup Pedia.

The early days were far from glamorous. Vishwanath worked alone for nearly two years, handling everything from client acquisition to delivery. His first break came in an unexpected way, when he was looking for a job during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

He had uploaded his resume to job portals. One company in Hyderabad shortlisted him for an interview. Vishwanath pitched himself as a consultant who could help build their AI product. That meeting turned into his first client.

“That was my turning point. I walked in looking for a job but walked out with a client. That client stayed with me for two years, gave me referrals, and helped me build credibility,” the founder of Dr. Pinnacle recalled.

From One Client to Many

For the first two years, Vishwanath ran Dr. Pinnacle with just that one client, earning around ₹18–20 lakh annually. He describes those years as both humbling and crucial.

“I learned that relationships matter more than chasing ten clients at once. If you deliver value to one client, they’ll bring you ten more,” said the Hyderabad-based entrepreneur in his Startup Pedia conversation.

By the third year, he onboarded interns. Some of them grew into long-term associates. Today, Dr. Pinnacle has a team of 6–10 members, including floating interns, and serves eight ongoing clients across industries.

Financially, the company now earns around ₹60–65 lakh annually.

“We haven’t hit a crore yet. But we’ve built stability. None of us wake up worrying about losing everything. That’s the beauty of strong client relationships,” said the top AI and cybersecurity consultant.

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From Small Town to Silicon valley 

Born in a small district in Telangana, Vishwanath grew up in a modest family. His father was a BSNL employee earning a small salary. His family didn’t own a bike or a car. They built a small house, even renting out part of it to students for extra income.

“We lived on very little. But my parents always made sure I got access to education,” said the Hyderabad-based entrepreneur.

His early exposure to technology came from his grandfather’s workplace, where he first saw MS-DOS computers in the 1990s. By age seven, Vishwanath was experimenting with programming languages like C.

In school, he was known as a tinkerer. He built spoofing pages, ran hacking experiments, and even created a WikiLeaks-style confession page for his college. At KITS(S), where he studied Electrical and Electronics Engineering, he built a prediction algorithm for transformer life cycles. The device once overloaded the system and shut down the college’s electricity supply, a mistake that became one of his most memorable learning experiences.

After graduation, he pursued his Master’s in the US in 2014. The journey wasn’t easy. His visa was rejected once. His grandfather had to mortgage the family house to fund his education.

“I’ll never forget that sacrifice. My grandfather literally put his house on the line so I could study abroad,” Vishwanath expressed with gratitude during his Startup Pedia conversation.

After working in the US for years, Vishwanath returned to India, where he worked as a senior consultant in AI and ML, earning ₹20 lakh per annum. He had the financial security most people dream of. But deep inside, he felt something was missing.

The founder of Dr. Pinnacle said, “I wasn’t happy just cashing checks. I wanted to sell my knowledge, my experience, and create something that could serve multiple organizations.”

That desire brought him back to India, where he laid the foundation of Dr. Pinnacle.

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Recognized Globally as a Top AI and Cybersecurity Consultant

Vishwanath is a trusted advisor and one of the top AI and cybersecurity consultants to global enterprises and Fortune 500 companies, including TechOptima, where he also serves as Co-founder and Chief AI Officer. Renowned for his strategic expertise, he has made a deep impact across healthcare, finance, banking, and legal technology.

As a top AI and cybersecurity consultant, his work has earned him significant recognition. Vishwanath received the Growth Stories Summit & Awards 2024 by TheCconnects Magazine as a “Visionary Leader in AI and Cyber-Driven Innovations.” He was also honored as the Indian Icon of the Year 2025 by the Pride India Awards for “Excellence in Developing & Securing AI.”

Beyond his advisory roles, Vishwanath is an award-winning author of The Shadows of Deception: Unveiling Cyber Realms, a bold and gripping exploration of the digital underworld. The book reflects his profound understanding of cybercrime and justice, further cementing his reputation as a leading AI and cybersecurity consultant globally.

Vishwanath has recently been featured in Forbes's Luxury Special edition under the “Influential Minds and Visionary Leaders: Driving Global Change” series.

AI Models Need Guardianship, Just Like Kids

One of Vishwanath’s strongest beliefs is that AI models need governance and observability, just like children need guidance.

While explaining, the Hyderabad-based entrepreneur said, “AI is like a child. We build it, we feed it data, and it learns from the world. But if you leave it unattended, it can pick up harmful behaviors. Just like you observe children, you have to observe AI models to make sure they don’t go astray.”

This philosophy underpins Dr. Pinnacle’s consulting. Using frameworks like AI Compass, which Vishwanath designed, the company offers observability, security, and data governance to ensure models remain ethical and effective.

Challenges and Lessons

Building Dr. Pinnacle wasn’t easy. In the first two years, Vishwanath doubted himself constantly. He kept applying for jobs, worried he wasn’t ready for entrepreneurship.

“People used to tell me not to travel in two boats. But I used to say, I’m not in two boats. I’m on a sailing ship with two anchors, and I need both to balance myself,” he laughed during the Startup Pedia conversation.

Another challenge was scaling without funding. Instead of hiring expensive senior professionals, he onboarded interns, trained them, and grew together.

“I never looked at interns as just interns. I saw them as close associates. If they shared my ambition, we worked together as equals,” the founder of Dr. Pinnacle said.

What’s Next for Dr. Pinnacle

Looking ahead, Vishwanath has ambitious plans. He wants to expand into global markets, taking Dr. Pinnacle’s AI validation and governance services to companies in Europe, the US, and beyond. He also plans to grow the team size, creating more opportunities for young engineers in India to work on global AI projects.

His long-term vision is to remain one of the highest-paid AI and security consultants in the world, while ensuring that AI continues to be safe, ethical, and reliable.

The Hyderabad-based entrepreneur said, “There’s a huge need for what we do. As AI takes over more industries, companies will realize they can’t run these systems without governance.”

“We’ll be there to fill that gap. I never built a resume. I built a life. And that’s what I share with my clients and the youngsters I mentor,” he said with pride while concluding his interview with Startup Pedia.

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