Gaurab Acharya on Empowering Small Businesses with Scalable AI Solutions

Small businesses are the backbone of the economy, driving innovation and providing nearly half of the private sector workforce in the United States. Yet, when it comes to adopting advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, they often fall behind—not due to a lack of interest, but because of complexity, perceived cost, and limited resources. This gap between potential and accessibility is where Gaurab Acharya steps in. As a Senior Software Engineer at CoreWeave, Gaurab focuses on AI infrastructure, but his background as an entrepreneur has been deeply rooted in helping small businesses leverage technology. While he currently works on large-scale AI solutions, his past experience developing custom software for small businesses continues to shape his perspective.

Tackling Adoption Barriers

During his early entrepreneurial days, he realized that automation and data-driven insights were the true game-changers. “I chose to provide automation around data extraction and loading to make the move easier to the solution I would develop for the customer,” he recalls. This hands-on experience shaped his approach to problem-solving, ensuring that technology delivers real value without unnecessary complexity. Looking ahead, he hopes to bring these AI advancements back to small enterprises, making them more accessible and impactful.

Phased Approach to Integration

Today, Gaurab is on a mission to make AI more accessible and practical for small enterprises. He tackles common adoption barriers by offering a phased approach, helping businesses to gradually integrate machine learning into their workflows. “While the enthusiasm is there, hitting the correct balance of what an advanced project might cost is really difficult without any exposure to the data the company is currently transacting,” he explains. This strategy not only reduces risk but also empowers small businesses to adopt AI at their own pace, ensuring the technology aligns with their goals and resources.

Creating Scalable Solutions

At the heart of Gaurab’s work is a commitment to creating modular, scalable solutions that address individual business needs without overwhelming them with technological complexity. By bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI and practical business applications, he is helping small businesses not only compete with larger enterprises but also position themselves as leaders in their respective markets.

Tech-Driven Entrepreneurship

When Gaurab began his journey into tech entrepreneurship through freelance work, he quickly realized the market was saturated with similar offerings—jQuery frontends and PHP backends built with various frameworks. To stand out, Gaurab shifted his approach, focusing on automation around data extraction and loading as part of his services. This not only streamlined the transition to his solutions but also deepened his understanding of each client’s core business.

Solving Real-World Challenges

One of Gaurab’s most impactful projects involved developing a real-time, asynchronous application for a small business that relied heavily on NYC Department of Buildings data. Through multiple iterations, Gaurab successfully guided the client toward a fully integrated solution. By transforming complex data into actionable insights, Gaurab’s solution streamlined operations and empowered the business to make more informed, strategic decisions.

Overcoming AI Adoption Hurdles

Before joining CoreWeave, Gaurab worked as a freelancer and entrepreneur, where he observed that for many small businesses, the biggest hurdle in adopting advanced technologies like AI was the perceived cost. By providing clear metrics around cost versus output, he helped small businesses adopt AI at a pace that aligned with their comfort and resources.

Building Long-Term Value

Delivering long-term value to small businesses goes beyond solving immediate challenges—it’s about building lasting partnerships. Modular software components also played a crucial role in his approach. By designing systems that can be easily swapped or scaled based on a business’s evolving needs, Gaurab created a clear, adaptable path for growth.

The Future of AI for Small Business

As AI becomes an essential tool for businesses of all sizes, Gaurab’s work continues to help reshape how small businesses embrace technology, suggesting that AI can be both accessible and transformative when applied thoughtfully. His commitment to bridging the gap between advanced technology and practical business needs is not just about keeping small enterprises competitive but about equipping them to thrive in an increasingly digital economy.