Expat Daily Spotlight: Daniel Ma on Bringing American Company Rovren’s AI Innovation to India

India’s growing tech and AI industries are attracting more and more foreign companies looking to expand. In this edition of Expat Daily Spotlight, we present our conversation with Daniel Ma, co-founder and Vice President of Research at Rovren, an American company that aims to make a significant impact in AI education and image processing with its no-code platform.

Rovren has been expanding in India, and its success in the country shows how foreign companies can tap into India’s vast talent pool and contribute to the growth of technology and innovation.

Q: Rovren is dedicated to making AI, engineering, and image processing education more accessible. With India’s rapid growth in tech and AI adoption, how is Rovren expanding its presence in the Indian market?

Rovren began its expansion in Mumbai, introducing its computer vision and image processing tools. By simplifying computer vision algorithm development, Rovren focuses on academic institutions, offering both a teaching aid and a hands-on learning platform.

Q: Rovren Flow simplifies image processing with an intuitive no-code platform. How is this product helping Indian developers, students, and businesses overcome the traditional learning curve in AI and computer vision?

Rovren makes image processing easier with a no-code platform that eliminates the typical barriers in computer vision application development. Traditional methods require programming, mathematical, and domain-specific expertise, along with tools like OpenCV, TensorFlow, or PyTorch. Rovren removes these complexities by offering a drag-and-drop interface, allowing users at all levels to experiment with AI and computer vision without getting bogged down by technical intricacies. By democratizing access to these tools, Rovren accelerates innovation, enabling users to solve real-world problems faster.

Q: The AI and no-code space is highly competitive, with big players offering similar solutions. How does Rovren differentiate itself from global tech giants, and what unique value does it bring to Indian users?

Rovren’s approach focuses on accessibility and hands-on experience. Unlike traditional methods, Rovren’s no-code platform provides the flexibility to build advanced algorithms without needing deep programming skills. This makes AI more approachable for a wider audience in India, where there is growing demand for simplified tech solutions.

Q: Many ed-tech companies are eyeing India due to its vast talent pool. What inspired you to focus on this market, and how are you tailoring your solutions to Indian users?

Rovren’s founders saw India’s immense talent pool as an opportunity to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and hands-on industry experience. Indian students, though bright and driven, often lack real-world tools. To address this, Rovren runs interactive workshops in colleges, offering students practical exposure to computer vision and image processing, inspiring them for future careers.

Q: No-code tools are transforming AI education, making it more accessible to students and professionals in India. How do you see this trend impacting AI learning, innovation, and job opportunities in the country?

No-code tools like Rovren are revolutionizing AI learning in India, enabling students and professionals to jump into the field without extensive technical backgrounds. This trend is creating new job opportunities and fostering innovation, opening up AI to a broader audience.

Q: Can you share a recent success story or example of how an Indian university, startup, or developer has leveraged Rovren Flow to simplify image processing and accelerate their AI journey?

We’ve seen remarkable results with second-year students who, through our workshops, built their first image-processing algorithm - reading dice values - in just one hour. This would typically be out of reach for their level. Additionally, industrial developers have shared that Rovren has helped them create algorithms five times faster, thanks to its intuitive no-code approach.

Q: India is a growing hub for AI-driven industries, from healthcare to smart cities. How do you see image processing shaping these sectors, and how is Rovren contributing to this transformation?

Rovren is helping India stay at the forefront of AI-driven industries by simplifying computer vision, making it accessible to students, developers, and professionals. With the rise of smartphones and cameras, the potential for vision-based applications is vast. By providing a no-code platform, Rovren is enabling faster development and contributing to the growth of AI solutions across industries like healthcare, smart cities, and beyond.