Vishnu Kannan

What they built

Founded Room40 AI — a company specialising in lightweight, real-time machine learning algorithms for secure IoT analytics, designed to integrate seamlessly into embedded devices for smart home, security, and defence applications. Kannan built the proprietary algorithms and integrated analytics platform independently as a high school student. The startup was acquired by Redwood Labs Inc. for $2 million in stock when Kannan was just 16, validating the commercial strength of the underlying technology. He continues to develop modular AI/IoT systems and teaches ML workshops for other students.

Verified track record

• Baltimore Sun article is paywalled but its preview text includes a credited photo caption line (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff), indicating a portrait exists. Extracted content did not reveal a direct image URL. Per rules, leave PictureURL unchanged; manual next step: open the article while logged in (if available) and copy image address, or use other official sources (e.g., Fox Baltimore story) if it has a visible photo with extractable URL. Has qualifying photo on high-priority source but direct link not extracted: https://www.baltimoresun.com/2026/03/04/howard-county-teen-ai-startup/ (source)