Matthew Kayser 
Artificial intelligence is transforming how businesses communicate. Across industries, AI voice agents are emerging as the new workforce, handling tasks such as answering calls, booking appointments, and managing customer service, previously handled by people.
These intelligent systems can listen, think, and respond in real time, offering speed and accuracy that traditional systems can’t match.
One of the engineers leading this quiet revolution is Gautham Venkateshwaran, a 19-year-old who helped build the core technology behind these AI agents at Toma (YC W24).
His work demonstrates how voice AI, initially applied in the automotive sector, can empower niche and underserved industries, proving that the future of automation is not about replacing humans. It’s about helping them work smarter.
Foundations in Robotics & Software Engineering
Before working on AI systems, Gautham spent years building robots and teaching others how to do the same.
As the leader of his school’s Robotics Club, he mentored more than 100 students in robotics and 50 in software development, helping many of them build their first projects.
Under his guidance, the team became one of the strongest in Alberta, winning over 11 awards and qualifying twice for the VEX Robotics World Championships.
Gautham also received the Excellence Award, which recognises the best overall team in the province.
These experiences taught him teamwork, focus, and how to turn ideas into working technology.
It was also where he first learned how to solve complex problems step by step, a skill that later helped him design AI systems that think and respond like humans.
From Hackathons to Human-Centric AI Design
While still in high school, Gautham began taking part in hackathons, short, creative events where people build new technology in just a few days.
These experiences helped him improve his coding, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Over time, he created several winning projects that showed both his creativity and his technical talent.
One of his most notable projects was LifeLink, a small hardware device designed to assist in medical emergencies. It used Small Language Models (SLMs) to quickly understand and diagnose emergencies in rural areas where hospitals or internet access were limited.
The system could then alert nearby first responders and provide them with step-by-step instructions on how to assist the patient.
Through these projects, Gautham learned how technology can make a real difference in people’s lives, an idea that continues to guide all of his work today.
The Toma Experience
After his success in robotics and hackathons, Gautham joined Toma (YC W24), one of the fastest-growing startups building AI voice agents for the automotive industry. These voice agents assist customers over the phone, enabling car dealerships to manage daily tasks such as booking appointments, providing repair updates, and answering inquiries.
Every car dealership uses its own Dealership Management System (DMS) to manage data. Gautham’s biggest challenge was helping Toma’s AI connect directly with these systems.
Over time, he led the development of integrations with some of the largest DMS providers in North America, including CDK Global, Reynolds & Reynolds, PBS, and Dealervault.
These integrations completely changed how dealerships used AI. Previously, the voice agent was limited to answering questions. Now, it can book appointments, update repair information, and sync vehicle data automatically, all while talking to the customer on the phone.
Because of this work, Toma expanded its reach by 30–35% and signed partnerships with major dealership groups like Autonation, the largest in the United States.
But Gautham didn’t stop there. He built an AI-to-AI testing system, one of the first of its kind in the automotive space. The system enables two AIs to communicate with each other: one acts as the customer, and the other acts as the Toma voice agent.
The goal is to verify that the AI functions correctly following an update or modification. Earlier, this process required hours of manual testing by team members. With Gautham’s system, dozens of AI agents can now be tested at once, making the process faster and more reliable.
Another critical project Gautham developed was Toma’s Workflows Engine. The tool enables car dealers to create comprehensive marketing or call campaigns by simply providing instructions to the AI.
For example, a dealer can say, “Call all customers with upcoming service appointments,” and the AI will automatically create and manage the campaign. The feature makes advanced AI tools accessible to non-technical business owners, saving them time and effort.
Together, these projects show Gautham’s unique mix of technical skill and business understanding. He doesn’t just build systems that work. He creates systems that help businesses grow.
His work at Toma has made AI more useful for everyday industries like automotive, showing that artificial intelligence can make a difference even in areas that are often left behind in the tech world.
Today, the infrastructure Gautham built supports over 500 dealerships daily, handling thousands of customer calls.
His goal is to continue improving how AI can act as a helpful assistant for people in niche and underserved industries, turning complex technology into simple, reliable tools that anyone can use.
Awards and Recognition
Gautham’s journey has been filled with hard work, creativity, and recognition. Over the years, he has earned several awards that highlight his consistent dedication to building real-world solutions through technology.
He won 1st Place at Medihacks 2024, a competition focused on healthcare innovation, where his ideas stood out for their practicality and impact.
He also secured 1st Place at Hack the Change YYC, an event that celebrates technology built for social good, and 3rd Place at the IOB UBC Pitch Competition, which recognises creative project presentations and business potential.
These awards are not just trophies. They show Gautham’s steady growth as a builder, problem-solver, and leader.
Whether in robotics, healthcare, or AI development, his work continues to reflect a balance between technical skill and purpose. Each achievement marks another step toward his larger mission of using AI to make technology accessible to all.
Building a Future of Shared Intelligence
Gautham’s story is one of focus, learning, and vision. From building robots in school to leading AI development at a fast-growing startup, he has shown what passion and persistence can achieve.
A self-taught programmer who spent nights coding instead of sleeping, he now helps shape the future of AI workforce agents, technology that supports people instead of replacing them.
His work at Toma proves that powerful AI can come from simple, human goals: helping others save time, work smarter, and connect better.
For Gautham, this marks the beginning of a journey to create AI that genuinely understands people.