TAMPA — When Kautilya Veer pitched his idea for Civisight during USF’s Nault Center for Entrepreneurship HUSTLE competition, he was presenting a project, but also testing a vision born from curiosity, discipline and a relentless drive to solve real problems.
The 18-year-old computer science and astronomy major from India describes himself as someone who’s always been fascinated by how things work.
“From a young age, I enjoyed breaking things down and thinking about how they could be improved,” Veer said. "I like being involved in the actual building process, not just the vision. For me, writing code and building things from the ground up is how ideas become real."
That same mindset now drives Civisight, the GovTech platform he co-founded to help local governments streamline compliance and document tracking. His goal is to cut through red tape and help agencies serve communities more efficiently.
“I didn’t apply to HUSTLE for a trophy. I applied because I wanted honest feedback from people who knew how hard building something real actually is,” Veer said. “The experience made my venture stronger and pushed me to grow as a founder.”
Kautilya Veer
The HUSTLE competition, a yearly pitch event to enter the longer incubator program’s cohort, brings together aspiring USF student entrepreneurs to test and pitch their business ideas. Veer said the intensity of the event, paired with support from mentors and peers, forced him to simplify complex ideas and focus on real-world impact.
“The judges challenged me to clearly explain why Civisight mattered,” he said. “That process taught me that clarity is more powerful than complexity.”
Veer later joined the Student Innovation Incubator (SII) through USF CONNECT, which complements his ongoing work with the Nault Center.
“SII offers the structure and long-term mentorship student founders really need,” he said. “It’s not just about preparing for the next pitch. It’s about building something that lasts.”
Being surrounded by other student entrepreneurs who are also committed to impact has been one of the most valuable aspects, he said. Through both programs, he has learned that feedback, even the tough kind, is essential for growth.
One of his favorite experiences was connecting with industry experts, including David Chessler, the HUSTLE program’s angel investor, during HUSTLE, and Sabrina Martinez-Vicenttin, a venture investor at Plug and Play Tech Center, during HealthHacks. Both offered insights, networking opportunities and encouragement that helped Civisight expand its reach.
For students considering HUSTLE or SII, Veer has a clear message: “Apply, even if your idea isn’t perfect. Programs like HUSTLE and SII are meant to help you grow and refine your ideas, not judge you for where you’re starting. You don’t need to have everything figured out to benefit from them.”
Outside of entrepreneurship, Veer finds balance in stargazing and reading about the universe. These interests remind him to stay curious and grounded. He also serves as the technical chair for the student organization Association of Computing Machinery at USF, where he helps design hands-on workshops and technical initiatives for students interested in building real-world projects.
“Looking up at the night sky keeps me thinking bigger than the day-to-day,” he said. “And it reminds me why I want to build systems that truly make people’s lives easier.”