Priaash Ramadeen is a deep-tech founder and engineer leading The Awareness Company, a South African AI startup building HYDRA, an operational and sustainability intelligence platform that unifies real-world data from energy, water, waste, fleet, and security systems.
He combines strategic vision with strong technical fluency across IoT, AI, and data architecture, bridging vision and execution through a culture of clarity, innovation, and joyful data. His focus on AI for the Physical World positions him among Africa's leading emerging founders, with proven strength in fundraising, go-to-market strategy, and technical product leadership.
A South African engineer turned entrepreneur, Priaash is passionate about transforming complex data into real-world impact. A coder at heart and innovator in spirit, he believes in storytelling through data and lives by creativity, curiosity, and collaboration — powered by his cats, football, and The Awareness Company.
He sees entrepreneurship as a path to creating meaningful value and lasting impact. Challenging the status quo drives him, and he thrives on building innovative solutions with exceptional people to solve global problems.
His journey began in defence and conservation technology at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), where he worked on simulation tools and anti-poaching surveillance systems. As part of the team that developed Cmore, the platform used to combat rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park, Priaash learned to build technology that is mission-critical, scalable, and rooted in real-world needs — principles that continue to guide his work today.