Executive Leadership
Pranav Avasarala
Founder & CEO
Pranav founded Funbotics in Northern Virginia in 2016 with the goal of empowering today’s youth to pursue STEM careers. He is double majoring in Mechanical Engineering and Economics at Yale University. Pranav has nurtured the program since inception, taking the journey from churches and libraries to competitions at Yale venues and programs in virtual settings. Outside of Funbotics, Pranav is passionate about product development and innovation with a strong entrepreneurial spirit.
Andonny Garcia
Chief Operating Officer
Andonny was born in Guatemala, and raised in DC. He studies mechanical engineering at Yale university and enjoys teaching engineering, math, and physics. Having grown up in a minority, under-resourced household, Andonny seeks to dismantle the ethnic disparity in STEM fields. Andonny thoroughly knowledge and passionate about hands-on engineering, frequenting the Center for Center for Engineering Innovation and Design at Yale.
Melissa LU, (Birong)
President Of Asia-Pacific Funbotics / Board Member
Melissa graduates from Yale University School of Management in 2022 and owns an MBA degree from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. She is a highly recognized global leader in branding & marketing and used to be a Global Brand Director for a multinational technology conglomerate. She joins Funbotics because she has enthusiasm for technology development and innovative education with a strong entrepreneurial spirit. She is based in Big Bay Area China and is responsible for conducting outreach to potential cooperative companies and students in the Asia Pacific region for Funbotics.
Yale Funbotics Leadership
Eugene Thomas
Yale Funbotics President
Eugene is a junior at Yale from New York City and is studying Mechanical Engineering and Statistics and Data Science. He joined Funbotics because he believes that enriching and constructive educational opportunities are integral to having students excel both in and out of the classroom.
Seth Dalmacio
Yale Funbotics President
Seth is a junior at Yale from the New Haven area and is majoring in economics. As a former FIRST robotics student, he also spends his time working with several robotics teams in the New Haven Area.
Tyler Imprescia
Student Outreach Head
Tyler is a junior Mechanical Engineering Major at Yale from Dover, Delaware. His two biggest passions are engineering and teaching, with Funbotics being the ideal mix of both. Outside of Yale and Funbotics, Tyler likes to cook, tutor, and play soccer.
Sahiti Rachakonda
Yale Funbotics
Sahiti is a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. Her passion for technology and working with youth has inspired her to contribute to Funbotics. As a dancer and artist, she is keen on studying the unique intersection between technology and art. Sahiti looks forward to growing the reach and contributions of Funbotics through her leadership and passion to positively impact the community around.
Tyler Imprescia
Marketing and Media Head
Kelly is a junior at Yale studying Computer Science. She first started mentoring robotics organizations in high school after years of doing FIRST robotics. Other than Yale Funbotics, Kelly is involved with several other organizations aiming to empower women and gender minorities in STEM
Kaleb Gezahegn
Technology Head
Kaleb is a sophomore at Yale University and is a prospective Electrical Engineering and Computer Science major. Kaleb is from Washington D.C., but he was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Arjun
Florida Outreach Director
Arjun, a senior at Lake Nona High School, founded Ecoinnovate Hub in Central Florida in 2021. His unwavering goal with Ecoinnovate Hub is to conduct research and develop simple yet profound social innovations, with a particular focus on crafting point-of-care products that elevate the well-being of individuals and communities.
Advisory Board
Vincent Wilczynski
Deputy Dean, Yale School of Engineering and Applied Science
Maria Parente
Coordinator for Community Programs in Science at Yale
Claudia Merson
Director of Public School Partnerships at Yale
Marynel Vázquez
Asst. Professor of Computer Science at Yale, Robotics PhD., M.S., Carnegie Mellon University
Parvathi Rachakonda
President & Owner, Tech2i, A Woman Owned Small Business That Offers Information Technology Services
Pallavi Avasarala
Founder and Advisor
