This told essay is based on a conversation with David Kobroski, the 26-year-old founder of Intros AI from Brooklyn. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
When I started university in 2017, I already knew I wanted to work at a startup and make a difference in the world.
After my freshman year at the University of Michigan, I changed my major from business to computer science. I thought that would help me run an early stage company.
However, in late 2018, at age 19, I dropped out of college to take a full-time job. I went back to university at the end of 2019, but dropped out again at the end of 2020 at the age of 21 to start my own company, Intros AI.
Despite being diagnosed with cancer in early 2024 and undergoing six months of chemotherapy, I pushed myself to work on my business. It was acquired in July 2025 and became financially stable after years of hard work.
I don’t regret dropping out of college to pursue my venture, even if there were tradeoffs along the way.
Couldn’t resist the opportunity to work for Gary Vaynerchuk
After my freshman year in 2018, I began a product management internship at a company called Roll, where I focused on community engagement.
In November 2018, about three months after my internship ended, I was offered the opportunity to work full-time at businessman and social media personality Gary Vaynerchuk’s company, Vayner X.
I knew I would have to drop out of college to pursue this, so I decided it wasn’t too much of a risk. If things didn’t work out, I could always go back to school.
I dropped out of college for the second time to start an AI company
I had a passion for building tools for online communities and connecting people through software. While working at VaynerX, I built my own side project: an AI assistant focused on connecting people.
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In late 2019, after working at VaynerX for about 8 months, I went back to university to further develop my technical skills in computer science and worked on side projects in my free time.
Even back then, I felt that AI would play a huge role in how we interact. I experimented with an AI assistant that helps me manage existing friendships and meet new people. An assistant called “MeetSunday” will introduce you to new people via text message and schedule a time to meet.
I saw a bigger opportunity in this space and wanted to build software that helps communities connect their members. For example, what if AI could send a personalized invitation to connect with someone in a large Slack or Facebook group based on its knowledge of a user’s common interests and goals?
At the end of 2020, I dropped out of university again to focus on this idea full time. I wanted to continue studying in school, but my biggest concern was timing. COVID-19 had just happened, creating a new market for digital connectivity, and I was itching to get started with my company.
Kobroski dropped out of college at the end of 2020 and launched Intros AI. Provided by Introz AI
I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer while building Intros AI
After eight months of bootstrapping, I started raising money from investors. Siriam Krishnan, currently the White House Senior Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence, was one of our early supporters.
Our seed round started at the end of 2023. After suffering from itching and other symptoms for eight or nine months, I was diagnosed with stage 4 blood cancer in early 2024.
Kobrowski was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma in early 2024. Provided by Introz AI
The diagnosis showed us that time is limited and we need to act urgently and purposefully. During my six months of chemotherapy, I was still working 60 to 80 hours a week. I felt like I had no other choice. We had great investors and I was going to dedicate my entire life to this idea. I wanted to follow through on my promise.
Before my diagnosis, I worked seven days a week, sometimes taking half a day off. Since then, I started taking most Saturdays off to rest, which I still do.
Kobroski said he continued to work for 60 to 80 weeks during his six months of chemotherapy. Provided by Introz AI
After selling the company, I became financially ok.
In November 2024, I was told I was in remission. In July 2025, Intros AI was acquired by a software company called Bevy.
We connected with Bevy at a conference in 2023 and were looking at a partnership by early 2025. In the process, they offered to acquire us instead, and after six to seven months of negotiations, we closed the deal.
Today, businesses use our products within Bevy to connect their most active customers with each other, create meaningful spaces for knowledge sharing and networking, and help businesses increase customer retention.
In 2024, I was the CEO of Intros AI and my salary for the year was approximately $100,000. After the acquisition, I became Bevy’s AI Product Manager and now earn a higher base salary than before, with the opportunity to increase my income through bonuses. This was a huge financial challenge for me as I had invested heavily in my company over the years.
I don’t regret the trade-offs I made
I believe that by starting and selling a company, you can prepare for the future in a way that you would not have been able to obtain through traditional paths.
Without a doubt, trade-offs had to be made. Working long hours, seven days a week, meant saying no to many meaningful moments, such as seeing friends in their early 20s.
However, when trying to influence the world, there are always trade-offs along the way.
