Siddarth Nandyala, a 14-year-old Indian-American teen, vividly recalls the moment he received his first STEM kit at the age of seven. “It was love at first sight,” he said. That single gift sparked a deep curiosity and a lifelong passion for technology and innovation—one that has already led him to create an AI-based app capable of detecting heart conditions in mere seconds.
In a recent interview with Indian Express, Siddarth opened up about his journey, his vision for the future, and what fuels his drive. His groundbreaking work has been recognized by Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan. Remarkably, he has also received letters of appreciation from former U.S. Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama.
Born in Hyderabad and raised in the U.S., Siddarth credits his upbringing for his unique perspective. “The values I inherited from India—like resilience, humility, and respect for education—alongside the American ethos of innovation and fearlessness, have shaped how I approach problems,” he explained.
Siddarth is the founder of two ventures: STEM IT and Circadian AI.
From Theory to Practice: The Birth of STEM IT
His first company, STEM IT, came out of a personal frustration with how science and technology are taught. “Textbooks often stick to surface-level theory. There’s little connection to how things actually work in the real world,” he said. STEM IT was his answer—a platform designed to provide students with hands-on learning experiences, allowing them to build, experiment, and explore real-life tech systems.
Life-Saving Tech: Circadian AI
His second and perhaps more impactful project, Circadian AI, harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to detect cardiovascular diseases through heart sounds. “You just place a smartphone over the chest, record the heartbeat, and hit ‘analyze’. The app processes the audio and generates a heart health report,” he explained.
The tool was recently piloted at Guntur Government General Hospital in Andhra Pradesh, where it screened hundreds of patients. Two studies revealed its potential—out of 505 and 863 patients screened respectively, the app identified 10 and 16 cases of heart disease. All flagged individuals were later sent for further medical evaluation. A similar test run in Vijayawada screened 992 people and detected 19 with potential cardiovascular issues.
Developing Circadian AI took Siddarth around seven months, involving data collection, AI model training, app development, and clinical validation. However, he made it clear the app is not for general public use—it’s intended strictly for clinical screening in healthcare settings.
Ethics at the Core
Siddarth strongly believes ethics must be central when developing AI in healthcare. “The data used to train these models, the populations they represent, and the ability for both doctors and patients to understand the results—these are critical considerations,” he noted.
He envisions a future where AI-driven diagnostics become more personalized and accessible, especially in underserved communities. He’s already working on expanding Circadian AI’s capabilities to include respiratory diagnostics, offering a broader, faster screening solution.
Redefining STEM Education
If given the chance to revolutionize STEM education, Siddarth says he would blend AI-powered tutors with immersive mixed reality experiences. “Imagine being able to step inside a simulation of a real-world system and learn through direct interaction while receiving personalized guidance—that could completely change how we learn science,” he said.
The Driving Force Behind His Innovations
For Siddarth, innovation is more than just invention—it’s about impact. “Even the smallest idea, when pursued with purpose, has the potential to transform industries and touch lives across the world,” he said. “The tools are already with us—we just have to start building.”
Outside of his tech pursuits, Siddarth finds balance through golf and chess. “Golf helps me clear my mind, and chess keeps my strategic thinking sharp,” he shared. He also draws deep inspiration from former Indian President and scientist Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
