Malini Kannan is the co-founder of Nūl, a fashion technology company focused on helping global fashion brands transition to zero-waste production. 

By combining agentic AI with data science and machine learning, Nūl assists brands in planning, allocating, and replenishing stock more efficiently, ultimately reducing overproduction and increasing profitability. 

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👋🏼  How would you explain your job to someone outside tech?

I am the co-founder of Nūl, a tech company that helps fashion brands with their operations. We help them understand how much to buy, which stores/ online channels to place it at, and how to move it around to make the maximum impact for them. 

We do it because more efficient operations mean less waste, helping brands produce just what they need to sell.

We are a very young company, so at this stage I do a lot of different jobs — but I spend the most time with potential and current customers and working with our teams to deliver for our customers. 

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🧐  What's something about you or your job that would surprise us?

I've been pleasantly surprised to see how engaged the fashion ecosystem in Asia has been around topics like responsible production and the use of AI and technology in general to improve operations. 

There is a great community to tap into, and lots to learn from as well. 

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‍🏆  What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

Starting Nūl — it was a very intentional process to build it, and it challenges me every day to be better at everything I need to do!

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🔍  What's a startup trend or space you're watching this year?

Not just this year, but every year. 'Tech for Good' business models that can be profitable and purposeful. 

This year, I've been especially tuned into startups that are building AI applications for social good. 

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💼  What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry? 

Listen deeply and really look to learn from people around you — your customers, your peers, your friends from other industries. 

We get so caught up in the idea of being an expert on a topic or being the smartest person in the room, but the world moves so fast that our knowledge can get outdated quickly.

My personal experience has been that I've connected the dots a lot faster and built a lot better when I was able to tap into the ecosystem and re-learn it. 

To look beyond the assumptions that drive the status quo. 

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🗣  What's one thing you can keep talking about for hours? 

Climate tech, financial inclusion, any ‘Tech for Good’ business model.

And on a lighter note…pizza.

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🎥  What's your favorite movie/TV show? 

Modern Family, I can watch it on repeat.

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🍨  What's your go-to ice cream flavor?

Hazelnut gelato.