Where does Janak (Crasun) Panthi work?

Janak (Crasun) Panthi is Founder of Salem Robotics Inc.

What companies did Janak (Crasun) Panthi found?

Janak (Crasun) Panthi founded Salem Robotics Inc.

Where did Janak (Crasun) Panthi go to school?

Janak (Crasun) Panthi studied at The University of Texas at Austin (Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Mechanical Engineering with focus on Robotics); The University of Texas at Austin (Master of Science - MS, Mechanical Engineering); Loras College (BS in Electromechanical Engineering (ABET Accredited), Engineering).

Janak (Crasun) Panthi

Founder

Founder at Salem Robotics Inc

Austin, Texas, United States

FoundedSalem Robotics Inc · YC

About

Janak Panthi is completing a PhD in Robotics at UT Austin and serves as co-founder and CTO of Salem Robotics Inc. He has six years of industry experience in product development and deployment of quadruped robots in nuclear environments, and prior military service with the US Army.

Founder at Salem Robotics Inc YC S26

Intro paths

Janak went through Y Combinator (Summer 2026) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.

Their group partner at YC was Jon Xu, General Partner at Y Combinator — the partner who ran Salem Robotics Inc's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗

→

In turn, Janak can intro founders to Salem Robotics Inc's investors below.

Salem Robotics Inc's investors · 1

Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2026

Co-founders at Salem Robotics Inc

Caleb HoranFounder

Experience

Salem Robotics (YC S26)Co-Founder & CTOcurrent2025 — presentAustin, Texas, United States
The University of Texas at AustinPhD Studentcurrent2021 — presentAustin, Texas, United States
Los Alamos National LaboratoryGraduate Researcher2022 — 2026Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States
Solomon Admissions ConsultingResearch Mentor2023 — 2025
IBS Paper Performance GroupDesign and Product Application Engineer2019 — 2021Hampton Roads, Virginia Metropolitan Area
US ArmyWheeled Vehicle Mechanic2015 — 2021New Jersey
Mack StudiosDesign Engineer2018Greater Syracuse-Auburn Area
Festo USAAutomation Engineer2017 — 2018New York
Loras College Engineering DepartmentSupplemental Instructor2013 — 2015Dubuque County, Iowa, United States
Heitkamp PlanetariumAstronomy and Astrophysics Educator2013 — 2014Dubuque County, Iowa, United States
Henderson ProductsDesign and Controls Engineering Intern2014Manchester,Iowa
City of DubuqueEnvironmental Engineering Intern2013Dubuque, Iowa

Skills & more

Program Management2FEA Analysis1Programming3Project Planning2Project Management2MicrocontrollersEngineering2Robotics2Research2PneumaticsCustomer Service2Team Building1

+12 more

Design EngineeringLeadershipStrategic PlanningPublic SpeakingPublic SpeakerTeam LeadershipMicrosoft ExcelC++SolidworksAutoCADAutodesk InventorMatlab

Languages English · Hindi · Nepali

From Janak's professional profile.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Janak (Crasun) Panthi?: Janak Panthi is completing a PhD in Robotics at UT Austin and serves as co-founder and CTO of Salem Robotics Inc. He has six years of industry experience in product development and deployment of quadruped robots in nuclear environments, and prior military service with the US Army.
Where does Janak (Crasun) Panthi work?: Janak (Crasun) Panthi is Founder of Salem Robotics Inc.
What companies did Janak (Crasun) Panthi found?: Janak (Crasun) Panthi founded Salem Robotics Inc.
Where did Janak (Crasun) Panthi go to school?: Janak (Crasun) Panthi studied at The University of Texas at Austin (Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Mechanical Engineering with focus on Robotics); The University of Texas at Austin (Master of Science - MS, Mechanical Engineering); Loras College (BS in Electromechanical Engineering (ABET Accredited), Engineering).

Founder mafias

Y Combinator mafia8,773

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

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+ 8,766 more

The University of Texas at Austin mafia106

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Michael DellFounded Force10 Michael GortonPhysics & Engineering w minor in EnglishFounded Principal Solar +2 Amar SawhneyM.S. and PhDFounded Access Closure +2 Arlo GilbertPolitical ScienceFounded Osano +1 Erik HuddlestonBAFounded Trendkite +1 Celine HaliquaBachelor of Science (BSc)Founded Longevity Drugs for Dogs +1

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Same school

Also attended The University of Texas at Austin506

Michael DellFounder & CEO of Dell Technologies Viswa SankaranarayananVenture Partner at Monta Vista Capital Todd KleinManaging Partner, Revolution Growth at Revolution Sapna MehtaInvestor at Revolution Anish AggarwalInvestor at Lightbank Andrew ScottSenior Finance Manager at Greycroft

+ 500 more

Also attended Loras College2

Dylan KurtContent & Media at Redbud VC Ryan KoberPartner at Second Alpha Partners

Shared employers

Also worked at Salem Robotics (YC S26)1

Caleb HoranFounder at Salem Robotics Inc

Also worked at The University of Texas at Austin91

Viswa SankaranarayananVenture Partner at Monta Vista Capital DougAdvisor at Clear Ventures Monica SolizDirector, Marketing at Sapphire Ventures Andrew WilsonPartner, Legal at Lux Capital Zaz FloreaniVenture Partner at FirstMile Ventures Lorenzo ThioneGeneral Partner at Gaingels

+ 85 more

Also worked at US Army162

A.J. BertoneExecutive Vice President, Investments at In-Q-Tel Jesse RobbinsFounder and Investor in AI Developer Tools Andrew ForysiakOwner, AJF and Associates at Riphean Investments Aaron StachelPartner at FirstMile Ventures Ben FawEntrepreneur-in-Residence at Context Ventures Tim HsiaFounder at Context Ventures

+ 156 more