This firsthand narrative stems from an in-depth conversation with twenty-six-year-old David Kobrosky, the innovative founder of Intros AI, a company born in Brooklyn. The following account has been refined and shaped for greater clarity and to highlight the key moments that defined his unconventional journey.
When David entered college in 2017, he already carried a definite sense of direction and ambition. From the outset, he knew that the traditional career trajectory was not the one he wanted to follow. Instead, his aspirations gravitated toward the dynamic world of startups—a sphere known for its intensity, creativity, and potential for meaningful impact. He sought not merely a profession but a life of purpose, one where his ideas could transform industries and improve lives.
After completing his freshman year at the University of Michigan, David made a bold academic pivot. Though he had been pursuing a degree in business, he realized that true innovation—particularly at the early stages of building a company—would demand a deeper understanding of technology. Consequently, he switched his major to computer science, believing that technical proficiency was the cornerstone of successful entrepreneurship in the modern era.
Yet, life in academia could not fully contain his entrepreneurial energy. By late 2018, at just nineteen, David faced his first defining crossroads: he decided to leave college to accept a full-time job opportunity. While many might have viewed dropping out as too risky, he perceived it as a calculated step toward learning through real-world experience. His decision paid off, as the professional world offered a type of education that classrooms rarely could.
Even so, his relationship with academia was not completely severed. In late 2019, he returned to the University of Michigan, motivated by the desire to sharpen his technical skills while continuing to develop side projects. However, by late 2020, at twenty-one, he once again chose to leave school—this time with a clear mission: to found Intros AI, a startup focusing on digital connection and the enhancement of online communities.
David’s journey was far from easy. In early 2024, while immersed in scaling his company, he received a devastating diagnosis: stage four blood cancer. The timing could not have been more challenging. Despite undergoing six months of intensive chemotherapy, he refused to let the illness define or derail his ambitions. Throughout his treatment, he continued working sixty to eighty hours a week, driven by the conviction that his company’s success was worth every ounce of his remaining energy. His perseverance culminated in a major milestone—Intros AI was acquired in July 2025, a rewarding outcome that provided him with financial stability after years of sacrifice and relentless effort.
When reflecting on his unconventional path, David expresses no regret about leaving college. He acknowledges the inevitable trade-offs—missed social experiences, sleepless nights, and unrelenting work schedules—but he views them as necessary prices for a life of purpose and creation. For him, the pursuit of meaningful innovation always outweighed the comfort of convention.
Business Insider’s *Young Geniuses* series highlights precisely these types of stories—the narratives of ambitious young founders, thinkers, and trailblazers who are striving to reshape industries and confront global challenges. David’s story is one among many, an emblem of courage and clarity in an age defined by rapid transformation.
His pivotal break came in 2018. After completing his freshman year, David began an internship in product management at a company named Roll, where he spearheaded initiatives aimed at community engagement. Only a few months after the internship ended, he received an unexpected yet transformative offer: the chance to work full-time for Gary Vaynerchuk, the high-profile entrepreneur and media figure, at VaynerX. The decision to accept meant leaving college behind once again. He weighed the risks but concluded that the learning experience and exposure to high-level business strategy outweighed the uncertainty. If circumstances changed, he could always return to school—a simple yet powerful expression of his pragmatic optimism.
While working at VaynerX, David discovered his passion for building digital tools that strengthen human connection. In his spare time, he began creating AI-driven projects designed to bring people together. These experiments into artificial intelligence assistants served as a testing ground for his future company. They explored how technology might enhance our social lives—whether by helping users sustain friendships or by introducing them to new ones. One such prototype, called “MeetSunday,” automatically introduced people via text and arranged meetings, embodying his belief that technology could—and should—facilitate genuine human relationships.
His growing fascination with AI deepened his conviction that machine learning would revolutionize the way communities form and interact. He envisioned platforms where artificial intelligence could identify shared interests, recommend introductions, and help members of large online groups—such as Slack or Facebook communities—forge meaningful bonds. This idea evolved into Intros AI, software that would automate and personalize the process of connection.
By late 2020, the world was reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, which accelerated the global shift toward remote interaction. Recognizing both the urgency and opportunity, David decided to devote himself full-time to building Intros AI. Though he cherished the academic environment, the timing was too crucial to ignore. The world, as he saw it, was yearning for new ways to stay connected, and he was determined to provide them.
The early days of Intros AI were challenging but invigorating. After months of bootstrapping and refining his vision, David sought investment to scale operations. Among the early backers was Sriam Krishnan, who would later become a senior policy advisor on artificial intelligence at the White House. Their support fueled the company’s growth, yet behind the scenes, David began to experience persistent health symptoms—severe itching and fatigue—that would later lead to his cancer diagnosis in early 2024.
Receiving such news forced David to reconsider the value of time. Every moment suddenly felt precious, and he resolved to live with greater intention. Despite his physical limitations, he chose not to retreat from his venture but to continue leading the company while undergoing chemotherapy. The immense discipline required to maintain such a workload during treatment exemplified his resilience and sense of duty—to his investors, his team, and his dream. It also prompted a lasting lifestyle change: he began taking Saturdays off to recuperate and reflect, an act of self-preservation that balanced his relentless work ethic.
In November 2024, doctors informed him that his cancer was in remission. Just eight months later, in July 2025, Intros AI reached a milestone many entrepreneurs only imagine—it was acquired by Bevy, a prominent software firm specializing in community engagement solutions. Their initial connection had been forged at a 2023 conference, and what began as a potential partnership steadily evolved into acquisition talks. After more than half a year of negotiation, the deal was finalized. Today, Intros AI forms part of Bevy’s ecosystem, helping major companies connect their most engaged customers, fostering networks of learning, collaboration, and loyalty.
At the time of the acquisition, David was serving as CEO of Intros AI and paying himself an annual salary of roughly $100,000. Following the merger, he transitioned into a new role as an AI product manager at Bevy, where he continues to apply his entrepreneurial vision within a larger corporate framework. The new position also offers enhanced compensation, including performance bonuses, a financial reward that acknowledges years of dedication and personal investment.
Looking back, David remains steadfast in his belief that leaving college twice and dedicating himself fully to his startup was the right decision. He understands that meaningful achievements rarely come without sacrifice—hours of isolation, forgoing typical social milestones, or sustaining extreme workloads. But he also knows that such sacrifices are the foundation upon which innovation stands. In his view, to make a lasting contribution to the world, one must accept both the costs and rewards of that pursuit, embracing uncertainty as part of the creative process.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/dropped-out-of-college-ai-founder-sacrifice-trade-off-cancer-2025-11
