About the Guest
Sachin Soman is the founding engineer at Protex AI, a Y Combinator-backed startup that has raised over $50 million to prevent workplace deaths using computer vision and AI. Previously a formula race car engineer, Sachin now builds technology that saves lives in warehouses worldwide.
Y Combinator Backed Startup Preventing Workplace Deaths
with Sachin Soman, Founding Engineer at Protex AI
Duration: ~57 minutes
Episode Description
From formula race cars to saving lives with AI—Sachin Soman reveals how a "suspicious email" led him to become founding engineer at Y Combinator-backed Protex AI which has raised over 50 million dollars.
Discover the tragic accident that sparked the company, why he initially thought it was a scam, and the surprising ways AI is transforming workplace safety and software development. This is a conversation about building technology that actually matters—and the responsibility that comes with it.
Chapter Timestamps
How building race cars led to the startup opportunity
The suspicious email, Y Combinator during COVID, and a tragedy that changed everything
The warehouse problem no one was solving—and proof it actually works
What really happens when engineers use ChatGPT, Devin, and Claude
Why "vibe coding" fails and what experienced engineers do differently
Security nightmares, data leaks, and why "every regulation is written in blood"
Unconventional uses for AI and what everyone needs to know now
Key Topics Covered
- •From Formula Racing to Y Combinator: Sachin's unexpected journey from building race cars to joining a startup during COVID
- •The Tragedy That Started It All: The fatal warehouse accident that inspired Protex AI's mission
- •Computer Vision That Saves Lives: How AI detects safety violations in real-time across warehouses worldwide
- •AI Coding Tools Reality Check: ChatGPT, Devin, Claude—what actually works and what doesn't
- •The "Vibe Coding" Problem: Why inexperienced engineers struggle with AI-generated code
- •Security Nightmares: Real stories of data leaks and AI gone wrong
- •Regulations Written in Blood: Why workplace safety regulations exist and how AI is changing enforcement
- •Unconventional AI Uses: Creative ways Sachin uses AI that most people don't think about
Key Insights
- 💡"Every regulation is written in blood"Safety regulations exist because someone died. AI can help enforce these rules before tragedy strikes.
- 💡AI coding tools are powerful but limitedExperienced engineers use them effectively; inexperienced ones create security nightmares through "vibe coding"
- 💡Computer vision is solving real problemsProtex AI's technology has proven it can detect safety violations and prevent workplace deaths at scale
- 💡Data leaks happen fast with AIWithout proper security, AI tools can expose sensitive data in seconds—prevention is critical
Who Should Listen
This episode is essential for engineers using AI coding tools, founders building AI products, anyone in workplace safety or compliance, and developers concerned about AI security. If you're using ChatGPT or Claude to write code, this conversation will change how you think about it.
Links & Resources
- Protex AI - Y Combinator-backed workplace safety platform
- SonnyLabs Playground - Try out your own prompt injections (free!)