Bhargavi Panchangam
Co-FounderHi, I’m Bhargavi, a scientist by education, a technical lead by profession, a mother of two (ages 6 and 1.5), and co-founder of Rangoli Academy. I grew up in South India surrounded by music, dance, art, yoga, mindfulness, and a huge community. These weren’t just “activities” on a schedule. They were simply a way of life. They shaped how I think, how I learn, and how I move through the world with curiosity, calm and decisiveness. My journey later took me from my hometown to an IIT for my undergrad, and then to the U.S. for grad school, and today I work at Guardant Health building products using technologies to detect, manage and treat cancer. While science has been my professional path, culture has always been my compass. For over a decade, I stayed connected to that compass by volunteering with community organizations like AID and Asha for Education. I also kept the cultural spirit alive by organizing cultural and community events for children and families in San Francisco. Then I became a parent 6 years ago. And suddenly the question became deeply personal: How do we pass this richness of life to the next generation growing up far from roots? As a scientist, I realized something very powerful that shaped me. Classical music, dance, art, and mindfulness were not just our cultural traditions. They build neural pathways, creativity, emotional resilience, and confidence in children. That realization planted a seed. 🌸 Rangoli Academy was born from that seed. It’s a space where children and families can experience culture not as a lesson, but as a joyful living part of their world. On weekdays, I work on advancing cancer diagnostics. On evenings and weekends, I work on building Rangoli Academy. Both, in their own way, are about investing in a better future.
Rashi Bargoti
Co-FounderHi, I’m Rashi, a researcher by profession, a designer by training, a mother of two, and co-founder of Rangoli Academy. I grew up outside of India, navigating life between cultures and learning what it means to stay connected to a place that feels deeply yours, yet physically far away. That experience gave me a deep empathy for the second-generation immigrant journey. When I became a parent, the question became personal: How do we help our children feel connected to their culture while growing up thousands of miles away from it? And how do we make it something they love, not something they feel obligated to learn? My background is in research, program design, and experience strategy, and I’ve always been drawn to how people learn and how communities form. Rangoli Academy is where those ideas come together. It’s a space where children connect with culture through creativity, storytelling, art, music, and community. It’s about helping the next generation feel rooted in who they are while growing confidently in the world around them.