Barot said he was initially drawn to the human-centered design and development (HCDD) program because of his fascination with technology and the creation of digital projects, but his focus has evolved.
“HCDD has been the perfect amalgamation of design principles and development practice,” he said. “Over time, my passion has pivoted toward entrepreneurship, seeing it as a vehicle to apply my HCDD expertise to drive meaningful innovation and impact.”
As an undergraduate, Barot has interned as a junior software engineer at DriverSide.ai, formerly Lessly.io, and as a user experience researcher at Google.
“The insights and skills I garnered at Lessly.io have been invaluable in developing my own ventures,” he said. “And the knowledge I gained at Google has been instrumental in refining my approach to creating user-friendly digital environments and ensuring that the tools and solutions developed are not only functional but also intuitive and responsive to user needs.”
Barot served as president of the Nittany Entrepreneur Student Society and entrepreneurship adviser for the Nittany AI Student Society. He also worked as a technical consultant Penn State’s Small Business Development Center, where he helped Pennsylvania businesses to navigate an evolving digital landscape.
“These co-curricular roles have been integral to my personal and professional growth,” Barot said. “I honed my leadership skills and deepened my commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurial thinking within the student community.”
In 2023, Barot received the David Rusenko Entrepreneur-in-Residence Scholarship, which is awarded to IST students who have demonstrated entrepreneurial experience or involvement.
He is a founder and the chief executive officer of WeAreHousing, an all-in-one, privacy-respecting digital platform to help tenants find reliable, convenient and up-to-date housing.
“We prioritize bridging the information gap between tenants and landlords and emphasize a non-discriminatory approach that aligns with fair housing principles,” Barot said. “The tools and services we offer — such as property searches, lease understanding and roommate matching — are designed with user rights and privacy at their core.”
Barot said the Westin Scholar Award has further motivated him on his new entrepreneurial venture, SellMate.ai.
“With SellMate.ai, we focus on an AI-enhanced platform for streamlined cross-listing and optimized selling across major e-commerce marketplaces to equip users with efficient tools and analytics for online retail success,” he said.
The selection committee was impressed by Barot's entrepreneurship experience and his emphasis on designing and implementing privacy protections in digital platforms, according to Priya Kumar, assistant professor in the College of IST and committee chair.
"We were excited to select Nish as this year's Westin Scholar," she said. "He shows great potential for a fruitful career in data protection and privacy."