Josh Roy

Josh Roy (born September 27, 2004) is a British-born entrepreneur, AI researcher, and innovator, recognized for his work in using AI and gene editing to address food insecurity in Africa. His AI-based solution to combat Cassava mosaic virus earned him the top prize at the 2024 TKS Global Hackathon. Roy has also spoken at international events such as London Tech Week and received a scholarship to the Villars Institute's ecopreneurship program.
==Early Life==
Josh Roy was born in Tooting, Wandsworth, London, and raised in Ascot and Lambeth, UK, in a family with roots in Kolkata. His mother is a singer-songwriter, and his father is a corporate professional. From a young age, Roy was drawn to seva (selfless service) and began volunteering at food banks, distributing meals to underprivileged elderly people before he turned 10. His early exposure to seva sparked his interest in solving food insecurity problems on a larger scale. 
Additionally, Roy displayed a keen interest in technology, entrepreneurship, and music. He began playing the tabla as a child, and his talent was recognized by Kuljit Bhamra MBE, a British musician and composer, who later became his mentor.
During his teenage years, Roy pursued an alternative education through The Knowledge Society (TKS), where he ranked in the top 0.06% of 31,298 applicants and earned the Unicorn Scholarship. This experience fostered his passion for technology and innovation.
==Career==
===2022–present: AI Innovations and Entrepreneurship===
In 2024, Josh Roy gained attention by winning the TKS Global Hackathon with his AI-driven solution to combat Cassava mosaic virus, a disease that affects cassava crops, a critical food source in the tropics. His project involved genetically modifying whiteflies to prevent the spread of the virus, potentially benefiting millions of people in Nigeria. His work was showcased at London Tech Week 2024.
Roy’s achievement led to a scholarship to the Villars Institute, where he participated in an ecopreneurship program, focusing on refining his approach to food insecurity.
===Notable Projects===
* Gene Editing for Cassava Mosaic Virus: Roy developed an AI-based tool to modify whiteflies to combat CMD, which won him the 2024 TKS Global Hackathon and brought recognition for addressing food insecurity in Africa.
===Public Speaking and Media Appearances===
Josh Roy has spoken at notable events, including:
* London Tech Week 2024 – presenting his gene editing and AI project.
He has been featured in publications such as Global Indian, which highlighted his achievements in AI and entrepreneurship.
==Tabla==
In addition to his work in technology, Josh Roy is also recognized as a tabla player. His mentor, Kuljit Bhamra MBE, discovered his talent when Josh was 12, and encouraged him to explore various musical genres using the tabla, including Indian classical music, heavy metal, and rap.
==Awards and Recognition==
* Winner, TKS Global Hackathon (2024)
* Global Entrepreneurs Award, Africa's Young Entrepreneurs (2024)
* Villars Ecopreneurship Program Scholarship (2024)
Category:2004 births
Category:Entrepreneurs
Category:Artificial intelligence researchers
Category:Innovation
Category:People from Tooting
Category:British people