Orbit for Students: a first-time builder's AI accountability app for students
By Thakur Prashanth · October 15, 2026 · 5 min read
A. Prashanth Reddy (BTF-009) had never opened a GitHub repository. He built Orbit for Students, an AI accountability app with Telegram nudges, now used by his hostel friends, his sister in the US and her friends.
At a glance
Product: Orbit for Students
Built by: A. Prashanth Reddy (BTF-009)
Background: A. Prashanth Reddy: 3rd year engineering, Sanjay Ghodawat University
Cohort: Build Theory Fellowship, Cohort 01 (BT-01)
Status: Live; used by hostel friends and family in India and the US.
Try it: orbit007.netlify.app
Who is Prashanth Reddy?
A. Prashanth Reddy (BTF-009) is from Telangana and studies at Sanjay Ghodawat University in Maharashtra, living in a hostel. He is the brother of Madhupriya Allam (BTF-008), who encouraged him to join after seeing what Build Theory did for her. He had never built a product or even opened a GitHub repository.
The problem
Prashanth likes setting goals and chasing them, and so do many of his friends. But students, especially in third year, juggle so much that goals get forgotten or never followed through.
Scope first
Before building, he spoke with several friends, checked which features would actually help, and set a focused MVP scope.
Building Orbit
He built Orbit for Students, an accountability engine where students set and track goals, with Telegram and AI integrated for personalised nudges. As a first build, it meant learning how to test and iterate a SaaS product with messaging integrations and AI, and finding the right AI model and how to use it. Seeing it work was an emotional moment.
Where it is now
Orbit is used by his hostel friends, his sister in the US and her friends. After the fellowship, he also built 3D visualisation software for a college project and shared it with the group, crediting the Build Theory frameworks.
What this story shows
A product can start from your own habits, but validating with peers makes sure it is useful beyond you. Real learning came from testing and iterating, not expecting the first build to be perfect.
Frequently asked questions
What is Orbit for Students?
An AI accountability app where students set and track goals and get personalised nudges through Telegram. It was built by A. Prashanth Reddy (BTF-009).
Had Prashanth built anything before?
No. He had never built a product or opened a GitHub repository before Build Theory.
Who uses Orbit?
His hostel friends, his sister in the US and her friends.
Build your own product in Cohort 02
This story is part of Build Theory Cohort 01: what 24 fellows built. Build Theory is a 30-day online fellowship, based in Hyderabad, where students and early professionals go from a real problem to a live product with 1:1 mentorship and AI tools. Any year, any branch. Check your readiness score or apply for Cohort 02.
- #orbit for students
- #student accountability app
- #goal tracking app
- #telegram bot ai
- #first product build
- #a. prashanth reddy
- #btf-009
- #build theory fellow stories
- #build theory cohort 01
- #student founders india
- #ai product building
- #build theory fellowship