Building at the intersection of community, focus, and leadership.
I'm learning by doing, not waiting. Every project here represents something I've actually built, led, or shipped.
I'm Ishaan Kodarapu, a high school student who cares deeply about focus, responsibility, and leadership. I've learned most of what I know by building real things (a startup, a chess nonprofit, and Audacity to Start) while balancing school and life as a student.
This site is a collection of what I've built, what I've learned, and what I'm still figuring out.
Featured Work
Projects I've built and initiatives I've led
FocusMate
A product I'm building to help students improve focus, discipline, and confidence.
Explore FocusMatePuddletown
A chess community where I learned leadership by organizing programs, supporting students, and building mentorship.
Explore PuddletownAuthor
Author of Audacity to Start, a best-selling book on youth leadership and starting before you feel ready.
Explore the BookChess
The skill that taught me how to think ahead, recover from mistakes, and stay calm under pressure.
Explore ChessWhat Drives Me
Core principles that guide everything I do
Action Over Planning
Learning by doing, not waiting for the perfect moment
Service Over Self
Leadership is about serving others and building community
Focus & Discipline
Deep work and consistency create lasting impact
Humility & Growth
Mistakes are teachers, not failures
Starting Early
The audacity to begin before you feel ready
Real Impact
Building things that matter, not just talking about them
Why This Matters
I believe leadership is learned through action. Everything on this site represents something I've actually built, led, or shipped.
Not something I plan to do someday.