From leaving school at age 18 without success in physics to, at 24, the founder of rocket engines for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Ashish Ranjan’s story is a tale of real-life drama. If you are an engineering student studying for exams or a person trying to break into core tech roles, it is very likely you have come across his material on YouTube or the Torq Talks or Momentum podcasts. We followed his story closely and also gave him career advice to friends who were having issues passing competitive exams. What we saw was a scientist turn into a Silicon Valley engineer and tech entrepreneur, which is nothing short of inspiring.
Educational Qualification: From defeat to a bronze medal.
Ashish Ranjan’s story is of a man who overcame a difficult beginning to achieve his goals. In his 12th board exams, he scored 53 out of 100 in Math and 61 out of 100 in Physics, which also included a failure in his 11th standard Physics exam. Also, he did not get into an IIT or NIT for his undergraduate studies. Instead, in 2016, he graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology (SMIT).
Also, he is known for his comeback, which people talked about for a while. He did very well to get a department medal at graduation with an amazing CGPA of 9.57/10. Also, he did the impossible to get into Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and got a Post Graduate Diploma in Nuclear Science and Engineering from the preeminent BARC Training School in 2018. Also, he did very well to secure an All India Rank of 10 (AIR-10) for the Research Assistantship Master’s program in Mechanical Design at IIT Bombay.
Professional Biography: Rocket Man who became an Entrepreneur.
After completion of his education, Ashish served as a Scientific Officer at the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), where he worked mainly on Fast Breeder Nuclear Reactors and heat exchanger designs. With a great love for aerospace, he went on to clear the very competitive ISRO ICRB 2018 exam, which he did very well in, to get an All India Rank of 4 (AIR-4). As an ISRO Scientist, he specialised in liquid propulsion systems, which included work on high-thrust rocket engine prototyping and flight readiness.
Ashish always had a wide range of interests, and what made him stay in one field for long was not the case. Later, he transitioned to the private tech sector, which saw him move to Silicon Valley to work on vehicle architecture and powertrain engineering for a next-gen electric vehicle company. In 2026 today, Ashish is known for his work as a career mentor, global speaker, the author of the very popular book The Boy Who Did Not Sign, and the founder of Raste, which is a tech startup that does advanced predictive maintenance technology for vehicle fleets.
Age, Height, and Physical Stats
Born in 1992 in Sep, Ashish Ranjan is turning 33 in 2026. While he is known for his great engineering skills, he is also a big fan of martial arts, which is a topic of his podcast. He is 5’8” (173 cm) tall and is very much into fitness, which goes with his very full plate as a startup founder and content creator.
Net Worth and Media Influence in 2026
In 2026, Ashish Ranjan is projected to have a net worth of between ₹2.5 crores and ₹5 crores (INR 600, which is $600K). Also, instead of a typical scientist’s salary, his income is from many sources. He is the owner of a large digital empire under the Torq4712 brand, which has hundreds of thousands of followers on many channels. His revenue comes from premium career coaching programs, from his very popular podcasts (Ashish Ranjan Talks and Momentum), the sale of his book, and equity in his predictive maintenance company Raste.
About the Author
