JD AI-Copilot for grads

• 

  AI-Copilot for Grads

Inspiration

I’m Siddhartha Nagula, and this project is deeply personal. Like thousands of other international students, I struggled to find a job in the U.S.—especially during this tough recession, with widespread layoffs and an AI-driven job market in flux. So many recent grads in my community, despite their talent and hard work, found themselves without opportunities: not because they weren’t qualified, but because of a lack of job postings, constant market uncertainty, and the ever-evolving demands of employers. I experienced firsthand the anxiety of navigating OPT/CPT deadlines, endless applications, and the feeling of going it alone.

That’s why I took the initiative to build JD AI-Copilot for Grads—an all-in-one web app designed to help the entire international student and recent graduate community (and anyone jobless) take control of their careers, overcome obstacles, and find hope, guidance, and practical tools in one place.

What it does

JD AI-Copilot for Grads is a mobile-first Progressive Web App that empowers international graduates in the U.S. from degree completion to landing a sponsored job. It features:

• Personalized OPT/CPT visa timelines with alerts and calendar sync
• An AI-powered job board of OPT/H-1B-friendly employers
• Secure document vault with 1-click auto-fill
• AI resume and cover letter tools
• Voice-based mock interview practice with AI video feedback
• University/city-based community hub and meme feed
• Budget guide with Plaid integration
• Gamified referrals and wellness check-ins

How we built it

We built JD AI-Copilot using React, Tailwind CSS, and Supabase for authentication, database, and secure file storage. The AI features leverage OpenAI and Claude for resume parsing, cover letters, and chatbot support. We integrated ElevenLabs for lifelike mock interviews and Tavus for personalized video walkthroughs. RevenueCat manages our tiered subscriptions, while Plaid powers budgeting. The app is deployed on Netlify with a custom domain via IONOS, and we used Bolt.new and various sponsor APIs to rapidly prototype in under 10 hours.

Challenges we ran into

• Integrating multiple advanced AI APIs (Supabase, OpenAI, ElevenLabs, Tavus clone) while staying within usage limits and tight hackathon timelines.
• Designing a user experience that is powerful but also supportive and welcoming, recognizing the mental stress many grads face.
• Ensuring our job board and visa features are truly actionable and relevant for diverse, real-world scenarios.
• Managing secure notifications, data privacy, and seamless subscription flows.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

• Created a fully functional, mobile-first AI copilot that addresses real pain points for international students.
• Brought together a suite of sponsor APIs (OpenAI, Tavus, Plaid, RevenueCat) in a scalable, cohesive product.
• Built advanced features like AI-powered video feedback for interviews and instant document auto-fill in record time.
• Fostered an accessible, privacy-first, and supportive online community for students who need it most.

What we learned

• The power of building for your own pain points: empathy leads to real solutions.
• How to orchestrate and harmonize cutting-edge APIs into a single seamless user experience.
• That adding community, gamification, and wellness checks makes a huge difference for user engagement and retention.
• Building for international grads means focusing on trust, clarity, and proactive support at every step.

What's next for JD AI-Copilot for Grads

• Add support for more visa types and personalized onboarding for different countries.
• Expand AI-driven job matching, coaching, and mentorship.
• Launch a peer mentorship and alumni networking feature.
• Roll out language localization for a global audience.
• Partner with universities, employers, and support organizations to scale impact.
• Keep improving AI feedback and the user journey—so no student ever feels lost or alone in their career search again.

Built With

• algorand-(verifiable-credentials)
• bolt
• claude-api
• database
• elevenlabs-api-(tts/stt)
• firebase-cloud-messaging-(fcm)
• ionos-(custom-domain)
• netlify
• openai-api
• plaid-api
• react
• reddit
• revenuecat
• sendgrid
• storage)
• supabase-(auth
• tailwind-css
• tavus-api
• typescript