From College Dorm to D2C Exit: The Dev Taneja Story

Dev Taneja didn’t wait for graduation to start building. In his semester at UPES he turned an anime fan page into Anime Devta—a D2C brand that served 30,000+ customers across 12 countries and was acquired in October 2026. Now he’s back with Unjob.ai, an AI- freelance marketplace. This is the story of how a college student spotted a gap built a community- brand and dared to move on when the time was right.

The spark

Dev was already deep in the anime world—reviewing shows on YouTube and promoting brands merch.. He noticed something: fans loved anime but hated the prices and quality of what was available. So he asked himself a question: what if he could make affordable high-quality anime merch for Indian fans? That question became Anime Devta.

In November 2021 during his semester at UPES Dev made a bold call. He decided to start a startup from Dehradun— from home so no one would know if it failed. With ₹600 in his pocket Dev and his co-founder Himangshu Goswami launched what would become Indias first anime brand blending mythology with anime-style fashion.

Building something

Anime Devta wasn't just a store—it was a movement. Dev and Himangshu built a brand that gave anime lovers an identity. They sold Sanatan-themed anime tees, stickers and streetwear that felt different from anything out there.

Dev didn’t wait for perfection. He started by selling stickers in college cafes and mess halls. These small sales proved people actually wanted what he was making before he invested in inventory or a full product line.

The early days were tough. Dev worked on Anime Devta after college hours—from 6 PM to 12 AM—while managing his studies. He used WhatsApp automation for customer queries outsourced tasks to keep costs low and focused on what mattered: product quality and customer experience. This lean approach meant he could test designs gather feedback and iterate quickly without burning cash. Anime Devta’s secret weapon was its community.

Dev built content people waited for engaged in comments and turned fans into customers. The brand didn’t just sell merch—it gave anime fans a home. He encouraged customers to post photos wearing Anime Devta gear, created memes that resonated with anime fans and replied to DMs personally building real relationships. In three years Anime Devta grew from ₹600 to a ₹12 crore valuation. It served 50,000+ customers. Shipped to 12 countries.

Knowing when to move on

By 2025 Dev realized his dreams had outgrown the brand. Anime Devta had done what it set out to do: it built a community proved people wanted it and gave anime fans an identity.. The next wave was tech and AI. In June 2025 Dev announced he was closing Anime Devta to focus on building a tech company. He wrote on LinkedIn that it's hard to say goodbye to something you once called your dream. He knew the next chapter was bigger.

In October 2026 Anime Devta was acquired by Anil Chhikara and Sameer Sortur—closing a full-circle chapter. Dev’s decision wasn’t impulsive. He saw the D2C anime merch space getting crowded his personal interests had shifted toward AI and tech and Anil and Sameer saw value in the brand and wanted to scale it. By selling at the time Dev unlocked capital and freedom to chase his next vision.

The next bet: Unjob.ai

Unjob.ai is Devs answer to the future of work. It’s an AI-powered freelance marketplace where freelancers showcase skills through reels of CVs brands swipe right to hire for gigs in design, video, AI, tech and content and projects get executed using AI tools like GPT, Gemini, Claude and Midjourney. In October 2025 Unjob.ai raised a ₹50 lakh -seed round from Ruchi Rathor, CEO of Payomatix Technologies. By 2026 the platform had 2,000+ freelancers and 400+ brands onboard.

Dev’s vision is simple: make finding gigs easy as swiping right end the toxic 9-to-5 culture and give creators instant access to higher-paying work. The platform works by having creators upload video reels showcasing their skills using AI to match freelancers with relevant gigs letting brands browse reels and swipe right to hire instantly and providing built-in AI tools for freelancers to complete projects faster. This model cuts hiring time from weeks to minutes. Gives freelancers access to better gigs without gatekeepers.

What you can learn from this

Dev’s story has a few lessons if you’re thinking about starting something. First start before you’re ready. Dev launched Anime Devta in his semester away from home with no safety net. He didn’t wait for permission or perfect conditions—he just started. Pick one problem you can solve this week and sell to 10 people before building anything fancy.

Second validate with customers. He sold stickers in college before building a brand. Real sales, not surveys proved demand. Don’t ask friends if your idea is good. Ask strangers to pay for it. Third build community, not products. Anime Devta gave fans an identity—they didn’t just buy merch they belonged. That loyalty drove repeat purchases and word-of-mouth growth. Engage with your 100 customers personally and turn them into advocates.

Fourth know when to pivot. Dev closed Anime Devta not because it failed,. Because his vision had expanded. He recognized when the brand had completed its mission and moved to the wave. Regularly ask yourself if this is still the use of your time and if not, pivot. Fifth ride the wave. From D2C to AI-powered marketplaces Dev is always looking for the big shift. Unjob.ai is his bet on the future of freelance work and AI-driven hiring. Stay curious read about emerging tech and talk to founders in industries.

Finally culture fit matters more than pedigree. In 2025 Dev went viral for rejecting four IIT graduates from joining his startup. His reason was that something didn’t click. He values instinct, interpersonal chemistry and shared vision over degrees. Hire for mindset and culture not just resumes.

Why this matters

Dev Taneja’s journey shows that you don’t need permission to start. You need a problem solving a community to serve and the courage to pivot when the time is right. Anime Devta gave anime fans a home. Unjob.ai is now building a home for the generation of freelancers and creators. Dev’s story is proof that college founders can build, scale and exit—without waiting for graduation.

For students in India especially Dev’s journey is a blueprint. You don’t need an IIT or IIM tag to succeed. You don’t need lakhs in funding to start. You don’t need to wait for the time. You just need to start.

The road ahead

Dev is just getting started. With Unjob.ai’s -seed funding and early traction he’s positioning the platform to become one of the world’s biggest freelance marketplaces. His advice, to aspiring founders is that you don’t know where the path will take you. For Dev the path has taken him from anime tees to AI- hiring.. If his track record is any indication the next chapter will be even bigger.