My Journey Creating Loop AI

By Aakash Gnanakumar
Loop AI App Interface

The Problem I Wanted to Solve

Hey everyone! I'm Aakash, the creator of Loop AI. As a computer science student, I've gone through my fair share of technical interviews. The stress, the anxiety, the feeling of not knowing what questions to expect – we've all been there, right?

During my junior year, I was applying for summer internships and found myself struggling with interview preparation. I'd practice with friends, use generic interview prep websites, and even pay for mock interviews. But nothing seemed to address my specific background and the exact roles I was applying for. The questions were either too generic or completely irrelevant to my experience.

That's when I had the idea: what if there was an app that could generate interview questions specifically tailored to my resume and the exact job descriptions I was applying for? And what if it could provide personalized feedback on my answers?

The Lightbulb Moment

I realized that with advancements in AI, particularly large language models, it was now possible to create highly personalized interview questions and feedback based on specific documents like resumes and job descriptions.

Building Loop AI

I started building Loop AI in the winter quarter of my master's program at UCR. The core concept was simple: users would upload their resume and a job description, and the app would generate relevant interview questions. They could then record their answers and receive AI-powered feedback.

The technical implementation was challenging but exciting. I used:

  • React Native for the mobile app frontend
  • Firebase for authentication and data storage
  • OpenAI's API for generating questions and feedback
  • RevenueCat for handling subscriptions

After months of development, testing, and refinement, Loop AI was born. But the real test would be using it myself for my upcoming interviews.

Putting Loop AI to the Test: My Natera Interview Experience

In February 2025, I applied for a software engineering internship at Natera, a genetic testing company that was doing fascinating work in the healthcare space. I was thrilled when they invited me for an interview, but also nervous – this was exactly the kind of opportunity I'd been hoping for.

The interview process consisted of two rounds:

1

First Round: Technical Interview (30 minutes)

A 30-minute interview focusing on system design questions related to my experience with Loop AI and other projects. The interviewer asked detailed questions about my experience with machine learning and software engineering, particularly how I would apply these skills to bioinformatics problems.

2

Second Round: In-depth Technical Discussion (45 minutes)

A 45-minute session with two senior engineers. This interview went deeper into my technical background, with questions tailored specifically to how my experience could apply to Natera's work in genomic data analysis. There were no coding challenges – instead, they focused on my problem-solving approach and technical knowledge.

Questions Loop AI Generated That Were Asked in My Interview:

  • "Given your experience in developing a data-mining pipeline that automates the extraction of institutional holdings from SEC filings, how would you approach building a bioinformatics pipeline for analyzing genomic data?"
  • "What programming languages and tools would you use for a genomic data analysis pipeline, and how would you ensure reliability in a production environment?"

The second round was particularly challenging. Instead of coding challenges, they focused on deep technical discussions about how I would apply my experience to their specific domain. One question that stood out was: "Given your experience in developing a data-mining pipeline that automates the extraction of institutional holdings from SEC filings, how would you approach building a bioinformatics pipeline for analyzing genomic data?"

Thanks to Loop AI's feedback on my previous practice sessions, I had improved my ability to articulate complex technical concepts clearly and relate my past experiences to new domains. I was able to discuss how I would leverage different programming languages, statistical techniques, and ensure scalability and documentation.

One of the interviewers actually commented, "You have a very structured way of approaching problems. That's impressive." Little did they know that was a direct result of the feedback Loop AI had given me after multiple practice sessions!

The Result

A week after my final interview, I received the call – I got the internship at Natera! The hiring manager mentioned that they were particularly impressed with my technical knowledge and how I related my past projects to their specific needs.

This experience validated everything I believed about Loop AI. It wasn't just about practicing generic interview questions – it was about preparing for the specific questions that would be asked based on my background and the exact role I was applying for.

My Preparation Stats

  • Hours spent practicing with Loop AI: 12
  • Number of questions practiced: 35
  • Number of times I redid challenging questions: 8
  • Confidence level before Loop AI: 6/10
  • Confidence level after Loop AI: 9/10

What's Next for Loop AI

My experience with Natera has only strengthened my belief in Loop AI's approach. I'm now working on several exciting updates:

  • Industry-specific question banks for fields like healthcare, finance, and tech
  • Video interview practice with facial expression and body language analysis
  • Integration with popular job platforms to automatically import job descriptions
  • Group practice features for study groups and classes

I built Loop AI because I needed it myself, and it ended up being the key to landing my dream internship. Now, I want to help other students achieve the same success. Whether you're applying for internships, full-time positions, or graduate programs, Loop AI can help you prepare for the specific questions you'll face.

Technical Interview Tip

When preparing for technical interviews, don't just focus on solving problems – practice explaining your thought process out loud. Interviewers care as much about how you approach problems as they do about whether you get the right answer.

Try Loop AI Today

If you're preparing for interviews, I encourage you to give Loop AI a try. Upload your resume and a job description, and see how tailored practice can transform your interview performance.

I'd love to hear about your experiences with the app and any suggestions you have for improvement. Feel free to reach out at aakashg.apps@gmail.com.