Entrepreneur RJ Jain establishes research fund to nurture student innovators

When RJ Jain is passionate about something, he sees it through. In his 30s, the University of Michigan alumnus has already had one tech company acquired by Google and gone on to found a second successful venture, the AI-powered savings platform Price.com, where he serves as CEO and CTO. 

But if you really want to get him talking, ask him about soil regeneration. 

Several years ago, Jain read and loved the book “Kiss the Ground,” which explores how regenerative agriculture and soil health can combat climate change.

Instead of letting it sit as a conversation piece on his coffee table, he contacted the author and offered his support. He wanted the message to reach as many people as possible. 

Jain became the executive producer of the award-winning Netflix documentary “Kiss the Ground,” directed by Josh and Rebecca Tickell and narrated by Woody Harrelson. More than 100 million people have watched it to date.

“Ultimately, most of the climate change solutions are very complicated. It sounds like a trillion-dollar problem, or it cannot be solved in our lifetime,” Jain acknowledges. What struck him about “Kiss the Ground” was the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of the solution it offered. 

“We know places that are barren, with no grass, tend to have much higher temperatures versus productive farmland,” Jain says. “So if we follow the ‘Kiss the Ground’ concepts, we can convert any barren land to productive farmland within a few years. That will lower the temperatures, rebuild the soil and create more food supplies.”

This might all seem far afield from founding a tech company, but Jain believes innovation and social impact share the same soil. Price.com was built on simplicity, cost-effectiveness and shifting human behavior to help the planet. 

Jain got the idea when he bought a new couch online, then immediately saw the same couch being sold, used, for half the price.

“I thought, if you buy slightly used, it’s great for the environment and you save money, as well,” Jain says. “That’s where Price.com started.” 

Since its inception in 2016 as a platform that offered online shoppers side-by-side comparisons of new and used items, Price.com has evolved into an all-in-one savings and product discovery platform that combines comparison shopping with coupons, cashback and price alerts. It operates across consumer categories, from prescription medications to fashion. There’s an element of charitable giving, too — shoppers can either deposit their savings into their bank accounts or donate them to a nonprofit. 

“I’m continuously focusing on improving our technology, which is AI powered,” Jain says. “The computer science knowledge I have, which I gained from Michigan, I'm now able to deploy in all these different places.” 

Michigan roots

Jain often finds himself thinking about how something could be streamlined or made more efficient. It’s a way of approaching the world that has been with him since he was a teenager.

“That’s usually how it starts,” he says. “And then I say, ‘Oh wow, I’m able to do it for myself. How would I do it for everybody else?’” 

Jain was raised in Kanpur, India, as part of a large family that has continued to be his greatest support system. When he moved to the U.S. at 18 to study computer science at U-M, it was his first time on a plane. 

U-M was where the kid who had always had a knack for computers built a search engine, in his free time, to connect students with university resources. Called Gobluelink, it became widely used across the student body. 

“That was the first time I realized I can make a big impact and have so much fun in the process,” he says. 

U-M is also where he fell for the agriculture-simulation game FarmVille — it turns out soil is a theme — and had the thought, “I want to work for the people who made this.” 

At U-M, Jain found the belief in himself to do just that, graduating early and accepting an offer from Farmville’s creator, Zynga. Now, 15 years and multiple ventures later, he wants to support the people and institutions that have shaped his journey. 

UMSI has played a significant role in his company, he says, even though he never attended. 

“My head of engineering came from UMSI, and he has been the most valuable contributor to the company outside of — or possibly even more than — me, especially with his AI knowledge and deep data science knowledge,” Jain says.

“That inspired me to join the board of the School of Information, because I care about innovation, and it’s producing graduates who are making such a massive impact.” 

Impressed by what he has seen from UMSI, he established the RJ Jain UMSI Research Fund, which will expand students’ access to research opportunities. This fall, UMSI launched an initiative supported by the fund, aimed at giving undergraduate and master’s students exposure to academic research in information science. 

The Research Experience Development Program, or REDP, pairs students with experienced UMSI researchers. Students join a scholarly community, receive close mentorship, and develop skills that prepare them for future ventures — whether they pursue doctoral studies and research careers or go into industry.

“At its core, this initiative will elevate students' critical thinking abilities, regardless of their chosen career paths,” says Kelly Kowatch, director of UMSI’s Engaged Learning Office.

They might, like Jain, find the seed of an idea they want to grow. 

“If this research program can advance students’ knowledge in AI and innovation, I think it will lead to some of the best people coming out of Michigan and impacting billions of people’s lives,” Jain says. 

His advice to UMSI students who want to create something: “Follow your gut. Follow your heart. Go and execute.” 

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RJ Jain, founder and CEO of Price.com, joins UMSI Advisory Board