Today we’d like to introduce you to Nilakshya Rajora.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Hi, my name is Nilakshya Rajora, and I am the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of The Factor Foundation. In 2019, I sat on a wooden bed in India while my cousin described the disorder that had dismantled his life: hemophilia. By age three, he had lost both parents to the disease, living his own life under a constant medical shadow. That conversation shattered my childhood worldview. It made me realize that science isn’t just a classroom subject; it is a force that requires pioneers to steer it toward good.
This realization crystallized my passion for hematology, but I knew I couldn’t wait for a medical degree to take action. At 14, I founded The Factor Foundation. What began as a promise to my cousin has evolved into a global 501(c)(3) nonprofit, proving that youth are a “factor” for change in healthcare today.
To get where I am, I had to bridge the gap between student and executive. Today, I lead the organization’s teams across Finance, Operations, and Technology, helping conduct peer-reviewed research and interviewing international medical leaders. By elevating patient stories and highlighting breakthroughs, I’ve turned a personal conversation into a global platform. My mission is to ensure rare bleeding disorders are no longer “shadow” diseases, but a priority on the world stage.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has been far from smooth, primarily because being a teen founder in the medical space comes with a significant “credibility gap.” I often faced skepticism from stakeholders who viewed my mission as a school project rather than a professional 501(c)(3) organization. Overcoming this required me to be twice as prepared as my older peers, mastering both complex hematology and nonprofit operations to prove that youth-led doesn’t mean amateur.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Factor Foundation A NJ Nonprofit Corporation?
The Factor Foundation is a youth-led 501(c)3 nonprofit transforming the narrative around hemophilia through clinical research and grassroots advocacy. We specialize in digital storytelling, utilizing social media and interviews with global medical leaders and patients to bring international perspectives to rare bleeding disorders. What sets us apart is our hands-on impact; we host community events like volleyball tournaments and partner with local Hemophilia Treatment Centers (HTCs) to provide direct funding and volunteer support. I am most proud of our professional rigor, where youth-led teams manage everything from finance to tech to prove that age doesn’t limit organizational excellence. Our mission is to ensure these conditions are a global priority rather than “shadow” diseases, proving that young leaders are a sophisticated factor for change right now.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
While many see me strictly as a science-focused founder, they might be surprised by my deep passion for global affairs and international diplomacy. I recently had the honor of representing my organization at the United Nations, where I advocated for youth-based global leadership reforms to ensure young voices have a seat at the world’s most influential tables. This experience reinforced my belief that the future of hematology isn’t just about medical breakthroughs, but about using global policy to ensure no patient is left behind.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thefactorfoundation-sx7dcah.gamma.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_factorfoundation/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?shareActive=false&shareUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Ffeed%2Fupdate%2Furn%3Ali%3AugcPost%3A7442757805989658624&shareActorType=MEMBER
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3oQLe2QEqgzO60APEip_Aw
Image Credits
Dhilan Inamdar
