When most teenagers are worrying about exams or college, Bengaluru-based techie Ashish Jha was navigating the world of Alexa skills. At the age of 19, after creating an Alexa skill that gained over 200 users in just five days, Jha felt frustrated that he didn’t receive the same rewards that developers in the US, UK, or Germany did. In a move he now calls “childish,” he sent a direct email to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
From Frustration to Opportunity
In a post on X, Jha shared how his emotional email unexpectedly opened doors. He wrote, “Childish, I know, and the language—ughhh. But this email led the Head Dev Marketing Manager for Alexa to contact me personally, appreciate my work, give me contacts within Amazon, and within a month, they started offering perks in the Indian market to developers.”
The email, which Jha shared publicly, thanked Bezos for Amazon’s services and highlighted his own Alexa skill, Quiz of Thrones. He expressed disappointment that Indian developers weren’t receiving the same incentives as their international counterparts. His message was both earnest and candid, reflecting the voice of a young tech enthusiast determined to make an impact.
Perks, Recognition, and a Career Path
Jha’s outreach paid off quickly. The Head of Developer Marketing for Alexa personally acknowledged his efforts and connected him with key contacts at Amazon. Soon, India began receiving developer perks previously unavailable, and Jha’s involvement with Alexa’s developer community deepened over the next five years. In his X post, he summarized the journey simply: “The next five years, with me, @alexadevs, and the rest, is history you can Google.”
What started as a “childish” email became a turning point for Jha, highlighting how persistence, honesty, and a little bit of audacity can create opportunities in unexpected ways.
From Frustration to Opportunity
In a post on X, Jha shared how his emotional email unexpectedly opened doors. He wrote, “Childish, I know, and the language—ughhh. But this email led the Head Dev Marketing Manager for Alexa to contact me personally, appreciate my work, give me contacts within Amazon, and within a month, they started offering perks in the Indian market to developers.”
Lore time,
— Ashish Jha 🏡 🇮🇳 (@the_dream_saver) October 25, 2025
When I was 19, I cold emailed @JeffBezos, after I was pissed that my Alexa skill didn't win an echo device for getting a lot of users. 🤦🏻♂️
Childish I know, and the language ughhh 😂
But this email led to Head Dev Marketing Manager for Alexa reach out to me… https://t.co/4Ij5xBZNqX pic.twitter.com/iApRviGkVY
The email, which Jha shared publicly, thanked Bezos for Amazon’s services and highlighted his own Alexa skill, Quiz of Thrones. He expressed disappointment that Indian developers weren’t receiving the same incentives as their international counterparts. His message was both earnest and candid, reflecting the voice of a young tech enthusiast determined to make an impact.
Perks, Recognition, and a Career Path
Jha’s outreach paid off quickly. The Head of Developer Marketing for Alexa personally acknowledged his efforts and connected him with key contacts at Amazon. Soon, India began receiving developer perks previously unavailable, and Jha’s involvement with Alexa’s developer community deepened over the next five years. In his X post, he summarized the journey simply: “The next five years, with me, @alexadevs, and the rest, is history you can Google.”
What started as a “childish” email became a turning point for Jha, highlighting how persistence, honesty, and a little bit of audacity can create opportunities in unexpected ways.
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