Shubh Malde is a Chicago Thinker staff writer. Previously a member of the class of 2025 at the University of Chicago, he is currently on leave after founding Arda, a venture-backed startup that takes him everywhere from Silicon Valley to West Africa. Shubh is also a keen artist, podcast host, African free trade advocate, and lover of 1960s–80s music. He lives in London, has Kenyan heritage and Indian origin, and is reachable at @shubhmalde and maldes@uchicago.edu.