Meet Ruben Harris (CEO) and Timur Meyster (Chief Product Officer), the visionary co-founders of Outrival, an AI-powered platform redefining how universities engage with prospective students. What began as a mission to help people navigate career decisions through their first company, Career Karma, has evolved into a cutting-edge solution that uses conversational AI agents to streamline admissions processes. Outrival enables universities to manage and automate thousands of calls, texts, and emails – while keeping the human touch intact.
With a decade-long friendship and a shared dream that brought them from Atlanta to Silicon Valley on one-way tickets, Ruben and Timur built Outrival not just as a business, but as a movement. Their AI agents work alongside human admissions staff, providing 24/7 support, contextual handoffs, and scalable communication for institutions aiming to better serve prospective students.
In this &Member Spotlight, Ruben and Timur share the power of community, the challenges and clarity that come with entrepreneurship, and why they chose Ampersand Studios Miami as their HQ for building the future of AI in higher ed.
Who are you and what do you do?
We’re the co-founders of Outrival. I’m Ruben Harris, CEO, and I’m Timur Meister, Chief Product Officer. We help universities transform how they manage admissions using conversational AI agents that can answer questions, make and receive calls, send texts, and support students through the entire enrollment process—24/7.
What inspired you to start Outrival?
It started with our previous company, Career Karma, where we supported millions of users with career guidance. We had to build internal technology to keep up with the demand, and eventually that tech became Outrival. We realized we could solve a broader problem in higher education by making student communication more scalable and personalized.
What’s something people don’t know about you?
-Ruben: I was part of an executive program at Disney and got to be one of the seven dwarfs at Disneyland.
-Timur: We both moved to Silicon Valley on one-way tickets, without knowing exactly how we’d start a company—but we made it work.
What inspires you to get out of bed in the morning?
Creating generational opportunity. It’s about more than wealth—it’s about giving our families and communities the ability to dream freely and live fully.
What challenges have you faced, and how do you push through them?
Like any startup, we’ve faced a lot. But when you’re aligned with people you trust and love working with, nothing feels impossible. We see every challenge as a way to grow stronger—and rule #1 is: don’t die. Survival and evolution are part of the story.
How do you spark creativity when you’re in a rut?
-Timur: Sometimes you just need to play a different game. Lean into your strengths and choose paths that give you energy instead of draining it.
-Ruben: Talking things out with people we trust, especially in the startup community, helps bring clarity.
Where do your best ideas come from?
Quiet moments, reflection, and conversations with other founders. We get inspired by insights from outside our own industry too—it helps us think bigger.
Why did you choose Ampersand Studios as your workspace?
The moment we stepped into Ampersand, we knew it was the right place. Great natural light, collaborative energy, and a team that supports even our wildest ideas. We’ve already expanded our footprint here and love being surrounded by other startups.
How has community impacted your journey?
Community is everything. You move at the speed of your relationships. Being around other driven people pushes us to grow and stay focused. Even if you don’t know everyone here, just seeing others build every day is motivating.
Are you early birds or night owls?
-Ruben: Ruben: Depends. Early bird when it comes to work or exercise.
-Timur: Same, whatever fuels the mission that day.
Where can people connect with you or see a demo of Outrival?
-Website: www.outrival.com
-Email: ruben@outrival.com | timur@outrival.com
Or stop by Ampersand Studios in Miami and say what’s up!
Bonus:
If you’re a provost, president, or VP of enrollment at a university, Ruben and Timur want to hear from you. Outrival is reshaping student communication—and they’re ready to show you how.
