Start-ups Speakers in India

Sanjeev Bikhchandani, the trailblazer of Indian startups and co-founder of InfoEdge (Naukri.com, Jeevansathi.com,  Shiksha.com, 99acres.com, and beyond) is a distinguished entrepreneur. His accolades include the "Ernst and Young – Entrepreneur of the Year" award (2008) for transformative business leadership, along with the Dataquest Pathbreaker Award and the Teacher's Achievement Award for Business. Beyond Info Edge, he's associated with Ashoka University and has a background with The Pioneer, HMM, and Lintas. Bhikchandani served as TiE Delhi's President and on the Global Board of Trustees. His contributions extend to FICCI's National Executive, AIMA's National Council, and chairs NASSCOM's Internet Council. Sanjeev is a multifaceted leader, recognized for shaping the landscape of online businesses in India and contributing significantly to the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Having spent nearly three decades in the IT industry, Manoj Mittal is one of today's most charismatic Business Leaders. A foundation's persistence is crucial to the performance of Digital Transformation and having a centered leader at the forefront is critical. Unquestionably, Manoj is steering a transition with a large-scale, corporate vision that embraces Digital Innovation. Manoj is an energetic, innovative and a charismatic leader with over 28 years in the IT industry. Throughout the career, he has been a catalyst in transforming the organizations. A member with several non-profit bodies and organizations like IEEE, TiE, WWRF, IFCCI, ITU-APT, Venture Catalyst, he also handholds a few startups on voluntary basis.

Janani Liyanage is an Enterprise Agile Coach at Virtusa, serving teams, leadership, and clients to discover the Best Version of Agility by helping them with a vision to harmonize the process with organization strategy, structure, and culture. With over 14 years of industry experience as Senior Software Engineer, ScrumMaster, Agile Consultant, and Enterprise Coach, she has been able to transform more than 15 programs to agile ways of working and has trained more than 500+ people from Sri Lanka, India, Vietnam, UK, Sweden and US.

A Transformational Leader with Overall 20+ years of experience in IT industry and a start-up mindset. Spear headed solution & strategy, business case derivation, deal phase negotiations and end to end outcome based implementation for multiple strategic large business, IT and digital transformations for Clients in Europe, USA and APAC. Distinction of interacting with and managing CXO level global stakeholders & framing outcome driven road map through strategic workshops at CxO level, showcasing relevant new ideas and technology, incubating ideas and offering cross industry solutions. A woman leader with a strong focus on building a green planet through Agritech and tech driven impact on larger societal changes, through women empowerment and financial independence.

Major Deepak Iyer is India’s most famous Special Forces speaker in the corporate space. He has the rare combination of being a Special Forces officer from the same Unit that did the surgical strikes in 2016, a former McKinsey consultant, an IIM-Ahmedabad and Columbia University trained MBA, a certified Yoga instructor, and an Executive Coach and Leadership Facilitator. His range of experiences and expertise come together to deliver a unique, unmatched perspective to what drives health and world-beating performance within any organization or team or business leader. Major Deepak has been a keynote speaker across dozens of marquee organizations that include names such as Tata Steel, ISRO, IIM-Bangalore, ITC, IBM, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, IDBI and Dr Reddy's. He has consistently been rated an Outstanding Speaker because of his ability to fire up enthusiasm, inspire visionary thinking and create drive for performance.

Upasana is now the leading force and face at MobiKwik. Stanford Graduate Taku launched MobiKwik in 2009, one of the country’s first fintech start-ups and a major player today and has expanded it into payment gateways, digital wallets, digital lending, instant credit, mutual funds, and peer-to-peer lending. Taku’s idea all along has been to offer financial services to the rest who are left behind or ignored by banks and NBFCs. Now, she serves 140 million registered users in India with a merchant network of over 4 million. She has been felicitated as First female Fintech founder felicitation from President of India in 2018 and was featured in Forbes Asia's 25 Power Businesswomen list in 2019 and Kotak Wealth Hurun – richest self-made women in India list.

Deepak, a distinguished technocrat, earned accolades as a Top 10 Agropreneur in 2019 and a Technology Pioneer in 2018 by the World Economic Forum. Leading Digi Agri, he employs cutting-edge technologies like Machine Learning, Blockchain, and IoT to enhance farmer productivity globally. His initiatives have significantly boosted farmer income and sustainability while reducing cultivation costs. As a member of the World Economic Forum's Expert Panel on Digital Transformation, Deepak advises private and public organizations on agriculture and technology. A renowned speaker, he has graced esteemed events like the Global Agriculture Summit in Greece and the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of Champions. Additionally, Deepak is a published author on Business and Technology, further solidifying his influence and expertise in the field.

Sujit is the Founder of The Farmer’s Grid, focused on services and offerings that help boost farmers income sustainably by use of modern methods best practices new business models and technology — delivered online and offline via its collaboration, consultation, education and career start up solutions. TFG engages with FPOs, Farmers, students and anyone planning to enter agriculture. Sujit has 30 years of experience in Investment Banking and Equities with leading global investment banks. 12 years of experience in on-the-ground primary research in rural India among farmers and villagers. He has written two books on farmers and farming - A Wall Street View of Rural India (June 2020) and Agribusiness and Technology - Revolutionizing the future of farming (November 2021). Invited as speaker by leading universities,think tanks, large corporates and agritech companies.Recently presented suggestions to senior cabinet ministers.

I am on a mission to set up a "Business" in every small and middle-class household of my country. I believe each one of us can improve our standard of living and earnings with guided "Branding, Marketing and Sales Techniques. As an experienced corporate professional and a Professor, Kumail Kirmani is your ideal "go-to" MBA Guide. He consults and career guides students and working professionals on choosing the right MBA course and the right B-school across the globe. Thus, saving a lot of their #time and #money. #BeenThereDoneThat

Muralidharan Sridharan has several years of Director/CEO global work experience in Different industries: Automotive, Power tools, car multimedia, engineering in different markets across India, SAARC ,Germany, Europe (MEA, ASEAN). He has led different functions like general management,sales/ marketing, distribution, Supply chain,business units. He is acknowledged as an expert in distribution and marketing of engineering products,particularly automotive aftermarket. He has a strong track record of turning business around, recording high profitable growth and setting start ups by cost reduction,vendor development and market expansion measures. He has experience of handling the full range of auto components from fuel injection to spark plugs to electricals across all channels from two wheelers to cars to HCV to earth moving. Direct involvement with almost all OEMs in India and Europe

Amit is a seasoned VP of Product Management with over 13 years of experience in banking, payments, and real estate. Currently at Paytm Payments Bank, he leads product strategy and execution, focusing on digital transformation to drive business growth and enhance customer experiences. Amit’s expertise includes NeoBanks, digital banking, and fintech, with a proven record in agile development and user experience design. He has successfully managed product launches and digital strategies at Magicbricks, IDFC FIRST Bank, and IIFL, emphasizing digital transformation across product offerings. Amit’s skills in strategic planning, team development, and business development contribute to his role in advancing innovative solutions and optimizing product portfolios.

For over three decades, I've collaborated with entrepreneurs, corporations, individuals, government bodies, and international ministries, specializing in entrepreneurship, technology incubation, acceleration, innovation, technology transfer, and leadership. I've facilitated workshops for technology transfer managers, empowering them to execute effective technology transfers. Additionally, I've provided mentorship and guidance to entrepreneurs, researchers, and academics, aiding them in commercializing their research across North America, Southeast Asia, and India.

My expertise has benefited participants worldwide, including renowned organizations such as British Telecom, The Institute of Leadership & Management (UK), Shell, ExxonMobil, and DHL. I've served as a judge and mentor in prestigious business plan competitions like the HSBC Business Plan Competition, McKinsey's Business Plan Competition, and IIT Bombay.
 

Aditi Bhosale-Walunj is the Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Repos Energy, a Ratan Tata backed start-up that has developed first of its kind smart mobile re-fueling stations. Repos Energy Solutions employs smart technologies to offer smart solutions in diesel distribution. Today, Repos boasts a prestigious clientele, the likes of Larsen & Toubro, Tata Group, Mahindra Rise, Schindler, JW Marriott Hotel, Phoenix Mall, The Westin Hotel, and GE, to name a few.  Aditi is one of the very few women in the field of the Petroleum industry. She believes that there are no conventional and unconventional forms of businesses. Blessed by her family for all the challenges she wanted to brace in life, Aditi has always been curious about the world, tried different career paths, and is driven by purpose and dreams to change the world.

Hari wears different hats: Author, Angel Investor, Advisor to Founders/VCs, Mentor at Start-up Accelerators, Columnist, and Former CHRO Bigbasket, among others. He has spent the last 22 years as part of leadership teams of startups like Virtusa, Amba Research, and Taxi4Sure and participated in the growth journeys of 5 startups, in 5 different sectors, and each of these startups saw successful exits. At each of these startups, Hari has been a part of the Management Team and played a key role in shaping their growth and exit. He has been a prolific author and has authored 7 books on different themes, and each of these books has been a category leader. He is working towards helping start-ups build and scale their businesses sustainably through a combination of the right human capital interventions, strategic clarity, story telling, org culture, founder growth & evolution and strategic execution.

Divya is an International Public Speaking Award Winner 2019 and Chief Executive Officer of an Award winning Content, Media and Marketing Agency. She is also the Host of a Global Business Show primarily meant for Professionals and Entrepreneurs on LinkedIn and invites Leaders from 100+ countries to feature on Value Addition Global Show with over 150 episodes on 20 themes so far. She has trained and coached C-Suite executives from Top MNCs on boosting their Visibility and Credibility online and offline.

Amitesh Sinha, a seasoned finance professional with over a decade of global experience, leads the Corporate Venture Capital & Vedanta Spark program at Vedanta Resources Limited. With a background in finance, accounting, and corporate strategy, he drives innovation partnerships with startups leveraging transformative technologies. Amitesh, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (ACA), and Company Secretary (ACS), also serves on the Regional Advisory Board for the Water and Energy for Food Grand Challenge, evaluating innovations across South and Southeast Asia. As an active angel investor in startups and a passionate advocate for entrepreneurship, he fosters innovation ecosystems. Amitesh's expertise extends to guest lecturing at prestigious institutions like IIM, MDI, IIFT, and NMIMS, where he shares insights on finance, innovation, and entrepreneurship, enriching the next generation of business leaders.

With over 20 years of experience as a tech entrepreneur and investor, Anupam has built and scaled several successful companies and brands in the tech and D2C sectors, such as Shaadi.com, Makaan.com, and Mauj Mobile. He is the Founder & CEO of People Group, a well-renowned operator and investor in tech and D2C companies, including @Shaadi.com, the world's leading matchmaking company. Anupam is passionate about exploring new opportunities, supporting founders, and challenging the status-quo. He is also a Shark at Shark Tank India, where he invests in and mentors aspiring entrepreneurs. He has invested in over 200 tech and brand startups, ranging from Ola, Druva, Rupeek, Animall, Agnikul, FarEye, NxtWave, Quizzez, and several D2C companies like Skippi, Hair Originals, Zillionaire, & Whatsup Wellness. 

Viral has nearly two decades of experience in leadership roles across industries and geographies. Viral has been at the forefront of building quick-commerce in India: he built Zepto from 0 to ~$1B in sales and helped raise over $500M from A+ global investors. He was also part of Uber's leadership team that built both ridersharing and food delivery businesses in India that played a role in the largest ever Tech IPO. Prior to spending a decade in consumer internet businesses in India, Viral was part of the Aerospace manufacturing industry in the US that counted Boeing and Airbus as its customers.  Viral holds an MBA from INSEAD. He is endorsed by the UK Government as a Global Tech Leader, thereby being awarded Residency to the UK.

Mr. Sandeep Sinha is an excelled with over 10+ Years of Experience in Artificial Intelligence Domain. He has a Medical Family background and himself an experienced geek from Bio-tech Division. He is the central Pivot behind the functionary of Arficus and lead the business to leaps and bounds of growth making a multi-million dollar business with expanse of more than 10+ countries. He is an industry veteran and spokesperson of India Government towards making a Responsible AI and Providing Enhanced Use Cases of Generative Artificial Intelligence spree across the Globe. With his Educational background from Top Institution of India alongwith with professional Expertise in Fortune 500 Companies whwre he held a portfolio of 2+ billion projects. A perfect Industry veteran for the Buzz of Artificial Intelligence

Ravi, a seasoned Entrepreneurship Evangelist, Startup Expert, and Govt. Advisor, curated and advised for Shark Tank India's launch. As a 2x TEDx Speaker and an alumnus of the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), he's a beacon in the entrepreneurial landscape. Ravi champions Indian entrepreneurship globally, sharing insights at top startup events and academic institutions like IITs and IIMs. With over a decade of experience, he's trained over 2,00,000 aspiring entrepreneurs and influenced policies through his expertise in sectors like Angel Investment, Venture Capital, and Government Relations. Ravi's journey from a Jharkhand village to entrepreneurship embodies resilience, fostering innovation and change in society and business.

Anirban Ganguly is a seasoned technology entrepreneur and catalyst marketer with over 25 years of experience driving business growth, market access, and brand success. With a proven track record of turning ideas into scalable and repeatable products, Anirban ensures the right unit economics for sustainable outcomes. He is an expert in leading cross-functional and multi-geography teams across Asia and EMEA markets. Anirban's expertise spans the TMT (Telecom, Media, and Technology) sector, and he has significantly contributed to the success of technology startups in areas like 5G, Med-Tech, EdTech, and Mar-Tech, as well as in the FMCG industry. His innovative approach and leadership have fostered thriving ecosystems of growth and development, making him a key player in the technology and marketing landscape.

Thiru is a seasoned coach and sales strategist dedicated to empowering business leaders and organizations. In coaching, he helps leaders enhance self-awareness, transform limiting beliefs, and achieve clarity on challenges or goals. Leveraging CLI’s 46 Mind Kinetics methods, Coacharya’s models, and techniques from NLP and Transactional Analysis, Thiru enables leaders to cultivate executive presence, increase influence, and adopt a coaching leadership style.

In sales, Thiru brings over 25 years of expertise, having sold technology solutions to more than 1,000 corporations. He collaborates with organizations to define effective strategies, optimize processes, and elevate sales performance. His proficiency in deal coaching, negotiation, and target achievement drives impactful results.

Thiru’s unique blend of coaching and sales acumen equips leaders and teams with the tools to thrive. Passionate about sharing his experience, he is committed to fostering growth and unlocking potential in individuals and businesses alike.

Rahul Narvekar, a graduate of Harvard Business School, IIM Calcutta, and ESSEC Business School Paris, embodies resilience and determination. Raised in Mumbai's lower-middle-class, he overcame adversity with unwavering resolve. From humble beginnings, Rahul ventured into various jobs, learning crucial business lessons along the way. His journey, marked by hardships and triumphs, shaped his optimistic outlook on life. As a renowned speaker, he has graced prestigious platforms such as the UN, Harvard Business School, and TED, inspiring audiences worldwide. Rahul, a father to a son and owner of three dogs, finds solace in running and adventurous endeavors, including conquering the Everest Base Camp despite battling sleep apnea. His story is a testament to the power of perseverance and belief in the beauty of dreams. Through every challenge, Rahul's effervescent smile and undying optimism shine, proving that resilience knows no bounds.

An author & mentor affiliated with prominent organizations such as the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN), Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), and Maharashtra State Innovation Society (MSINS). Since 2010, Umesh has leveraged his extensive experience in the tech industry to guide and empower 4.5 lacs aspiring entrepreneurs, startups, and professionals. He plays a pivotal role in fostering innovation, promoting entrepreneurship, and driving sustainable growth initiatives within these esteemed institutions. Umesh's dedication to nurturing talent and fostering a culture of innovation underscores his commitment to shaping the future of the tech landscape in India and beyond.

Ajeet Khurana was the CEO of Zebpay and is fondly recognised as an experienced CEO with a demonstrated history of working in the fintech industry. He is especially skilled in building teams, ensuring performance, scaling, digital strategy, planning, and negotiation. He is also an angel investor and mentor. Ajeet is bound to work best in international, growth-oriented, entrepreneurial settings. Before working with Zebpay, he was the head of the Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Committee in the Internet and Mobile Association of India.

Gopal, a gold medalist from IIT-BHU, joined Physics Wallah (PW) as a founding team member, helping it grow from 30 members to over 15,000. He established and scaled PW's operations, gaining insights into startup development, business scaling, and team leadership. Previously he was a mentor at Upgrad, specializing in comprehensive career guidance and entrepreneurial development for corporate professionals providing insights into career advancement and corporate networking. His journey underwent a transformative shift at Ola, India's fastest-growing startup, where he gained expertise in business operations, data-driven decision-making, and strategic growth. He also co-founded Night Panda, a profitable night food business. Seeking new challenges, Gopal previously played a dynamic role in Avail Finance, building operations, developing an analytics team, and setting up auxiliary functions, eventually becoming Director of Business Strategy and Analytics. Today, he shares his expertise and passion, helping others navigate their paths to success.

Mantha is an accomplished entrepreneur and certified coach with extensive experience in entrepreneurship, small business development, and coaching. Founder of UKM Spower Solutions Private Limited, he has played a pivotal role in the success of several companies across diverse industries. With over 250 clients (40% women) and 1000 coaching hours logged, Mantha has guided startup entrepreneurs and executives preparing for leadership roles.

His coaching style is deeply personalized, focusing on each client’s unique skills, experiences, and goals. Known as an interactive enabler, he empowers individuals to achieve their professional dreams with practical tools and motivating support. Mantha holds ACSTH and ACTP certifications and is a PCC credential holder, underscoring his commitment to excellence in coaching. Passionate about fostering entrepreneurial spirit, he is dedicated to helping clients navigate their career journeys and achieve lasting success.

As a seasoned entrepreneur and a fervent enabler of the startup ecosystem, Mittu Tigi brings over 10 years of dedicated experience in nurturing startups, understanding their unique challenges, and contributing to their growth strategies in India. With a keen interest in fostering responsible entrepreneurship, Mittu believes in its power to address and solve the nation's pressing problems.
Through various leadership roles, including CEO at AIC IIITK, Director at Merstra Foundation, and State Chapter Lead at Headstart Network Foundation, Visiting Faculty at XIME Kochi,  Mittu has demonstrated a commitment to empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Sonal Mehta is a seasoned corporate banker with over 20 years of experience in banking and finance. She collaborates with founders to support their growth journeys, specializing in branding, strategy, and fundraising.

She holds leadership roles in key panels, including serving as Vice President (North) for NAREDCO Mahi, where she launched the Proptech Accelerator platform "Dolphin Tank" in collaboration with India Network and Start-Up India. She is also a mentor for startups at IIT Guwahati and guides students under Delhi Government Schools' Master Blaster Program.

CE Shreekant Patil is the founder of PARENTNashik and a Chartered Engineer with the DGFT, with over 30 years of industrial experience. He mentors key Government of India initiatives, including MAARG, BHASKAR, Startup India, WEP, STPI, BIRAC, AYE, and the MeitY Startup Hub.

As a Certified LEAN, ZED, and TEV Consultant, Shreekant collaborates with organizations such as Euro Exim Bank, SIDBI, the African and Asian Development Banks, the United Nations, and the European Commission. He is also a Registered Trainer and Assessor under NSDC’s Skill India program and a Volunteer Startup Mentor for AICTE’s Vidyanjali Programme.

An Independent Director, Chartered Valuer, and Niryat Bandhu with Khadi India, he is part of the International Trade Council, IFERP, and the Global Harmonization Initiative. As a Sustainability Ambassador for UNSDG–SPSC, Shreekant actively supports global standards and sustainable development efforts.

Namrata Tatiya is an accomplished Company Secretary and Startup-Incubator Consultant specializing in legal and compliance advisory, with a strong focus on fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. Based in Raipur, Namrata has played a pivotal role in helping universities establish incubation centers, providing strategic guidance to promote startup culture in academic settings. Her expertise in legal frameworks and compliance regulations has enabled numerous startups to navigate the complexities of business formation and growth.

Namrata is also an experienced speaker, frequently conducting seminars and workshops on entrepreneurship, sharing her deep insights into startup ecosystems, legal requirements, and compliance strategies. Her passion for empowering entrepreneurs through knowledge and practical guidance has made her a sought-after consultant in the startup community globally.

With a comprehensive understanding of the legal challenges faced by startups and her commitment to nurturing innovation, Namrata continues to be an influential figure in the legal and entrepreneurial landscapes.