Board of Advisory

Ramesh Raskar

Prof. Ramesh Raskar is the Founding Director of Kumbhathon since 2013. A renowned MIT professor and innovator, leads breakthroughs in imaging, AI, and health-tech. With 125+ patents and global impact, he champions transformative solutions in technology and society. He also leads the MIT Kumbhathon, a MIT research program in using Decentralized AI for a City-Stack

Ajay Bohora

Visionary co-founder of HDFC Credila, India’s largest private education loan lender. A leader in finance and strategy, he has dedicated his career to transforming educational accessibility. With an innovative approach to financial inclusion, he has empowered students to achieve their dreams. His work at HDFC Credila stands as a testament to his vision for bridging aspirations with opportunities.

Ashish Kataria

Director at Ashoka Buildcon Ltd., with over 20 years of expertise in infrastructure and strategic development. A visionary leader in highway construction, he has driven scalable projects and innovative solutions, transforming the industry. His work reflects a commitment to excellence and sustainable growth, making a significant impact on global infrastructure.

Ashwin Kandoi

CA turned entrepreneur and co-founder of Winjit, with over 20 years of experience in fintech, IoT, and AI. A passionate innovator, he has been instrumental in creating value-driven tech solutions and stakeholder-centric strategies. His leadership in developing cutting-edge technologies has driven growth and transformation across multiple industries. Known for his strategic vision, he continues to impact the tech ecosystem, fostering sustainable development and delivering impactful results.

Amit Kothawade

Manager - Innovation & Startup at Maharashtra State Innovation Society, with a focus on driving transformative innovation and fostering dynamic startups across the region. With a strategic approach, he leads impactful projects and initiatives that empower entrepreneurs and create sustainable economic growth. By forging strategic partnerships and guiding effective governance initiatives, he plays a key role in transforming the innovation landscape, promoting collaboration, and advancing economic development.

Sudhir Kadam

Sudhir Kadam is a seasoned venture builder and board advisor with extensive experience guiding startups from early stages to successful exits. A serial entrepreneur, he has been pivotal in founding and scaling companies, achieving exits including one to Softbank. Specializing in growth strategy, GTM innovation, and exit planning, Sudhir has led cross-border deals and acceleration programs globally. He is also a keynote speaker and guest lecturer, empowering entrepreneurs with strategic insights in transformative technologies.

Founders at KIF

Sandip Shinde

A seasoned innovation coach and leader with over 17 years of experience, specializing in social innovation and technology programs. As Head of Alliances at Digital Impact Square, he mentors early-stage entrepreneurs and fosters sustainable social enterprises.

Girish Pagare

With over 30 years of expertise, he excels in industry leadership, mentoring innovation projects, and driving social and technological progress. A certified valuer, columnist, and faculty, he supports startups, guides NGOs as a trustee, and champions sustainable development.

Mentors and Leaders

Vandana Sonwaney

Director at Symbiosis Institute of Operations Management

Bal Mahale

Senior Director at
Akamai Technologies

Chris Pease

CEO at AgentiCorp

Raj Simhan

Advisor at MIT Media Lab

John Werner

Managing Director at Link Ventures

Nikhil Joshi

Managing Director at SAPAT

Arjunn Panchal

Start-Up Coach


Mrunalini Jagtap

Pharma and Life Sciences leader


Mrunal Gawade

Founder & CEO HOLOFIL

Sri Jagannathan

Technology Entrepreneur - Ocean Engineer

Nitin Naik

Founder, Pinnacles Capital

Sanjay Wadge

Founder, Eternity Systems, Inc.

Makrand Velankar

Head, Entrepro Pre-lncubation Center (EPIC)

Srinivas Rajagopalan

Principal Product Manager, Protegrity

Sanjay Kimbahune

Senior Scientist, TCS Research

Tushar Jagtap

Head, Supply Chain, Sahyadri Farms

Sachin Pachorkar

Associate Professor

Bhanu Prasad MN

Coach, Impact Innovation & Entrepreneurship, DISQ

Nishad Halkarni

Co-founder, Sensedose Technologies

Abhinav Agarwal

Product owner, Talan

Team

Nikhil Deore

Innovation Coach
An innovation coach passionate about startups and entrepreneurship, Nikhil fosters impactful ideas at Digital Impact Square. His expertise spans management, marketing, and driving community collaboration.

Maithili Sonar

Design Coach
A seasoned design coach at TCS with over 8 years of experience, Maithili excels in human-centric problem-solving. She has led UX engagements, mentored designers, and driven impactful solutions across industries.

Uutkarsha Patankar

Research Associate
A public policy researcher and educator with expertise in sustainable development, competitive exam preparation, and community welfare initiatives, emphasizing education and environmental conservation.

Prachi Salani

Marketing and Branding Lead
An innovative brand strategist and coach, Prachi excels in connecting startups with audiences through impactful storytelling. Leading branding at Digital Impact Square, she crafts growth-driven solutions.

Gokul Tungar

Ecosystem Lead
Gokul leads incubation and innovation ecosystems at Digital Impact Square, using design thinking to solve social challenges. With a marketing MBA, he empowers communities through strategic solutions.

Rishabh Vora

Innovation Ecosystem Manager
An advocate specializing in intellectual property and public policy, with experience as a Chief Minister Fellow and Legislative Assistant to a Member of Parliament, working on developmental projects.

Niket Patil

AI/ML Expert
Niket Patil, an AI/ML engineer and researcher, specializes in data science, generative AI, and big data analytics. Pursuing a CS degree, he excels in Python, ML models, and full-stack development.

Rucha Kulthe

Website Developer
Passionate UI/UX Designer & Frontend Developer, creating intuitive, visually engaging, and user-friendly web experiences. Specializing in responsive design, modern frameworks, and seamless interactions.

Pratik Mali

Website Developer
Enthusiastic Full Stack Developer, with expertise in backend systems and frontend design. Proficient in creating scalable, efficient, and secure applications that feature clean code and smooth user interactions.

Divyam Verma

AI Intern
Divyam Verma, a B.Tech student in Bioinformatics & Data Science, excels in data analytics, ML, and SQL. Passionate about insights and innovation, he's eager for internships to apply his skills effectively.

Lavisha Hemnani

Associate
Lavisha Hemnani, an MBA graduate in Business Analytics, excels in KYC, risk management, and data analysis. With experience at Tide and WNS, she thrives in compliance, research, and process optimization.

Pragati Deore

Jr. Marketing Manager
Pragati Deore is a BCA student skilled in multimedia, web development, video editing, and social media management. Proficient in Figma, problem-solving, and community management for marketing success.