National Entrepreneurship day: Entrepreneurs leading the charge for an Innovative Future
The integration of technology, including artificial intelligence (AI) and other innovative techniques, has been transformative in India. This evolution has given rise to a wave of entrepreneurship in the country. National Entrepreneur’s Day is a celebration of those who started with nothing and went on to build empires. Innovative ideas from bright minds have influenced not only our present but also will influence our future. With the advancement of time and technology, the industry has seen the introduction of new methodologies.
Here is how these new-age entrepreneurs are contributing to the transformation:
1. Aloke Bajpai – ixigo
Aloke Bajpai is the Co-Founder and Group CEO of ixigo. He holds a bachelor of technology degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, and a master of business administration degree from INSEAD. A travel technology veteran, Aloke worked in technology & product roles at Amadeus, France, prior to co-founding ixigo in 2007. Under his leadership, the ixigo group received backing from leading investors such as Govt. of Singapore (GIC), Sequoia Capital, Elevation Partners, and InfoEdge Ventures among other investors. Aloke has led ixigo’s growth to become India’s leading OTA for the ‘next billion users’. A big supporter of entrepreneurship, Aloke is an investor and advisor for several startups, a charter member of The IndUS Entrepreneurs (TiE) and a member of the new governing council of IAMAI. Aloke was honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award by IIT Kanpur in 2022.
2. Mr. Amith Agarwal- Star Agri
Amith Agarwal is the Co-founder and whole-time Executive Director of StarAgri. An entrepreneur with the right blend of managerial and business acumen, Amith plays a key role in realizing StarAgri’s vision of integrated development of India’s rural ecosystem. He is responsible for managing corporate tie-ups, legal and financial matters and business development activities at StarAgri. Under his stewardship, StarAgri has evolved into a market-leading brand, building trusted long-term partnerships and creating value amongst various stakeholders. He drives the human resource and leadership development responsibility in the company with a key focus on building a professional organization.3. Beas Dev Ralhan- Next Education
Beas Dev Ralhan is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Next Education, a technology-driven education enterprise revolutionizing the education system in India. At the company’s helm, his responsibilities include setting the strategic direction, transforming the company’s vision into reality and ensuring maximum stakeholder satisfaction. He is an entrepreneur and investor with a passion for technology-backed business ideas and has extensive experience in managing multi-cultural, multi-national, and multilingual teams. Beas Dev Relhan strongly believes that real change in education can be achieved by incorporating technology into the teaching-learning process.
4. Rajamanohar Somasundaram- Aquaconnect
The Founder & CEO of Aquaconnect, Rajmanohar is an alumnus of IIT- Kanpur and also holds a diploma from Harvard University and a fellowship from Stanford. The World Economic Forum has recognized him as one of the ‘Young Global Leaders-2012′ for his exceptional leadership and contribution to emerging markets ‘Mobile4Good’ initiatives. He was also featured as part of the ’40 UNDER 40 Ecosapiens’ list by The New Indian Express for promoting sustainable aquaculture practices in India. Aquaconnect is a full-stack aquaculture platform with embedded fintech that uses Satellite remote sensing and Artificial Intelligence to enable aquaculture farmers, retailers, and seafood buyers to increase access to formal credit, farm inputs, and post-harvest markets.
5. Rakesh Malhotra – Livpure
Mr. Rakesh Malhotra, Founder, SAR Group, carries an illustrious business background spanning close to 28 years of experience in the field of design, development & marketing of power conditioning & electronics products, telecom equipment & projects, corporate management, human resource development, financial management, venture negotiations and business leadership. Livpure Pvt. Ltd., (founded in 2012) one of the key ventures in the SAR Group, was established by him with a vision to be a global leader in water purification driven by innovative technology and excellence in manufacturing and services.
6. Vihaan Pratik Malkan- DYD
India’s pioneering player in the automotive service industry is committed to transforming how car owners experience vehicle maintenance and care. With an unwavering commitment to steer the company’s course, Vihaan orchestrates an array of responsibilities, from formulating far-reaching strategies, spearheading Marketing and Sales efforts, fostering a robust organizational culture, and playing an instrumental role in recruitment, to crafting definitive goals and painting a compelling mission and vision. The inception of DYD, a brainchild of Vihaan, further marked his life’s transformative juncture. He astutely presented the innovative concept to stakeholders, securing support and investment.
