Anant Bhardwaj, the CEO and founder of Instabase, exemplifies the great Indian startup dream. Born in rural Bihar, Anant pursued his undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Pune before moving to the United States in 2010. He earned a Master’s in Computer Science from Stanford University and later started a Ph.D. at MIT, which he left in 2015 to launch Instabase. The company uses cutting-edge AI to solve complex business challenges, with a focus on intelligent document processing and workflow automation. By transforming unstructured data into actionable insights, Instabase empowers organizations worldwide. Anant’s journey from academia to Silicon Valley showcases his determination, innovation, and vision for redefining business operations. And they’re just getting started!

Aviral Bhatnagar, investor at Venture Highway and founder of A Junior VC, has forged a distinctive path in India’s dynamic startup ecosystem. A graduate of IIT Bombay with a BTech in Engineering Physics, he later earned an MBA in Finance and Entrepreneurship from IIM Ahmedabad. Aviral is deeply embedded in the venture capital and startup world, where his work is reshaping the entrepreneurial landscape of India and Southeast Asia. At Venture Highway, he invests in promising startups, while A Junior VC serves as a platform to demystify the startup universe, offering insightful, digestible content. Through these initiatives, Aviral addresses critical gaps in knowledge, resources, and mentorship, empowering entrepreneurs and driving the vibrant growth of the Indian startup scene.

Priyanka Mohite from Satara, Maharashtra, is a trailblazing mountaineer and scientist. In 2022, she became the first Indian woman to scale five peaks above 8000 meters, including Mt. Kanchenjunga and Mt. Annapurna. Her journey began in Maharashtra's hills, leading to achievements like climbing Mount Everest, Mount Lhotse, Mount Makalu, and Mount Kilimanjaro. Honored with the Shiv Chhatrapati State Award for Adventure Sports and the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award, Priyanka's story is one of passion and perseverance. Balancing her scientific career with her climbing pursuits, she inspires others to conquer challenges and achieve extraordinary heights.

Partha Das, the seasoned psephologist and political strategist, has etched a distinctive niche for himself in the realm of Indian politics. A proud alumnus of IIM Bangalore and NIT Surat, Partha initiated his career as a product manager at TIMES Media House. However, driven by an innate passion for understanding the intricate dynamics of politics, he pivoted into full-time political consulting. His journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, marked by astute predictions and strategic counsel that have left an indelible mark on the political landscape. Partha Das, renowned for his accurate opinion polls, showcased exceptional foresight by precisely predicting the outcome of the Telangana elections. This prowess has established him as a trusted voice in political forecasting. Beyond predictions, Partha has been instrumental in shaping electoral outcomes, notably guiding Tejaswi Yadav and the RJD to power in Bihar. His strategic counsel is sought after by prominent political figures, leaving an indelible impact on the political landscape. In addition to his consulting role, Partha is the founder of Chanakyya, a platform that has revolutionized election analytics and management. It's the go-to source for accurate opinion/exit polls, precise election results at state, assembly, and polling booth levels, offering strategic insights that shape the future of political decision-making. Partha Das's journey is a testament to his commitment to bringing a scientific and strategic approach to the ever-evolving landscape of Indian politics.

Major Nithi CJ's remarkable journey encompasses diverse roles, transitioning from an Army Officer to a certified Yoga Wellness Instructor , FIT India Ambassador, and strategic advisor. Her military tenure involved field operations, language interpretation , and intelligence analysis, contributing to decision-making processes, for which she was awarded with the General Officer Commanding in Chief Commendation Card in 2015. Beyond the military, she broadened her expertise as a behavior analyst, non-verbal communication specialist, and graphotherapist. In 2022, she completed her Master's in Philosophy (Defence and Strategic Studies), showcasing her commitment to continuous learning. Major Nithi's professional versatility extends to consulting for military-grade de-risking and serving as a strategic advisor to businesses like The Vardi Store, a Military Upcycling Brand. Currently, she is the founder of Nira Wellbeing , where she imparts sustainable solutions for a better lifestyle and well-being through Yogic Management. Her journey is characterized by unwavering dedication, disciplined pursuit of skill, and a warm and approachable demeanor that has endeared her to colleagues. Invited to speak at TEDxlIMBangalore, Major Nithi is poised to share profound insights gained from her diverse experiences, offering valuable lessons from the multiple lives she has lived—an inspiring narrative of growth, adaptability, and purposeful exploration.

Praveen Gopal Krishnan has been working for more than five years at The Ken, one of the foremost subscriber based digital publication providing business news.Serving as the Chief Operating Officer, he oversees various aspects of the business, including product, engineering and sales. He’s also the pen (read: the keyboard) behind The Nutgraf, India’s leading paid weekly newsletter, connecting the dots on cause and effect in the business and technology sectors. His lifetime of enquiry went through Electronics Engineering from NIT Trichy and a PGP from IIM Bangalore, along with roles in product management at Myntra, InMobi and journalism at The Economic Times. This is coupled with a stint in a handwriting recognition startup and a theatre company.

Sourav Mukherji is a distinguished academic and professor at IIM Bangalore, specialising in Organization Design with a keen research focus on sustainability and inclusivity. A BTech (honours) graduate from IIT Kharagpur and a PhD from IIM Bangalore, he has a robust background in product management at IBM and Oracle (1993-1998) and strategic consulting at the Boston Consulting Group (2002-2003), Mukherji brings valuable industry experience to his teaching and research. His passion for inclusivity and social entrepreneurship is evident through numerous published case studies and papers in both academic and practitioner-oriented journals. Mukherji has been recognized with journals. prestigious fellowships, including the UNDP Fellowship for Research in Inclusive Business Models and the Villgrow Fellowship for Research on Social Entrepreneurship. As an educator, Mukherji teaches postgraduate and doctoral courses in Organization Design, Inclusive Business Models, Strategy Process Research, and Organization Learning. He is highly regarded by both MBA students and industry practitioners, receiving accolades such as the IMB Alumni Award for Faculty of the Year and the IBM Faculty Award. His commitment to leadership roles at IIMB, including Chairperson of various programs and committees, showcases his dedication to institutional development. An inspiration to his many students, he serves as an example and lights the way for the many lives he has touched.

Pariksha Rao, a resilient entrepreneur, holds an MSc. in Health and Nutrition. She is certified as a diabetes educator, advanced dietary supplements advisor, and nutrigenomics expert. Additionally, she has a postgraduate diploma in Dietetics & Public Health & Nutrition. Passionate about health awareness, Pariksha consults for multiple healthcare startups specializing in digital health businesses. Adding to her impressive repertoire, Pariksha is also the ex-founder of Lil'Goodness, the founder and CEO of NuWe.ai, a health-based venture, a national advisory board member for the ImpactNutrition platform, and a global leadership panel member for Fight Cancer Global. Pariksha is an enthusiastic leader, who is all about searching for new solutions and reinventing the health sector. Her continuous endeavors have earned her a spot in The Times of India's list of 20 Successful Indian Changemakers in 2023. Her book, Well at Heart - Natural Foods to Fight Diseases, and NuWe's recognition as the Best Startup 2023 in Mother & Child Nutrition further establish her position as an extraordinary contributor to the field of nutrition and wellness. For Parisha's venture, NuWe, she drew inspiration from her motherhood journey to collect data on children's dietary patterns, aiming to enhance their growth and development.

Dr. Suresh Bhagavatula did his undergraduate from Shivaji University, Kolhapur. He then went on to do his MS in the University of Flensberg, Germany and his PhD in entrepreneurship at the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam. The founder of Headstart Network Foundation, a venture to promote positive ecosystems for start-ups, Dr. Bhagavatula has ventured into several spheres including women empowerment. Currently he is a part of the IM Bangalore Faculty in the domain of Entrepreneurship. Previously, he worked at the Tata Research and Development Centre as a Process Engineer and in the Krishi Vigyan Kendra as a Micro-entreprise Coordinator. His interest in social networks and entrepreneurship has led him to publish several pieces in various journals on the allied topics. His areas of interest in entrepreneurship are Indian low- and high-tech companies. He is interested in learning how social capital affects team and entrepreneurial performance in the context of social networks. The Journal of Business Venturing (JBV), Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice (ETP), Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal (SEJ), and IIMB Management Review have all featured his research. He has also presented on the topics of micro-entreprises, technology and entrepreneurship, in addition to refereed presentations. Dr. Bhagavatula is a passionate and enthusiastic professor, focused on fostering the spirit of ideation and enterprising thoughts in young minds.

Anand Kadali, as the Secretary of Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust, plays a crucial role in overseeing the growth of the flagship Annapoorna Morning Nutrition Programme. Dedicated to providing free daily morning nutrition to over 3 million school children across 24 states and 3 Union Territories in India, the initiative operates in over 40,000 predominantly rural schools. Anand, with a corporate background exceeding 15 years, made a notable transition to full-time community service, leveraging his experience from global organizations like Hewlett Packard, HCL, and Dimension Data, specializing in computer networking and security. He is also a Certified Independent Director. Anand is a seasoned speaker and inspires volunteers, professionals, and students to engage in community service. Under his leadership, the nutrition program has attracted over 500 volunteers, and collaborative efforts with government officials have led to increased school retention, student enrolments, improved academic performance, and better health profiles among rural school children. Holding a bachelor's degree in engineering from GITAM and an MBA from ICFAI University, Anand resides at Muddenahalli, near Bangalore Airport, where Annapoorna's headquarters are located. His unwavering commitment to providing nutrition to underprivileged children has left a significant impact on the lives of countless beneficiaries. Anand's dedication reflects a remarkable fusion of corporate expertise and passion for community service.

Professor R Srinivasan's areas of research include strategies of multi-sided platform organisations; digital public infrastructure & digital public goods; strategy processes in rapid growth organisations and competitive, corporate, & international strategies. He has authored a book on Platform Business Models (also translated in German),which serves as the go-to guide for those looking to leverage platforms and create network synergies, from entrepreneurs to seasoned executives. Srinivasan has been teaching courses on platform business models, competitive strategy, and corporate strategy for MBA and Ph.D. students at lIM Bangalore. He serves as a visiting professor at Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) Germany, teaching courses on Platforms and digital transformation. He co-leads an international executive programme on Leading Digital Transformation, in cooperation with the FAU, Nuremberg and Fraunhofer Institute of Integrated Circuits lIS, Germany. He has facilitated customised interventions on digital transformation, platform business models, visioning and strategy for various multinational, government, public and private organisations. He earned his doctoral degree in Management from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IMA), worked as faculty at Indian Institute of Management Lucknow and Indian Institute of Management Bangalore. Over his 25 year teaching career he has held a variety of administrative roles during his career, including Chairperson PCP & PGPBA, Chairperson Executive Education Programmes, Chairperson Admissions (at IMB) and Chairperson Placements (at IIML).

This legendary artist started her career as a co-singer alongside Lata Mangeshkar. She is also the recipient of Padmashri award and has more than 25,000+ songs to her name in 16+ languages.

A Movie Trade Analyst predicts the box office business. He hosts various TV shows and is also an editor of a film magazine.

Madan Padaki is an Indian entrepreneur and business executive. He is the co-founder and director of Sylvant Advisors,CEO and MD of Head Held High Services, a social enterprise for rural youth, and former co-founder of MeritTrac Services.

An international triathlete who is the South Asian Champion and is the first to represent India at the Triathlon World Cup. Along with sports, Pragnya is a qualified CA and is pursuing CPA

An alumnus of IIM-A and IIT-B, he has 24 years of experience working in various roles. He co-founded Visilogix which offers supply chain solutions

Tejasvi Surya is the Member of Parliament from Bengaluru South constituency, having been elected to the 17th Lok Sabha at the age of just 28