M.R. Rangaswami
Founder, Indiaspora Forum
San Francisco, United States
MR Rangaswami is a software executive, investor, entrepreneur, corporate eco-strategy expert, community builder and philanthropist. Recognized as a software business expert, he participated in the rapid expansion of the Silicon Valley software industry during his tenure as an executive at both large and small software companies. In 1997, he co-founded Sand Hill Group one of the earliest “angel” investment firms and was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal. He produced the prestigious Enterprise and Software conferences that were held in Silicon Valley. He was also listed on the Forbes “Midas” list of investors. M.R. is the publisher of SandHill.com a leading website for entrepreneurs, VCs and CIOs. In 2007, M.R. embarked on a new venture as the founder of the Corporate Eco Forum, an invitation-only membership organization for Global 500 companies that demonstrate a serious commitment to environment as a business strategy issue. In 2012 M.R. founded Indiaspora to unite Indian Americans and to transform their success into meaningful impact in India and on the global stage.
Ruchi Mathur
CEO of Lighthouse Communities Foundation (erstwhile Pune City Connect)
Pune, India
Ruchi Mathur is the CEO of Lighthouse Communities Foundation (erstwhile Pune City Connect), a unique platform that enables large scale impact through collaboration with local government, corporates, NGOs and citizens. Lighthouse Communities works in the areas of Education, Sustainable Livelihood and Digital Empowerment.
Ruchi has 25 years’ work experience spanning both, the corporate and the non-profit sector. She has worked in varied functions such as marketing, fund-raising, HR, strategy and CSR Head across myriad industries including advertising, retail, IT and the non-profit sector.
A post graduate from IIM-Ahmedabad, Ruchi is also a Business Today awardee and has been listed as one of the ‘Most Powerful Women in Business’, in the category of Social Impact.
Devendra Gupta
Founder, Ecozen Solutions
Pune
Devendra is the Co-founder and CEO of Ecozen Solutions. Ecozen is innovating at an intersection of clean-tech & internet of things. We aspire to disrupt the way perishables are handled across the value chain and build an intelligent and completely automated after sales service solution in the long run.
Currently we have two products- Ecofrost & Ecotron. Ecofrost is a portable solar powered cold room based on thermal energy storage, which can maintain low temperatures without any backup power. We also offer of a smart controller “Ecotron” for irrigation pumps which complements our offerings in the solar/agri-solutions space and are a major market shareholder.
Both the products are strongly integrated with internet and are give us extensive data about their usage and performance. Using this data, we are building a perishables marketplace and powerful algorithms to improve product performance and reliability.
Our primary USP is our innovative and a fresh approach to real life problems and solving them with the philosophy of lean solutions. Our team consists of extremely motivated and energetic individuals who walk hand in hand with company's principles and vision.
We are headquartered at Pune and have major operations at Raipur. We are also spread across other locations such as Hyderabad, Chandigarh & Delhi.
Viiveck Verma
Founder upsurge Global ; Senior Advisor Telangana State Innovation cell
Hyderabad
Viiveck is a Value Enabler (Coach, Mentor, Investor and Social Empowerer). He is an executive level; strategic thinker with a background of 30+ years in overcoming profit and growth challenges, leveraging entrepreneurial drive and market acumen for success in new market ventures/start-ups across Yellow Pages, Travel, Telecommunications, Office Automation, BPO, Insurance, Logistics, and Document Storage & Management. He is an expert in facing complex business challenges and taking high-risk decisions.
Viiveck implements solutions & manages business operations with a focus on profitability. As a key contributor to organizational growth, Viiveck is an expert at executing strategies and building high-profile relationships. He is an enterprising leader with a solid record of contributions, streamlining operations, invigorated businesses and heightened productivity. He has incredible experience in diverse areas encompassing sales & marketing, general administration, strategic planning, P&L management, business acquisition, budget implementation, relationship management, transfer management, team management and people management.
Viiveck is apt in building and motivating large cross-functional teams that well exceed corporate expectations; innovative and results-driven manager focused on achieving exceptional results.
Some of Viiveck’s professional highlights are:
➢ Recognized by the “Travel Industry” as a Thought Leader- Awarded by Civil Aviation Minster for “Best Ethics in Business”
➢ Gained respect as a champion of empowerment and responsibility in building, managing and delivering, with large teams (Up to 6000 people)
➢ Zenger Miller Frontline Leadership Certified Trainer
➢ ICF Certified Coach through Neuroleadership Group
➢ Past Board Member of "Hyderabad Angels" which invests in startup companies
➢ Curator - TEDxHyderabad
➢ Past President for Rotary Club of Miyapur
Smita Siddhanti
Founder & President of EnDyna Inc.
Virginia, DC
Dr. Smita Siddhanti, President and founder of EnDyna Inc., an environmental and management consulting firm, working with several US federal agencies. A nationally recognized expert in public health risk assessment and environmental management, she has worked extensively with federal and state agencies to develop regulations, policy, guidance, technology evaluations and management approaches to environmental protection, and training. She serves on the board of University of Pittsburgh and has served on the Virginia Governor's Air Quality Board. For the last two decades, Smita has been actively engaged with Rural women entrepreneurship in villages of Maharashtra. Dr. Siddhanti is the current President of TiE-DC and a Trustee on the TiE Global Board.