Feb 2020 – Present · 6 yrs 1 mo · India

• Just Deliveries is a mid-mile logistics company that helps frozen and perishable food items get to retail stores.
• Just Deliveries helps dairy, bakery, frozen, fresh produce items to stock at retailers and dark stores within 24 hours. The milk runs ensure high visibility and low wastages. They also help food service chains and suppliers to maintain JIT fresh stock. The delivery data collected helps identify where what is selling; thereby providing value added services for brands helping them increase sales and margins.

Aug 2019 – Present · 6 yrs 7 mos · India

• Since starting out in 2019, we have come some distance and we no-longer see ourselves just as another operator of accelerator programs. We are a niche consulting organization operating at the intersection on Technology, Innovation and Digital Entrepreneurship. We work with a wide range of partners cutting across Fortune 500 corporations, home grown large enterprises, unicorns, governments, development organizations and universities in co-creating and implementing structured programs leveraging our core domains.
• Currently operating,
• corporate accelerators and innovation programs for multiple partners across Financial Services, Energy, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Food, Logistics, CPG, Real Estate, Media
• own branded thematic accelerator programs (GrowthX Bootcamp - for B2B founders, GrowthX WE Sprint - for women entrepreneurs, Future50 - for GenZ entrepreneurs and Torque - a sales enablement program for B2B startups)
• Conference properties (The Mumbai AI Summit, NexTT)
• Global Startup Bridge programs (accelerator, events)
• Incubator programs backed by academic institutions
• FinTech OI is our FinTech ecosystem focused program, backed by Perfios, Open and Signzy
• Exclusive program in partnership with Atal Innovation Mission / Niti Aayog
• Entrepreneurship led economic development programs and initiatives in emerging markets with international organisations
• Capacity building for creating startup linked policy frameworks, corporate venture capital ecosystem, innovation ecosystem talent pool development

Sep 2016 – Oct 2019 · 3 yrs 1 mo · Mumbai

• Conceptualised and launched Fintegrate Zone, an annual 3-day multi-format FinTech conclave, bringing together the various stakeholders of India's BFSI ecosystem. Fintegrate Zone has a standalone P&L that is supported through industry sponsorship and ticket sales.
• Fintegrate Zone is a melange of Conference, Workshops, Exhibit Zone, Investors Zone, Pre-qualified B2B Meetings, Roundtables, CXO Dinner and a grand Demo Night.
• In a short span of 3 editions, Fintegrate Zone has emerged to be India's top most FinTech event. The recently concluded 3rd edition witnessed over 1,400 attendees, including over 50 international attendees from 15 nationalities, 180+ speakers and 120 exhibitors.
• Recognized and facilitated by Government of Maharashtra for being a catalyst to promote the Indian FinTech ecosystem on the global forum, and stimulating innovation and collaboration.
• Recognized as Top-30 FinTech Influencers in India, in consecutive years, by an independent FinTech consulting group - The Digital Fifth.

Feb 2014 – Jul 2019 · 5 yrs 5 mos · Mumbai

• Set up a successful consulting practice of 'Corporate Innovation' under the Zone Startups brand, and working with leading industry partners, to address their innovation and startup engagement requirements, by adopting varied approaches such as - corporate accelerators, curated demo days, hackathons, industry projects and intrapreneurship programs. The ever growing India client partners list includes Barclays, Axis Bank, Thomson Reuters, HDFC Bank, ICICI Lombard, Visa, Abbott, EY, Lodha Group, Shell Foundation, Citi, BNP Paribas, Synchrony, Sodexo, Viacom18, TVS Credit, KSUM, Dubai Ports World and AIS (Australia).
• Working with a stellar team, I have successfully cultivated these business relationships and converted them to commercial deals. My involvement has been from farming the connection, to pitching, converting the opportunity, laying out the operating structure and then overseeing execution by the team.

Feb 2014 – Mar 2019 · 5 yrs 1 mo · Mumbai

• Heading the India operations of Zone Startups, the global brand of meta-accelerators and early stage venture funds operated by Toronto-based Ryerson Futures Inc. Scaled to a team of 24 in India, and built a strong, sustainable revenue stream leveraging domain expertise as the IP, generating ~$8.2Mn through services, sponsorships, grants & CSR.
• Successfully submitted a grant proposal with the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India - thereby making Zone Startups India, a one if its kind privately-operated accelerator in the country, to be supported with Government funding. Portfolio of 170+ startups over 5 years. 75% survival rate, with over $80 Mn raised in funding.
• Ideated and set up "empoWer" - India's 1st technology accelerator program for Women Entrepreneurs; and raised program funding / operations support from industry and Governments. Portfolio of 65 startups. 2 graduated cohorts raising a cumulative $35 Mn in funding.
• Conceptualised and succesfully rolled out 'Gateway91' India's 1st market accelerator program for international technology companies, seeking to establish an India presence. Working with Canada, UK and Australian Governments.
• Created India's first entrepreneurship related web-series titled "Pitch Right", to enable Founders to learn the nuances of an elevator pitch. The first 2 seasons have been a grand success, accumulating over 750K unique views on the series' YouTube channel. Onboarded marquee Angel Investor Sanjay Mehta as the face of the show, alongside brand sponsors and partners.

Oct 2013 – Dec 2014 · 1 yr 2 mos · Mumbai Area, India

• Ajay was employee #1 at SKILLSdox Inc.'s India office, and his role included setting-up the India entity (legal, accounting and compliance), in addition to scoping out business partnerships for acquiring content, as well as distributing premium Canadian and other international content.
• Ajay helped formed early relationships with the eventual marketing partner, Benett and Colemann Group, which has funded SKILLSdox India with INR 150 Crores for pan-India, multi-channel marketing and advertising.
• SKILLSdox is committed to creating a superior online learning experience that will transform the way people access and utilize educational content.

Feb 2009 – Sep 2013 · 4 yrs 7 mos · Mumbai Area, India

• Working with the innovation eco-system in Ontario and seeking opportunities in India for building a cross-border startup/innovation ecosystem; as well as identifying tech-transfer opportunities
• Initiated and enabled the setting up of Zone Startups / Ryerson Futures operations in India in collaboration with BSE Institute
• Developing and implementing new initiatives for multi-sectoral linkages between Ontario & India - sector focussed webinars, ideated Ontario-India Innovation Knowledge Forum, strategizing outbound program delivery for Indian organizations visiting Ontario
• Promoting awareness of & access to Ontario-produced goods and services in India
• Market development strategies for Ontario-based companies wanting to access the Indian market. Helping assess market potential, decide on approach(es), helping identify potential partners
• Attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) into Ontario. Identifying and developing a pipeline of companies, as investment prospects.
• Building strong, strategic relationships with the media and local governments
• Networking to raise Ontario's profile as a world-class business jurisdiction. Extensive contacts within industry and with multilaterals.
• Obtaining and disseminating timely commercial intelligence from corporate India
• Hosting trade delegations from Ontario. Led the program development for incoming delegation(s) - multi sector. Handled program delivery of 1 Premier's Business Mission, and 2 Ministerial missions.
• Developing and maintaining contacts in private and public sectors, and industry associations / trade bodies / chambers of commerce / economic development agencies in Canada and India.

Jul 2004 – Jul 2008 · 4 yrs · Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

• Concept Selling : Established a new-line of business for the group
• (Power Tillers/ Agro machinery: Role involved end-to-end leadership right from identification of product opportunity - establishing tie-up with principal - building a local sales team - conducting demos - establishing channels of sales and other promotion strategies - linkages with micro-finance institutions. Achieved sales of USD 1.5 Million in 18 months)
• Identified and established partnerships with leading brands such as Kubota, Matabi and Sonalika; and involved in procurement of goods.
• Liaising with principals and establishing partnerships and alliances for Government of Tanzania RFP's / National Competitive Bids / International Competitive Bids
• Compilation of World Bank and African Development Bank tenders & Techno-Commercial Proposals for various sectors
• Writing business plans and commercial documents