Sep 2021 – Present · 4 yrs 8 mos

• Helping lead the Technology Workstream efforts of this flagship thought-leadership effort.
• Introduced "Reimagined Health Journeys" as a central idea for the commission across workstreams. Link: bit.ly/lc2030
• Co-authored "Technology Levers for Universal Health Care." Link: bit.ly/tluhc

Aug 2021 – Present · 4 yrs 9 mos

Oct 2019 – Present · 6 yrs 7 mos · Geneva, Switzerland

Dec 2017 – Aug 2021 · 3 yrs 8 mos · Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

• Established Wadhwani Institute for AI as an institute of global repute developing AI-based solutions for some of world's toughest problems, starting from scratch, as part of a 3-member founding leadership team. Created a new model of co-innovation with/in government (especially Ministry of Health & Family Welfare) and nonprofits very closely that yielded results and continues to this day.
• Over 4 years, built a portfolio of path-breaking innovations, won global recognition (Google AI Challenge, XPrize), raised ~$20M from top funders (Gates Foundation, USAID, Botnar, Google.org), and signed up large nonprofits and government agencies as co-creation and scaling partners.
• Innovations in global health (tuberculosis, maternal & child health, covid-19) and agriculture (cotton farming) include: phone-based visual weighing machine for newborn babies; cough for covid screening; predicting non-adherence to treatment in TB patients; pest management in cotton farming.
• Covid-19 response: directly supported Mumbai through its most challenging months
• Sought by top government and development organizations to shape AI strategy and policies: National Digital Health Mission, National Health Authority, CTD-Ministry of Health, NITI Aayog, Indian Council for Medical Reasearch, Gates Foundation, USAID, UN-ITU, UNDP, etc.
• Built a 25-member team in products, design, and programs, attracting talent from leaders in technology (Google, Amazon, IBM) as well as social impact (Jhpiego, WHO). Helped grow organization to 90-member team.
• Conceived (and continue to hone) a unique impact-focused innovation process that brings together principles of agile, lean, design thinking, and collaboration, for the global development/social impact space.
• Represented the organization as a speaker/panelist/advisor at international and national events and fora: Global Health Campus - Geneva, Google I/O, NASSCOM, UN ITU

Mar 2017 – Mar 2018 · 1 yr · Bengaluru Area, India

• Enviu builds social enterprises that address world's toughest challenges. I launched Enviu's India efforts over 2017-18, starting with Khaloom (textiles, circular economy) and Lakshya (financial inclusion), and got great teams of change-makers and venture builders working on them. Other notable ventures/pre-ventures in India: Janta Meals (nutrition), Three Wheels United (mobility, financial inclusion), and Leather Matters (sustainability).
• If you want to work for Enviu or any of its ventures, please checkout opportunities on Enviu's team page, and then drop me a note with roles you are interested in.

Mar 2015 – Mar 2018 · 3 yrs · India / US

• I helped startups/founders to go from the "WHAT to do" to "HOW to do".
• Having been down the IDEA TO IMPACT path a few times, I love guiding/helping entrepreneurs/innovators through that journey.
• Some areas where I have helped startups: user research, product-market fit, product positioning, pricing, branding and messaging, consumer sales, institutional sales, marketing, distribution, strategic partnerships, regulatory and clinical affairs, team and leadership hiring, compensation and incentives, performance management, and conflict management. Some organizations I have helped:
• BIRAC (Government of India's Biotech entrepreneurship enabler)
• IKP - Eden (India's leading makerspace with a cluster of med-tech companies)
• Stanford Biodesign, Founders Forum
• TheraNova (med-tech, critical care, big data, machine learning)
• Sohum / NASSCOM Foundation (med-tech, newborn screening)
• Bempu (neonatal health, monitoring)
• Pollinate Energy (solar consumer durables, distribution)
• Villgro (social enterprise /med-tech incubator, investor)
• VentureWell (pre-seed grantmaker at 200 U.S. colleges)
• Video Volunteers / Ashoka (media, journalism)

Sep 2014 – Apr 2016 · 1 yr 7 mos

• Led all operations, including R&D, HR and Finance, for the ISO 13485 med-tech company making CE certified products. Forged and nurtured critical partnerships - strategic partners, customers, channels, suppliers. Guided development of a new products. Secured government and WHO (World Health Organization) orders. Setup manufacturing and operations for new US consumer product line for infants.

Aug 2011 – Aug 2014 · 3 yrs

• Led launch of path-breaking medical device directly into emerging markets. Hired and trained team. Revised branding and positioning through market discovery. Scaled in private and government (public) healthcare markets navigating complex ecosystems and creating consensus among multiple stakeholders. Helped more than 300,000 vulnerable babies.

Jun 2011 – May 2012 · 11 mos

• The Startup Leadership Program is a highly selective, world-class training program for outstanding founders, leaders, and innovators. SLP Fellows have founded nearly 2000 successful startups & raised more than $2.4B+ in funding.

Feb 2010 – Jul 2011 · 1 yr 5 mos · Bangalore

• Launched and scaled India's first plug-n-play solar home systems, creating a new product category. Built the company up from 10- to 80-member team, and established the brand (acquired by one of India's largest battery makers). Defined product roadmap through insightful and actionable primary research.

Sep 2009 – Jan 2010 · 4 mos

• Handpicked for key strategy role for a global $500 million/yr business created by merging two units.

Jul 2007 – Sep 2009 · 2 yrs 2 mos

• Product manager and market lead on innovation team for $35 million/year new global product portfolio. Set benchmarks for strategy excellence introducing new financial and marketing analysis tools. Made path-breaking recommendations on product mix, positioning, target customers, pricing, and emerging markets strategy. Coordinated on-boarding of production capacity for $1 billion-worth supply contracts.

May 2006 – Aug 2006 · 3 mos · Palo Alto

• Validated opportunity, crystallized value proposition, evaluated commercialization options and made recommendations for a new solar photovoltaic technology, that was subsequently licensed to a major cell maker.

Jan 2006 – May 2007 · 1 yr 4 mos · Ithaca, New York

• Clients/partners included GE, SELCO India, and Rotary. Projects focused on sustainable power and water solutions for emerging markets.

Oct 2003 – Mar 2005 · 1 yr 5 mos · Montpelier, Vermont

• Led overall design of the magazine. Created branding and ads for small businesses and non-profits.

Oct 2001 – Jul 2005 · 3 yrs 9 mos

• Chosen Young Professional of the Year across 6 states by New England Institute of Transportation Engineers, for institutionalizing new design and execution capabilities that led to 10X boost in benefits-cost ratio and reduction in emissions.