Prof. Nagaraja (Naga) Prakasam — Co-Founder
I’m a hands-on leader with 30+ years of global experience—across the U.S. and India—at the intersection of innovation, impact, and entrepreneurship. Retired at 41, I now enjoy being a “Farmer Growing Startups,” with 33 investments, 16 lead deals, 8 exits (including Uniphore at 120x), and several social ventures transforming Bharat. Currently, I serve as Professor of Practice and Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor at Alliance University, where I teach Solving for Bharat—an 80% field, 20% classroom immersion course using my book Back to Bharat, winner of the 2024 GLF-WWF Book Award. The course reimagines education by placing students in direct contact with India’s grassroots innovation landscape. I was privileged to be the First Resident Mentor at NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore, a role I’ve held for over a decade to help shape early-stage ventures and influence India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. I also serve on advisory and investment committees at IIT Madras Incubation Cell, CIIE (IIM Ahmedabad), and StartupTN. I’ve contributed to policy design and rural innovation through roles at NITI Aayog, NABARD, and the Ministry of Rural Development. I’m a Partner at Acumen Fund and Co-founder of Nativelead Foundation, which promotes entrepreneurship in non-metros. My work has been featured by Forbes, Harvard Business Publishing, and national media. I've delivered 110+ talks across colleges and public forums including the C.K. Prahalad Memorial Lecture and the BII launch with Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Stackforce AI infers this person is a leader in social entrepreneurship and education innovation.
Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Experience: 30 yrs 5 mos
Career Highlights
- 30+ years of global experience in innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Retired at 41, now investing in startups and social ventures.
- Award-winning author and educator transforming grassroots innovation.
Work Experience
Alliance University
Professor of Practice (1 yr 4 mos)
Penguin Random House India
Author "Back to Bharat: In search of a sustainable future" (2 yrs 11 mos)
Transwater system - Boson Whitewater
Board Member (4 yrs 1 mo)
Farmers Fresh Zone
Lead angel investor (5 yrs 10 mos)
Carbon Masters
Board Member (8 yrs 7 mos)
Nativespecial
Lead angel investor (9 yrs 5 mos)
Neurosynaptic Communications Private Limited
Board Member (10 yrs 5 mos)
SP ROBOTIC WORKS Pvt. Ltd.
Lead angel investor (6 yrs)
Saahas Zero Waste
Board Member (11 yrs 5 mos)
FreshWorld.
Lead angel investor (11 yrs 5 mos)
Happy Hens
Angel Investor (11 yrs 5 mos)
Sattva Media and Consulting Pvt. Ltd
Angel Investor (11 yrs 5 mos)
GoCoop - Social Marketplace
Lead Angel investor (12 yrs 5 mos)
Uniphore Software Systems
Lead angel investor (12 yrs 5 mos)
NATIVELEAD
Co Founder Chairman Interim CEO (12 yrs 7 mos)
NSRCEL, IIMB
Adviser, First Mentor in Residence (14 yrs 5 mos)
Acumen Fund
Partner (14 yrs 5 mos)
Board of Director - Gaurdian (Acumen portfolio) (6 yrs)
Indian Angel Network
Lead Angel Investor & Founding Angel, IAN Impact (15 yrs 5 mos)
Mentoredge, CIIE, IIMA
Mentor (16 yrs 5 mos)
Association for Indias Development
President - Atlanta, San Diego Chapters (6 yrs)
CDC Software (formerly Ross Systems)
President, SSEA (South and Southeast Asia) (16 yrs)
Education
Company Director’s Programme: Board Best Practices at Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
mba at Kennesaw State University - Michael J. Coles College of Business
MBA at San Diego State University
B.E at Thiagarajar College of Engineering
B.E at Madurai Kamaraj University