People Making Impact Shrey Gupta

Navkaran Singh Bagga's journey as a second-generation serial entrepreneur is marked by a broad spectrum of experience spanning international trade, hospitality, and steel manufacturing. Over a span of 17 years, he has not only acquired but also successfully turned around and divested from a steel business, showcasing his versatility and acumen in navigating diverse industries.



The inception of Akvo under Bagga's leadership signifies a pivotal turn towards addressing one of the world's most pressing issues: water scarcity. AKVO, which stands for Advanced Knowledge Ventures & Opportunities, is a clean-tech company dedicated to manufacturing machines that transform humidity in the air into drinking water. This innovative technology represents a renewable solution to the global water crisis, offering a sustainable and accessible source of clean water

Dr. Sat Kumar Tomer, a visionary and dynamic leader, stands as the Founder and CEO of Satyukt Analytics Private Limited, a trailblazing company at the forefront of decision analytics. With a profound commitment to sustainable water resources and agriculture, Tomer's journey from a dedicated Research Associate to a successful Techno-entrepreneur showcases his unwavering dedication and innovative mindset.

Tomer's academic journey is illustrious, marked by a Master's and PhD from the prestigious Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, and a post-doctoral tenure at CESBIO, Toulouse (France). His expertise extends to the realm of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, a field that paved the way for his remarkable contributions.

Notably, Tomer's tenure as a Research Associate at the Centre National d'Études Spatialesand the Indian Institute of Science saw him delving into critical research areas. His work centered on harnessing Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity (SMOS) data for operational water management and flood forecasting, showcasing his prowess in merging satellite remote sensing with practical applications.

Dr. Raman Ramachandran retired as Chairman & Managing Director of BASF India Ltd, Head of BASF group companies in South Asia and subsequently lead PI Industries Ltd as its Managing Director and CEO. During his stint of nearly three decades with global chemicals major (BASF), Raman held many positions of responsibility and led the strategic evolution of BASF as a leader in the agricultural products business in the Asia Pacific region. He has global experience having worked for 11 years based at Singapore with Asia Pacific regional responsibilities. He has a PhD from University of Adelaide, South Australia and subsequently pursued his research interests with International Organizations in Kenya, Philippines and at University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA. Raman was a member of the BASF's Asia Pacific Business Board, Vice-President, Crop Life Asia and Chairman of Confederation of Indian Industries, Chemicals and Petrochemicals industry group.

Manas Ranjan Hota is the Co-founder and COO at DrinkPrime, India’s leading drinking water solution provider. 50% of India does not have access to safe drinking water and DrinkPrime is focused on solving this problem. Under his leadership, DrinkPrime has been recognised as a part of Fast Company’s ‘The 10 most innovative Asia-Pacific companies of 2021’ and in Forbes Asia 100 To Watch list.
Manas is responsible for growing DrinkPrime’s subscriber base by 500% over the last 2 years with the current subscriber count exceeding 30,000. He leads high-performance teams - sales, marketing, operations and customer experience - at DrinkPrime and oversees the company’s day-to-day activities. He has played a pivotal role in building the 125+ strong DrinkPrime team from scratch.
Before starting DrinkPrime, Manas built and led the inside sales team at Sonata Software. He is a Master of Business Administration (MBA) graduate from Pondicherry University.

Aniruddha is a seasoned marketing leader with over 22 years of experience in diverse industries such as FMCG, Alcobev, Retail, Media, and Building Materials. Currently, he is the Sr. Vice President & Group Marketing Head at DryChem India Pvt. Ltd., a leading chemical manufacturer and distributor in India.His core competencies include strategic business planning, sales and marketing, brand management, and team management. He has successfully led and executed several initiatives such as the corporate brand transition from Lafarge to Nuvoco, the IPL association with Royal Challengers Bangalore, and the development and implementation of CRM programs across channels. He is passionate about delivering consumer-centric solutions, driving innovation and growth, and mentoring and empowering my teams. His mission is to create value for my organization, customers, and stakeholders, and to excel in the dynamic and competitive marketing landscape.

Karthik Sridharan, an accomplished alumnus of IIM-Ahmedabad, stands at the forefront of the dynamic tech landscape. With over 8 years of combined experience in Investment Banking and Technology, he brings a unique blend of financial acumen and technological prowess to the table.

Karthik embarked on his professional journey straight out of BITS Pilani, where he earned his degree in Electronics & Electronics Engineering. His initial years were spent at J.P. Morgan, where he dedicated three years to the world of Investment Banking. During this period, he worked collaboratively with professionals from various backgrounds and contributed significantly to various projects, including a notable €550 million M&A deal, gaining valuable insights into the finance industry.