Alumni News
Prof. U. Dinesh Kumar Steps in as Interim Director at IIM Bangalore
Prof. U. Dinesh Kumar has assumed charge as the interim Director of the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore while the search for the next Director is underway.
A pillar of IIMB for over two decades, Prof. Dinesh Kumar is recognised for his outstanding teaching and his pivotal role in building the institute’s analytics ecosystem. He founded the Data Centre and Analytics Lab (DCAL), fostering industry collaboration in business analytics, and launched several flagship programmes, including the Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Certificate Programme and the PGP-BA leading to an MBA in Business Analytics. His books and cases on analytics, machine learning, and AI are widely used in classrooms and organisations globally.
Prof. Dinesh Kumar has served as Dean (Faculty) since 2023 and has held key leadership positions, including Chairperson of Career Development Services. His interests in Zen Buddhism and mindfulness add depth to his teaching and leadership approach. Congratulations to Prof. Dinesh on this appointment. The institute looks forward to his guidance as it continues to advance its mission during this transition.
IIT Kharagpur Honours Prof. Sourav Mukherji with Distinguished Alumni Award
We at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore are delighted to share that Prof. Sourav Mukherji has been selected for the Distinguished Alumni Award by the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur this year.
Prof. Mukherji has been an integral part of IIMB since joining as a doctoral student in 1998. After completing his dissertation in just four years and a brief stint at the Boston Consulting Group, he returned to IIMB as a faculty member, where he has excelled as a teacher and case researcher. His interests span Organisation Theory and Design, Strategy, and Responsible Business, and his 2022 book, Inclusive Business Models (Cambridge University Press), has been a significant contribution to the field from an Indian perspective.
At IIMB, Prof. Mukherji has held several key roles, including Dean (Programmes), where he led initiatives to optimise academic resources, and Dean (Alumni Relations and Development), where he has strengthened connections with alumni globally.
Beyond his academic and administrative contributions, Prof. Mukherji has been a mentor to generations of students, supporting countless student initiatives with generosity and enthusiasm. His commitment to sports, fitness, and well-being has inspired many within the campus community, including the tradition of regular runs on campus.
Congratulations, Prof. Mukherji, on this well-deserved honour. We are proud to celebrate this milestone with you.
IIMB Launches Undergraduate Programmes in Economics and Data Science
The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore is set to expand its academic offerings with the launch of two full-time, four-year residential undergraduate programmes under the School of Multidisciplinary Studies:
- BSc (Hons) in Economics
- BSc (Hons) in Data Science
These programmes will be delivered at IIMB’s upcoming Jigani campus and are designed to blend data, economics, and business with a liberal arts perspective. The curriculum aims to equip students with application-based learning for both academic and industry pathways, featuring two internship cycles, an exchange term, and a three-year exit option in line with the NEP.
Applications for the first cohort will open in September 2025, with the first batch scheduled to commence in August 2026. Each programme will admit 40 students in the inaugural year.
“As an Institute of National Importance, we feel confident in our ability to address this challenge. We carry a 50-year track record of academic excellence with deep market understanding, strong industry partnerships, and the academic freedom to continually refine our curriculum,” said Prof. Rishikesha Krishnan, Director, IIMB.
To register your interest, click here.
IIMB Alum Sudarshan Gangrade Leads Lo! Foods to $3.5M Series B
Lo! Foods, founded by Sudarshan Gangrade (PGP 2006, IIM Bangalore), has secured $3.5 million in Series B funding to fuel its next phase of growth. The round was led by Rainmatter Health (Zerodha) and Capital Code (Singapore), with participation from Mount Judi Ventures, ICE.VC, KPB Ventures, and existing investors.
Known for the Protein Chef brand, Lo! Foods is on track to cross â‚ą100 crore ARR, with 65% of sales driven by quick-commerce platforms like Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart. The fresh funding will strengthen backend technology, expand warehousing, and support offline pilots in Bengaluru, pushing forward its mission to make functional, healthy foods accessible across India.
Many congratulations to Sudarshan and his team.
