Alumni News
R. Kumar Assumes Office as Tamil Nadu Minister for AI, IT and Digital Services
IIM Bangalore alumnus R. Kumar, BLP 2024 Batch has assumed office as the Hon’ble Minister for Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology and Digital Services in the Government of Tamil Nadu.
His appointment to this important portfolio comes at a time when digital transformation, emerging technologies and AI-driven innovation are playing an increasingly significant role in governance and public service delivery. As Minister, he will help shape initiatives aimed at strengthening Tamil Nadu’s digital ecosystem and advancing the state’s technology agenda.
The achievement marks a significant milestone in his public service journey and reflects the growing contribution of IIM Bangalore alumni across leadership roles in government, industry and society.
The IIM Bangalore community congratulates Hon’ble Minister R. Kumar on this distinguished appointment and wishes him success in his new responsibilities.
Nitin Bawankule Appointed Head of Enterprise Sales, India at OpenAI
IIM Bangalore alumnus Nitin Bawankule (PGP 1994) has been appointed Head of Enterprise Sales, India at OpenAI, marking a significant leadership move in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence sector.
In his new role, Nitin will lead OpenAI’s enterprise sales strategy in India and work with organizations across industries to accelerate the adoption of AI solutions at scale. His focus will include helping businesses move beyond pilot projects toward organization-wide AI integration and transformation.
Nitin joins OpenAI from Amazon Web Services (AWS), where he served as Director across multiple industry verticals. Over a distinguished career spanning more than three decades, he has held leadership positions at Google, The Walt Disney Company, Dell Technologies, Motorola, Whirlpool, and Satyam.
His appointment reflects the growing influence of IIM Bangalore alumni in shaping the future of technology, innovation, and enterprise leadership globally.
GPS Renewables Founders Lead India’s First Ethanol-to-Jet Sustainable Aviation Fuel Project
IIM Bangalore alumni Mainak Chakraborty (PGP 2006) and Saurabh Kumar (PGP 2006), co-founders of GPS Renewables, are leading a landmark clean-energy initiative after the company secured the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract from NTPC Limited for India’s first Ethanol-to-Jet (ETJ) Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) project.
The plant will be developed at NTPC Green Energy Limited’s Green Hydrogen Hub in Pudimadaka, Andhra Pradesh, and is expected to establish domestic capacity for sustainable aviation fuel production. Designed to produce 1,800 tonnes of SAF annually, the project represents an important step in supporting the decarbonization of the aviation sector and advancing India’s clean-energy ambitions.
The milestone highlights the growing contribution of IIM Bangalore alumni in building scalable climate-tech solutions and driving innovation in India’s energy transition journey.
Samina Bano Supports Launch of AI-Powered Skilling Platform in Maharashtra
Samina Bano (PGP 2010), Founder and CEO of RightWalk Foundation and recipient of the IIM Bangalore Distinguished Alumna Award 2023, continues to drive impactful innovations in public service delivery. At the Maharashtra Skill & Apprenticeship Summit 2026, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched the MahaChatur AI Chatbot, an AI-powered citizen service platform for apprenticeship developed by the Department of Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation in partnership with RightWalk Foundation.
Designed as a multilingual, voice-enabled and conversational platform, MahaChatur AI seeks to make skilling and employment pathways more accessible to first-generation learners, rural youth, women and persons with disabilities.
The launch builds on RightWalk Foundation’s longstanding efforts to improve access to education and public services at scale. Through technology-enabled solutions and policy interventions, the organisation continues to advance equitable access and social inclusion across India.
BigEndian Semiconductors Raises $6 Million to Advance India’s Chip Design Ecosystem
BigEndian Semiconductors, a fabless semiconductor start-up co-founded by Sunil Kumar (PGP 1995), has raised $6 million in a pre-Series A funding round led by IAN Group Fund, with participation from Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India and IvyCap Ventures.
Founded in 2024, BigEndian is focused on developing secure, high-performance system-on-chip (SoC) platforms for applications across surveillance, telecommunications, Internet of Things (IoT), and enterprise technology. The newly raised capital will support the commercialisation of the company’s first SoC platform, expansion of its engineering capabilities, and the strengthening of partnerships across foundries, intellectual property ecosystems, and original equipment manufacturers.
The funding milestone highlights growing investor confidence in Indian semiconductor ventures and the role of IIM Bangalore alumni in building next-generation technology enterprises.
Mansi Baranwal Featured Among India’s Top 100 Rising Founders 2026
IIM Bangalore alumna Mansi Baranwal (PGP 2012), Co-Founder and CEO of Troovy, has been featured in India’s Top 100 Rising Founders 2026 by Indian Startup Times, recognizing emerging entrepreneurs who are building high-impact ventures across the country.
Mansi co-founded Troovy with the mission of improving everyday nutrition for children through healthier, clean-label food products. Under her leadership, the company has developed a growing portfolio of nutrition-focused offerings designed to address gaps in children’s diets while making healthier choices more accessible for families.
The recognition highlights Mansi’s contribution to India’s evolving startup ecosystem and her efforts to build a brand focused on health, nutrition, and social impact.
Nayanika Mahtani Co-Writes Feature Film with Imtiaz Ali
IIM Bangalore alumna Nayanika Mahtani has co-written the feature film O Saathi Re with acclaimed filmmaker Imtiaz Ali. Set against the backdrop of the Partition, the film explores themes of identity, memory, and human connection through a compelling historical narrative.
The project marks a significant milestone in Nayanika’s journey as a writer and storyteller, showcasing her contribution to a film that brings one of the most defining chapters of the subcontinent’s history to the screen. Featuring an accomplished cast and creative team, the film is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on 12 June 2026.
We congratulate Nayanika on this achievement and wish the film and its team every success upon release.
Raja Sekar Balasubramanian Joins Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories as Head – Digital Process & Excellence, SCM
Raja Sekar Balasubramanian (PGDM 2011) has been appointed Head – Digital Process & Excellence, Supply Chain Management (SCM), at Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories. In this leadership role, he will drive digital process innovation and operational excellence across the company’s supply chain functions, leveraging technology to enhance efficiency, agility, and business value delivery.
Raja brings extensive experience in supply chain transformation, digital strategy, consulting, and operational excellence across industries including pharmaceuticals, FMCG, life sciences, automotive, retail, and manufacturing. Prior to joining Dr. Reddy’s, he spent more than a decade with Accenture Strategy & Consulting, where he advanced to Senior Manager and led large-scale digital transformation and supply chain optimization initiatives across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East.
We congratulate Raja on this significant leadership appointment and wish him success in his new role.
Ankan Saikia Completes Palk Strait Swim Relay Between Sri Lanka and India
Ankan Saikia (PGP 2016) successfully completed the challenging Palk Strait (Ram Setu) Swim Relay between Sri Lanka and India on 12 May 2026, marking a remarkable achievement in open-water endurance swimming. Alongside teammates Amit Mittal and Akshaya Moses, he completed the crossing in 8 hours and 40 minutes, overcoming some of the most demanding conditions encountered in long-distance sea swimming.
The team faced strong tidal resistance, adverse weather conditions including rain, thunderstorms and lightning, as well as repeated jellyfish stings during the crossing. Despite these challenges, the swimmers demonstrated exceptional perseverance, teamwork and mental resilience to successfully reach the finish.
Widely regarded as a significant endurance challenge, the Palk Strait crossing tests not only physical fitness but also determination and mental strength. We congratulate Ankan on this inspiring accomplishment and wish him continued success in his future pursuits.
