Theme: Power of Innovation

THEME: Power of Innovation
Session1 : Innovation in Technology and Science

Session2: Innovation in Art and Design

Session3: Innovation through Revolution and Entrepreneurship

Session4: Innovation through Pen, Courage and Philanthropy

Open Discussion Sessions : Sessions where speakers directly interact with innovators, academicians and local leaders spark discussions on “Ideas worth Spreading”

Outreach Auditorium
IIT Kanpur
Kanpur, 208016
India

Indrani Medhi

She is an Associate Researcher in the Technology for Emerging Markets Group at Microsoft Research India in Bangalore. Her research interest is in the area of Ethnographic UI Design and Technology for Socio-Economic Development. Her work is based in the field of User Interfaces for Illiterate and Semi-Literate Users. She has a Masters degree in Design from Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, USA and Bachelors degree in Architecture from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur, India She has been listed in the MIT Technology Review's TR35 list of "outstanding innovators" under the age of 35; featured in the list of "50 Smartest people in Technology" in 2010 by Fortune magazine; was named a "Global Forum Visionary" by Fortune; won the "Young Indian Leader" award for 2010 from CNN IBN; and featured in the list of 35 "Youth Icon" under 35, by India Today magazine.

Raghav Rangarajan

Though a mechanical engineer, 29-year-old Raghav was not satisfied with the lucrative software job that he landed after graduation.He had the courage to chase his dreams and, two years back, chucked his 'safe' job to become an entrepreneur. He is a motorsports Engineer specialized in Tuning Engines and Transmission, Remap ECU, Fabricate Active and Passive safety systems - Roll Cage Design, EBD system modifications, track strategy, etc. He is the Founder and Chief Engineer at IgNite - a mutibrand car service station specializing in high octane car service, engine blue printing, modifications, regular car service and repairs. IgNite also happens to be Chennai's first 'green' workshop which takes its commitment to environment seriously. The company already has a team called Team Ignite, and he plans to make his mark in Motor Sports in India.

Nikhil Velpanur

He founded Strange Brew Media in 2005 - which started out as a user generated, counterculture magazine that was founded on the premise that if the media could fuel people's minds with news and gossip, it would also be possible to empower and transform them through the pages of a magazine. Strange Brew has grown into a Media house that does award winning work with top brands and Nonprofits by telling stories for them. He also founded a company called Strange Labs. Its first product letshead.to started out as a marketplace for Food and Drink experiences by putting Restaurants and Pubs online. It has been recognized as one of the top ideas of 2009 by Economic Times.. He is a very passionate writer and freelance journalist. He tires of the word photographer, but clients still hire him to take memorable images. He engages with Nonprofits, and sits on the boards of Paradigm Shift Foundation and Jagruti Bone cancer treatment and research trust giving them unsolicited advice that gets implemented

Faith Gonsalves

She is 22 years old and completed her Bachelors in History from Lady Sri Ram College, Delhi University in 2009. In 2008 she founded, "Music Basti" in Delhi, of which she is the Project Officer. "Music Basti", a music education and awareness project works towards empowering 'street children' through music. As a youth led program, it networks with, motivates and sensitizes young people and the music community on issues relevant to children and their rights. Currently working with over 300 children of the "Dil Se" Campaign, Aman Biradari, Music Basti works through the development of an inclusive and participative program, with a focus on helping the children to develop self- identity and confidence, values orientation and attitudes. In July 2009 she was selected for a national program by Ashoka Foundation and Pravah, "Change Looms", a support programme for young people who have started their own initiative for social change, and has participated as a speaker and representative at national conferences such as VIKALP (UNESCO, UNFPA and The YP Foundation), Unconvention Mumbai (British Council and Only Much Louder), Soundbound 2010, and others. In 2009, she was the Editor for YP foundation's annual publication, "'The Bridge: Understanding Afghanistan Today" to celebrate the uniqueness and diversity of Indian and Afghan cultures, as part of an Indo- Afghan youth cultural exchange program..

Mukul Goyal

He is a FRSA ( Fellow of Royal Society of Arts, London), alumnus of Domus Academy, Milan, NID, Ahemdabad, IIT- Kanpur and is currently the Principal Designer and Director at Designwise India Pvt. Ltd. His repertoire of design is full of objects for the home - table, living area, objects for lighting, home decor, functional products His inspirations are drawn from everyday life and his designs are a blend of traditional materials with contemporary expression, uncomplicated yet exuberant - a simple story but always told with a twist. Mukul's work has been featured in various media winning great reviews.

Nitin Gupta

He is the CEO of Entertainment Engineers. He is a Chemical Engineer from IIT Bombay famous for creating a Cult Play 'Love In December'. A play which Subhash Ghai said could put most Bollywood Romantic Comedies to shame. Fresh out of IIT Bombay, he got an offer to perform on Laughter Challenge, the opportunity which he later turned down! The reason is why he founded Entertainment Engineers with a simple mission, to make Stand Up Comedy respectable in India and to create a humor Renaissance in this country. Nitin took to the Stage, College Festivals, Corporate Shows. And in a short span he has already enthralled the Audiences in some of the Biggest College Festivals in India, IITs, NITs, IIMs including their Alumini Meets A Guest Speaker at various E- Cell Platforms and Marketing Conclaves. A TED Favorite. He is widely considered as the most Original Orators of present times. But Theater and Stand Up Comedy is not the only thing on Nitin's Mind. He has already had many offers from Bollywood to make Love in December. But he is in no hurry, as he candidly puts it, 'Love in December is our baby, hence it will be our Home Production.' He soon intends to enter into Advertising.

Alexis Roman

Alexis Roman is the founder and president of the Rain Drop Organization based in France. He�s in India to assist the empowerment of marginalized rural communities through ecosystem restoration and management. During his BA in Political Science, Economics and Religious Studies at McGill University, Montreal, Canada and his Master's degree in International Affairs specialized in Environment and Sustainable Development from Sciences Po Paris, he got acquainted in working with indigenous communities in the Amazon Forest, Ecuador as well as scheduled castes in Rajasthan.His experiences made him appreciate the value of traditional knowledge and environmentally integrated lifestyles. He is now searching to revive/maintain this knowledge to resolve modern issues. Alexis is currently working in the Bargarh communities, Chitrakoot District of the Bundelkhand region, UP, exploring how can human activities function in a harmonious symbiosis with the environment, to ensure that the people who most depend on nature's services can continue to do so.

Sameer Guglani

He is the founding Partner at Morpheus Venture Partners (MVP). He believes in living every moment to its fullest and doing things which he loves, and helps him to always give his best and enjoy the journey. Serial entrepreneur with 10+ years of professional experience, out of which 9+ years have been spent with startups. He has a broad and varied set of experiences and expertise. At the age of 27, Sameer co-founded Madhouse Media in 2004, India's first online/offline movie rentals company and successfully exited with acquisition by Seventymm in 2007. Post acquisition he was Vice President - Corporate Strategy, Seventymm for one year. Before this he has worked startups like Sonim Inc, Telephia, moblf across India, US and Europe.Sameer is also an independent film maker with film festivals movies to his credit. He has a B.E. in Electrical Engineering from Thapar University, India. He loves meeting people, travelling and reading. Sameer is very bullish on Indian startups and believes that 5 years from now startups will contribute to a significant part of the Indian Economy.