Shri Abhishek Singh is a specialist in institutional transformation with a career driving excellence across India’s premier higher education landscape. Having led the Institute of Eminence program at IIT Delhi and strategic initiatives at BITS Pilani, he excels in strategic planning and improving global university rankings. At CSI, he mentors startups on institutional excellence and bridging the gap between technical research and scalable management frameworks.

A. K. Ghosh is a distinguished aerospace expert with a profound influence on India’s flight mechanics and aircraft design landscape. Currently serving as an Independent Technical Advisor for Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and a Professor of Practice at IIT Kanpur, he bridges the gap between high-level academic research and industrial application. With further leadership as an Independent Director at Aeron Systems, he provides CSI startups with critical technical mentorship in aerospace engineering, flight testing, and the development of indigenous defense platforms.

Shri Anil K Gupta is a pioneer in grassroots innovation and a global advocate for recognizing creative communities through the Honey Bee Network. Having led "Shodhyatras" across India to map indigenous knowledge, he bridges the gap between formal sectors and frugal, ground-level solutions. His extensive work includes guiding UNDP Accelerator Labs in 115 countries and coordinating innovation workshops for DRDO and ISRO. He is currently focused on establishing the Academy of Inclusive Innovations to connect corporate resources with global grassroots ingenuity.

Dr. Anamika Dey is a specialist in grassroots innovation and social entrepreneurship, dedicated to scaling sustainable solutions from rural communities. As the CEO of GIAN and a key pillar of the Honey Bee Network, she bridges the gap between indigenous knowledge and modern markets by mentoring innovators through product design and value addition. At CSI, she guides startups on creating inclusive, gender-sensitive technologies and navigating the complex transition from community-based prototypes to market-ready social enterprises.

Dr. Binay Kumar Das is one of India’s foremost defense scientists, currently serving as the Director General of Electronics & Communication Systems (ECS) at DRDO. With a career spanning decades, he has led the Interim Test Range (ITR), where he oversaw the successful flight testing of India’s premier missile systems like Agni, Prithvi, and Akash. His expertise in radar systems, electronic warfare, and satellite communication is a critical asset for CSI.

Shri B. K. Prasad is a seasoned administrator with deep experience in internal security and central governance. Having served at the highest levels of the Ministry of Home Affairs, he understands the intricacies of policy drafting and bureaucratic processes. At CSI, he guides the council’s advocacy efforts, ensuring that startup-friendly policies are communicated effectively to government stakeholders.

Ms Chanchal Kukreja is a qualified Company Secretary and a corporate governance expert. She manages the financial integrity and regulatory compliance of the Council for Startup India.

With a deep understanding of the Companies Act and financial management, she ensures that the organization remains a transparent and efficient vehicle for supporting the Indian startup ecosystem.

Prof. Deepu Philip is a specialist in Industrial and Management Engineering at IIT Kanpur, focusing on decision support systems, smart manufacturing, and logistics. As the Ex-officio Director of FIRST and the PIC for Innovation and Incubation, he leads the strategic vision for one of India’s most successful campus-based startup ecosystems.

Shri J. K. Dash brings over three decades of central banking experience to the council. As an Executive Director at the RBI, he has been instrumental in shaping policies around financial inclusion and the Regulatory Sandbox, which allows Fintech startups to test innovative products in a live environment. His deep understanding of the Indian financial system and regulatory frameworks helps CSI startups navigate the complexities of banking, digital payments, and compliance.

J. V. Ramamurthy is a titan of the Indian IT industry. As the former President and COO of HCL Infosystems, he oversaw the company’s transformation into a multi-billion dollar system integration powerhouse.

With over three decades of experience, he is an expert in hardware manufacturing, ICT services, and global supply chain management. At CSI, he serves as a direct mentor to founders, helping them navigate the complexities of scaling operations and building world-class technology companies.

Prof. Jitender Singh is a veteran aerospace scientist who has worked with the DRDO and National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL).

He was the Program Manager for India's National Civil Aircraft Development program and is the only Flight Test Engineer in India to have worked on the certification of the Airbus A320neo.

At CSI, he works on integrating MSMEs into the high-tech supply chains of the aerospace and defense sectors, fostering localized manufacturing.

K. Subramaniam is a former high-ranking officer of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS) who served as the Deputy CAG.

He is a global expert in public procurement, risk management, and financial oversight, having advised international organizations like the World Bank and various UN agencies.

His expertise ensures that the startups mentored by CSI maintain high standards of financial transparency and audit compliance, making them "investment-ready" for global venture capital.

Shri L. C. Mangal is the Director of the Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory (DEAL), a premier laboratory of DRDO. He is a specialist in advanced communication systems, software-defined radios (SDRs), and satellite-based data links. Under his leadership, DEAL has developed cutting-edge technologies for the Indian Armed Forces. At CSI, he provides technical mentorship to startups in the telecommunications and aerospace sectors, focusing on high-bandwidth, secure communication solutions.

General Manoj Mukund Naravane is a legendary military leader who served as the 28th Chief of the Army Staff. His tenure was marked by strong strategic leadership during the Ladakh standoff and a relentless push for "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-Reliant India) in defense manufacturing.

As CSI’s Chief Strategic Advisor, he leads the initiative to identify and support startups capable of developing indigenous technologies that can replace imports and give the Indian military a technological edge.

Shri Mahavir Pratap Sharma is a global leader in the angel investment community. As a past Chairman of the TiE Global Board, he has mentored thousands of entrepreneurs across the world. He is a serial entrepreneur and an active investor in early-stage startups. At CSI, he focuses on "investment readiness," helping founders refine their pitches and connect with global networks of angel investors and venture capitalists.

Dr. Manindra Agrawal is a world-renowned theoretical computer scientist and the current Director of IIT Kanpur. He is the co-creator of the AKS Primality Test, the first deterministic polynomial-time algorithm for testing primality—a breakthrough for which he won the Gödel Prize and the Fulkerson Prize.

He has also designed private-key encryption for the Indian Armed Forces. His role at CSI is to provide the highest level of scientific and technical guidance for startups in AI, cryptography, and computing.

Shri Mohan Satyarajan is a veteran technologist with over 35 years of experience in building and scaling billion-dollar business units within the global networking and storage industries. Having held senior leadership roles at Cisco and Juniper Networks, he now spearheads innovation in the renewable energy sector as the CEO of Taqanal Energy. At CSI, he leverages his deep technical expertise to mentor startups on high-performance engineering, global technical standards, and the complexities of product scalability in the deep-tech and energy domains.

A 1980-batch IAS officer, N. Ravi Shankar has held significant positions including Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand and Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India.

Throughout his career, he has focused on infrastructure, industrial development, and administrative reforms. At CSI, he provides strategic counsel on navigating state-level policies and leveraging government schemes for startup growth.

Pankaj Gupta is a legal strategist with extensive litigation experience across the Supreme Court and various High Courts. Specializing in corporate law, cyber law, and MSME advisory, he integrates legal proficiency with business acumen to guide clients through complex regulatory landscapes. At CSI, he empowers startups to align legal strategy with business objectives, ensuring resilience and compliance from ideation to scaling.

Throughout his career, he has focused on infrastructure, industrial development, and administrative reforms. At CSI, he provides strategic counsel on navigating state-level policies and leveraging government schemes for startup growth.

Piyush Mishra is a seasoned professional in the startup incubation landscape, currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), IIT Kanpur. With extensive experience in managing one of India’s leading technology business incubators, he specializes in tech-transfer, intellectual property management, and building robust ecosystems for deep-tech ventures. At CSI, he leverages his deep understanding of the academic-to-market pipeline to mentor startups on operational excellence, government funding schemes, and navigating the complexities of commercializing laboratory-born innovations.

Piyush Mishra is a seasoned professional in the startup incubation landscape, currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), IIT Kanpur. With extensive experience in managing one of India’s leading technology business incubators, he specializes in tech-transfer, intellectual property management, and building robust ecosystems for deep-tech ventures. At CSI, he leverages his deep understanding of the academic-to-market pipeline to mentor startups on operational excellence, government funding schemes, and navigating the complexities of commercializing laboratory-born innovations.

Ranganath Sadasiva is a distinguished technology strategist with over 30 years of experience in the ICT industry, currently serving as a leadership figure at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). As a former Director of Enterprise Research at IDC, he is a recognized authority on market trends in Cloud, AI, and edge computing. At CSI, he leverages his deep understanding of hybrid infrastructure and enterprise digital transformation to mentor startups on product-market fit, scalable architecture, and navigating the complexities of the global technology ecosystem.

Shri Ravi Ananth is a finance heavyweight with over 40 years of experience. Having held senior roles at Reliance Industries (RIL), he was a key figure in the financial structuring of mega-projects like Reliance Jio. As the former CEO of GTL Infrastructure, he has extensive experience in managing large-scale infrastructure and telecom assets. At CSI, he leads global finance initiatives, connecting startups with institutional investors and managing large-scale project implementations.

Vice Admiral S. N. Ghormade served as the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, where he was a champion for the "Atmanirbhar Bharat" initiative in the maritime domain. He oversaw the indigenization of critical naval platforms and systems. At CSI, he leads the naval innovation wing, mentoring startups on developing underwater technologies, autonomous vessels, and maritime surveillance systems for the Indian Navy.

Shri Shailendra Singh, a 1988-batch IAS officer, was a key figure at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), where he spearheaded major initiatives under the Startup India flagship program.

His expertise lies in industrial policy, FDI regulations, and building linkages between the industry and the government. At CSI, he focuses on strengthening the ecosystem by connecting startups with established industrial players and ensuring they benefit from DPIIT-led reforms.

Dr. Swapnil Sinha is a scientist-turned-entrepreneur who leads the Bio-Incubation Centre (BioNEST) at IIT Guwahati. With a background in population genetics and experience in co-founding healthcare startups, she is an expert in nurturing early-stage biotech and ed-tech ventures.

Her role at CSI is to guide startups through the rigorous process of taking a laboratory innovation and turning it into a viable, market-ready product.

Lt. Gen. Vinod G. Khandare is a veteran of the Indian Army with over four decades of service in high-intensity operational environments, including Siachen and J&K.

. He served as the Director General of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and later as the Military Advisor to the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) under the Prime Minister's Office.

His expertise in national security and defense strategy is instrumental for CSI’s Defence Innovation wing, helping startups align their technologies with the modernization needs of the Indian Armed Forces.

Lt. Gen. Vinayak Patankar is a highly decorated veteran of the Indian Army with immense experience in high-altitude warfare and counter-insurgency operations. As the former GOC of the 15 Corps, he managed one of the most strategically sensitive regions in India. His strategic foresight and leadership skills are invaluable to CSI’s mission of building a secure and self-reliant defense ecosystem. He advises startups on strategic planning and the operational requirements of the modern soldier.

Shri Vishram Bapat is a pioneer in the Indian IT hardware and software space. He started his career as a Scientific Officer at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), working on classified Air Force projects.

He later founded Databyte, an IT hardware and software company. An IIT Mumbai alumnus, he brings deep expertise in electronics, wireless sensor networks, and defense technology. He leads the technology vision at CSI, focusing on "Make in India" initiatives in the electronics sector.