Leadership Team
Meet the visionaries leading IFIA Bharat towards a future of innovation.
Anand Kannan
National Director
National Director, driving strategic initiatives and operations, ensuring organizational growth and impactful leadership at a national level.
Dr.Marcelo Vivacqua
Principal Mentor
Veterinary doctor, biotech innovator, TOP100 inventor, ABIPIR founder, and creator of IFIA-ABIPIR Global Startup Connections Program.
Dr. KARTHIK RAMESH
Board Director
Healthcare technology leader, AI/ML pioneer, Sentinel AI ML Labs founder, 100+ awards recipient, and digital transformation expert with 25+ years of global CXO experience across financial services and healthcare platforms.
Dr. Sapna Poti
Board Member
Strategic alliances leader, fostering innovation, industry-academia partnerships, research collaborations, skill development, and advancing India's startup ecosystem.
Dr.INV.Shivakiran Makam
Board Member
Visionary driving affordable healthcare, rural startups, innovation, sustainable technologies, and mentoring in incubator ecosystems and product development.
Dr.Satish M Bhavankar
Board Member
Visionary leader empowering startups to scale nationally and globally, driving innovation, strategic growth, and entrepreneurial success.
Sanjay Koppikar
Advisory board
Bangalore serial entrepreneur, IIMB alum, EvoluteIQ/Quadwave co-founder, author, TEDx speaker, launching “Million Mutinies” for social impact.
Dr. Uma Nambiar
Advisory board
Neurosurgeon, healthcare CEO, digital health advocate, international consultant across Indian-African-Sri Lankan systems, and mentor to healthcare industry leaders with 40+ years of medical excellence.
Mr.Ganesh Hegde
IFIA Advisory Board
Project management expert, specializing in implementing and managing impactful initiatives to ensure operational efficiency and organizational success.
Dr.Chef Avin Thaliath
IFIA Advisory Board
Accomplished culinary expert and educator with extensive experience in hospitality management, specializing in oenology, tourism, and strategic industry leadership.
Dr.Sharathchandra R G
IFIA Advisory Board
Researcher in fungal endophytes, desiccation tolerance, and proteomics, leading funded projects and presenting globally in plant biotechnology.
Mr.Vishwas Rao
IFIA Advisory Board
Finance and Operations expert with 20+ years' experience in cost management, process optimization, and stakeholder collaboration for sustainable growth.
Mr.Akarshak Bose
IFIA Projects Director-North & East India
Leads project implementation across North and East India, ensuring operational excellence, regional impact, and high-quality outcomes.
Jake Mendelssohn
IFIA Children & Youth Innovation Wing
With an engineering degree, MBA, and 36 years supporting K-12 innovation, he designs products, teaches, and fosters creativity globally.
Juli Shively
IFIA Children & Youth Innovation wing
COO at Innovation World™, co-founder of GIFT, supporting global student innovation with 30+ years of operations expertise.
K.SENTHILKUMAR
IFIA Advisory Board
Distinguished member of the IFIA Advisory Board.
Mr.Onkar Gauridhar
IFIA Bharat Maharashtra Head
Leads IFIA Bharat's work in Maharashtra.