Every idea, every dream needs a guiding hand.
Here, experience ignites youthful vision.
Together, we shape the future.
The INK Fellows Program, supported by the INK Global Foundation—the non-profit arm of INK—empowers a global, cross-disciplinary community of exceptional young innovators. Each year, through a rigorous selection process, the program handpicks young, disruptive innovators who are actively redefining their fields and influencing the world around them. INK provides these visionaries with a supportive peer group, develops their ideas through training, business mentoring, and financial grants, and accelerates their ability to impact society by giving them public exposure. Since its inception in 2010, the program has nurtured a vibrant network of over 230 young innovators representing diverse disciplines and continents.
The INK Fellows U.S. Roadshow is a key component of the program, introducing Fellows to U.S. audiences including foundations, corporations, and universities. This exposure provides funding and collaboration opportunities, along with mentorship from top experts. At the annual INK conference, Fellows compete for speaking slots, with recorded talks reaching a global audience.
Quarterly webinars and coaching in public speaking prepare Fellows for periodic INK Salons and pitching to potential investors. Mentorship from established INK community members guides Fellows through their entrepreneurial journey, offering invaluable advice. Financial support includes needs-based mini grants for development and operational expenses, and collaboration grants for innovative projects. Fellows also receive training to deliver compelling "INKtalks" and are featured on INK’s digital platforms.
Lakshmi Pratury brought TED to India in 2009, when the first TEDIndia conference was held in Mysore. In December 2010, she curated and hosted the first INK Conference, in association with TED, which carried forward the momentum created by TEDIndia. Lakshmi Pratury brings with her a varied and rich experience that spans for-profit enterprises, venture capital and nonprofit organizations. Featured in the list of ‘100 Most Powerful Women’ by Forbes Asia in 2010, Lakshmi has traversed an incredible distance professionally.
As a social entrepreneur, Lakshmi was a leading force at the American India Foundation (AIF), where she was part of the management team that raised over $30M in five years to channel towards development activities in India. She was the founder of the Digital Equalizer program, which brought technology education to over 100,000 children and 2,000 teachers in India.
Prior to AIF, Lakshmi was a partner at the venture capital firm Global Catalyst Partners. At Global Catalyst Partners, she established relationships between GCP, the development community in India, and key executives in India.
Before this Lakshmi was with Intel Corporation for 12 years and had various roles in marketing, marketing communication, advertising, and evangelizing the developer community.
Lakshmi holds a Bachelors degree in Mathematics from Nizam College, Hyderabad, India. She attended IIT, Mumbai, and has an MBA from the Bajaj Institute, India, and a second MBA from Portland State University, with a minor in theater arts.
Lakshmi has published articles in San Jose Mercury, San Francisco Chronicle, Mint (leading business daily in India), interviewed celebrities, contributed to radio shows, including National Public Radio, and acted in local (US) theater.
Lakshmi has spoken at high-profile conferences like TED Conference in the US, the DLD Conference in Germany, WIRED conference in UK, and more.
Nandini Ashok leads Community Relations at INK. She also manages the attendees for the annual INK Conferences. She is a specialist in Facilities Management and Operations, and prior to INK, she worked at Intel, Sasken and the United Nations (ESCAP-APCTT) with over 20 years experience.
At Intel, she was also responsible for supporting events and senior management visits.
Anu Sethuram, one of INK’s earliest supporters, is the co-founder and president of INK Global Foundation. Her role combines her passion for promoting intercultural exchange and collaboration with her dedication to social empowerment. Anu is instrumental in the success of the U.S. Roadshow, where she continues to champion the organization’s mission and growth. Her commitment to fostering cross-cultural understanding and extensive community engagement efforts are integral to Anu’s role.
Deepika Vardhan Sharma (Dee) brings three decades of experience in business journalism, marketing, and education. Currently responsible for program design and communications at IGF, she was formerly the Director of Marketing and Curation at INK. Dee’s career began in business journalism at The Economic Times in New Delhi, India. In the U.S., she transitioned to marketing, holding strategic roles at NAVAJO Company, a boutique agency with mega-star clients in Silicon Valley. Dee established and became the managing editor for the company’s corporate publications division. Driven by the belief that education shapes the future and stories inspire its architects, Dee reinvented herself as an educator in Taipei, Taiwan. At Taipei American School, she taught English, Economics, and International Relations, designing innovative curricula emphasizing student agency and choice. A lifelong learner, Dee holds master’s degrees in education and economics, with certifications from Stanford and Columbia Universities. Having lived in the U.S., Hong Kong, Taiwan, and India, she strongly believes in fostering inclusive communities.
Balki is currently the Co-founder and Chief Growth Officer of Utopus Insights, a New York-based energy analytics software products company founded in 2017, whose mission is to orchestrate a sustainable future by accelerating the use of renewable energy worldwide. Balki leads all sales and business development initiatives for the company and is passionate about the role of clean energy in changing the world. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Enel Green Power.
Balki deeply values the power of education in empowering people to help make meaningful change. He is Director of Iyer Educational Institutions (IEI) in Bengaluru, India, that runs schools for children with autism, which he co-founded with his wife.
Balki is a recipient of several awards including the prestigious ‘Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business’ award in 2017.
Raj-Ann Rekhi Gill is the Operating Partner at Silicon Valley Quad (SVQ), an angel investing syndicate based in Silicon Valley that focuses on seed round investments in early-stage technology companies. With over 20 years of experience in nonprofit programming and fundraising, she has worked with organizations such as The Asia Society and Museum, American India Foundation, and NEXUS in New York. Raj-Ann holds degrees from Syracuse University and serves on the Syracuse University Board of Trustees. She is dedicated to supporting innovative ventures and fostering global impact through her leadership at SVQ.
Sarayu is the founder of Aapti Institute, a research organization that explores the intersection of technology, society, and public interest. Her experience spans management consulting (McKinsey & Company), venture investing (Elevar Equity), program development and management (Gray Matters Capital), and academic research. She holds a PhD in Political Science from King’s College London, a Master’s in Public Policy from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), and a dual degree in Arts and Law from the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore.
Poonam Gupta’s work bridges technology, sustainability, and social impact. One of India’s early computer programmers, she has brought strategic and creative thinking to both industry and philanthropy, with a consistent focus on driving change in India.
She serves as Honorary Secretary at Saidham, a trust focused on education and healthcare, and leads the India chapter of the Rajeev Motwani Foundation, supporting innovation and entrepreneurship. As Co-founding Partner at FCML Surfaces Pvt. Ltd., she has also championed sustainable practices within the ceramic tile sector—keeping impact at the core of all she does.
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