Mentors & Advisors - CZeroC - Carbon Zero Challenge

Dr Indumathi M Nambi is the Principal Coordinator of CZC from IIT Madras.

She spearheads the entire project and manages it strategically.

Dr Indumathi M Nambi, Professor, Environment and Water Resources Division, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras, is the Principal Coordinator of CZeroC.Dr. Indumathi Nambi has been instrumental in visualising this competition in September 2016, and leading this initiative since its inception.

She holds a Ph.D in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Clarkson University, NY. She has been a Post-doctoral Research Associate at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before joining IIT Madras.

CZC Cleantech Pitchfest

Keynote address by Padma Bhushan Dr T Ramasami – a distinguished scientist, inventor and innovator Experience sharing from cleantech entrepreneurs like Ms. Ami Shah, Mr. Mukundan ‘Mux’ Narasimhan and Mr. Narasimhan Santhanam

Sarath Naru

CZC Training Bootcamp

2-day Entrepreneurship Bootcamp at IIT Madras with best professionals covering modules on customer validation, go-to-market strategy, product development, cost structure, revenue models and pricing, designing business model and pitching the business.

Dr Sriram Krishnan

Sriram Narasimhan

Total 33 years of experience – Industry and Teaching

Work Experience:

Professor & Management Consultant, Saveetha Engineering College, Thandalam, TN (2015 – 2016)
Advisor with Sundaram Clayton Limited – Till July 2014
PRESIDENT, HARITA-NTI LIMITED – September 2000 – Till August 2012
Accumulates more than 3 decades of professional expertise and has been associated with TVS Group throughout his tenure

Pradip Subramaniam

Pradip is the CEO of Growtech Innovations which is an Innovative Start-Up that focuses on providing End to End Products and Solutions in the Idea to Market domain (I2M) by the right mix of Technology and Marketing Insights. He has an Industry experience of about 23 years. In his previous roles, Mr. Pradip was Director-Innovation and development (Philips India), VP at Global Value Innovation Centre (PepsiCo), Program lead (GE-Global research), Head R&D (L.G), Manager-Development(Hitachi), Manager Design (ABC Bearings Ltd) and Design Engineer (HMT Ltd).

He has numerous Publications and Patents in the field of Refrigeration under his name. Mr. Pradip has completed his Master’s degree in Applied systems engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from L.D College of Engineering, Ahmedabad.

Dr Prakash Maiya

Dr MP Maiya is a Professor at Department of Mechanical Engineering at IIT Madras. He also heads the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Laboratory since 1999. His research interests include:

Thermodynamics
Heating and Cooling
Air conditioning and ventilation
HVAC system applications
Refrigeration

Dr Ranga Rao

Dr Ranga Rao is a professor at Department of Chemistry, IIT Madras. His expertise include:

Surface chemistry and spectroscopy
Solid state electrochemistry
Heterogeneous catalysis : new materials for catalysis and electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, environmental catalysis and energy storage applications
Materials chemistry: synthesis and applications of new layered-, hybrid-, porous- and nano-materials

Krishnamurti Rao

Mr Krishnamurti Rao is a senior IT Professional, with over 30 years’ work experience in India’s largest Software Companies, spread over multiple geographies and technologies. His expertise in business include customer and vendor Management, Systems’ Performance and Value creation for Business, Strategy, Process and Productivity.

Mr Rao holds an MBA from IIM Calcutta and a B.Tech in Electronics Engineering from IIT Madras.

Mr. Raghuttama Rao

Mr. Raghuttama Rao brings more than 20 years of management consulting and financial advisory experience serving corporate, infrastructure, multilateral, and banking clients across a wide variety of engagements. He worked as Chairman, IMaCS Virtus Global Partners Inc. after serving as Director of ICRA Management Consulting Services (IMaCS). He has spearheaded several engagements for World Bank, ADB, and other multilateral agencies in the areas of regulatory reform and development strategy and has implemented risk management systems for banks and financial institutions in several countries in South Asia, Middle East, and Africa. Mr. Rao’s educational qualifications are: Fulbright Scholar at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA; Post Graduate Diploma in Management from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad; Cost & Management Accounting from Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India; and Bachelor of Technology (Mechanical Engineering) from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.

Mr Raghuttama Rao was the key person to devise parameters for judging and headed the CZC Judging Committee. His inputs were vital in the process of Judging the shortlisted 54 teams on July 18, 2017 interview. Mr Rao acts as an active mentor and advisor to the CZC Organizing Team.

Dr. Lalit Chordia

Dr. Lalit Chordia, Ph.D., founded Thar Technologies, Inc. in 1990 and serves as its President. Dr. Chordia co-founded Suprex Corp. in 1981. He also founded Thar Technologies (formerly Thar Designs). He has over 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur, researcher and engineer in the pharmaceutical and food markets. He has been the Chairman of Thar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. since 2010 and has been its Director since 2007.

He earned his PhD at Carnegie-Mellon University. He received his B.S. in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in 1980 and his doctorate in chemical engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University in 1985.

Dr Lalit is one of our proud mentors of CZC teams. His expert mentorship has helped more than 10 CZC teams to pivot their prototype building from the technology aspect to a product that clearly satisfies market’s needs.

Dr Ravi Krishna

Dr Ravi Krishna’s expertise fall under the scope of Environmental Sciences and Engineering with specific focus on fate and transport of pollutants in the environment.

Passive Release of Bioaerosols from different sources
Behavior of Aerosols in Urban Environment
Fate and Transport of NAPLs in Earthen Media
Photocatalytic Treatment of Organic Wastes
Contaminated Sediments – Remediation / Fate and Transport

Jagannath Samavedam

Jagannath brings with him extensive experience in project finance and corporate banking gained through his 11 year stint with ICICI Bank as the zonal head of corporate banking business for the southern region. This gave him an opportunity to work with leading companies in the region for structuring financial solutions to their requirements.

Jagannath holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the Osmania University in Hyderabad, India, and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, in Lucknow, India. A self-confessed book worm who loves to explore a wide variety of books, he is also passionate about his weekend club that assists young adults to polish up their communication skills.

Dr K Shanti Swarup

Dr Swarup is a renowned expert in the field of electrical engineering and power systems. His expertise include following research areas:

Computer Modeling, Simulation, Analysis of Electrical Power Systems
Numerical Optimization of Power Systems
Digital and Numerical Protection of Power Systems
Substation and Distribution System Automation
Energy management Systems and SCADA

Dr Srinivasa Reddy

Dr Srinivasa Reddy is a Professor at Dept of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras. He focuses on the fundamental and applied studies on renewable energy technologies – solar energy, energy and environment analyses, fossil & renewable power plant engineering and thermal property characterization of two-phase aterials.

Dr Lelitha Devi Vanajaksh

Dr Lelitha Devi is an Associate Professor in the Transportation Engineering Division at IIT Madras. Prior to this, she worked with the Texas Transportation Institute and was a Research Assistant at Translink Research Group. Her research interests include Traffic flow modeling, intelligent transportation systems and Traffic Operations and Management.

Dr Lelitha holds a PhD from Texas A&M University, Texas, USA.

Dr. Ashwin Mahalingam

Dr. Ashwin Mahalingam is a faculty in the Building Technology and Construction Management division of the Civil engineering department at IIT-Madras. Ashwin received his B.Tech in Civil engineering from IIT-Madras and then proceeded to Stanford University for a Masters in Construction Engineering and Management. He then helped start up an internet based company in the USA called All Star Fleet, aimed at providing asset management services for construction companies. Following this he returned to Stanford University to pursue a PhD in the area of Infrastructure Project Management. Ashwin’s current research interests are in the areas of Infrastructure planning and management, risk assessment and allocation, mechanisms for shaping successful infrastructure projects and Cross-cultural issues on global infrastructure projects; He also does a lot of work in the areas of sustainability and social entrepreneurship.

Dr Vinu

Dr Vinu is an Asst Professor in Chemical Engg Dept, IIT Madras and a Chemical Engineer researching in the frontier areas of:

Lignocellulosic biomass conversion to valuable liquid intermediates via thermochemical conversion techniques
Liquid fuels from renewable feedstocks such as waste plastics, algae and MSW
Coal conversion using thermochemical techniques
Renewable materials/composites from lignin
Novel strategies for deconstruction of lignocellulosic biomass

Dr Vinu holds a B.Tech in Chemical Engg from AC College of technology, Guindy and a PhD from Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.

Dr. Anand Krishnasamy

Dr. Anand Krishnasamy received his PhD from Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India in 2010. He worked as Post Doctoral Research Fellow at Engine Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA for three years from 2010 to 2013 before joining IIT Madras.

His research interests includes experimental and numerical investigations on low temperature combustion engines, automotive fuel surrogate modeling and developing high efficiency, clean combustion engines through fuel modifications.

Mr Rajan Srikanth

Mr Rajan Srikanth is the Singapore/Chennai Co-President of Keiretsu Forum and works between Silicon Valley, Singapore and Chennai. Rajan brings over 20 years of experience in management consulting. A recognized thought leader in strategy, leadership and human capital, he has published and been quoted in the business media.

Rajan is Managing Director of SmartKapital, a venture advisory firm designed to facilitate rapid revenue and profit growth for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in India and South-East Asia and maximize value to their Investors. Srikanth has been actively investing in and mentoring startups for the last 10 years, and is currently involved with a US-based healthcare compliance startup, and an India-based predictive analytics startup. Srikanth leads the Golden Jubilee Alumni Fund activities of IIT Madras. He is a Founding Member of the United Way India board, and also serves on the board of United Way, Chennai.

Srikanth holds a PhD from the Stern School of Business, New York University and a Bachelors degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India.

Mr Rajan Srikanth advises and mentors CZC Organizing Committee extensively to make the competition, a grand success.

Dr. Narayanan Menon Komernath

Professor Komerath has directed the John J. Harper Wind Tunnel and the Experimental Aerodynamics and Concepts Group at Georgia Tech’s Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering since 1990. He is a 2002 Fellow of the NASA Institute of Advanced Concepts, Sam Nunn Senior Security Fellow, and 2004 Boeing Welliver Fellow. He holds 3 US Patents, and has published 8 books including one on Micro Renewable Energy Systems, 2016) and over 420 papers. He has served as a founding panel member of the NASA-funded Eighth Continent Chamber of Commerce project to develop a Space Economy. He was recognized with the `Bharat Gaurav’ (Pride of India) by the Friends of India Society International in 2013.

Dr Narayanan visited IIT Madras to mentor many CZC finalist teams in early December 2017. He also conducted a seminar on Rural Energy Self- Reliance – A Roadmap.

Dr Gowri Kowtha

Dr Hiran Vedam

Dr Hiran Vedam is the MD of nH2 Ltd., and a Startup advisor. Before joining nH2, Hiran was Senior Manager, Industry Liaison at the National University of Singapore (NUS) where she was involved in spinning-off companies, licensing technologies to commercial companies and in business development activities to promote collaboration between NUS and industry.

Dr. Hiran has more than 10 years experience transitioning technologies from research to market in the context of large multi-national corporations, SMEs and in academic settings.

Hiran has a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University, an MBA from INSEAD and a B.Tech from IIT Madras.

S. Rajendran

Mr Mukundan Narasimhan

Dr Qadeer Ahmad Khan

Dr Qadeer Khan has more than 15 years of Design, Development and Research experience in the field of Analog/Mixed Signal ICs/Systems with specialization in Power Management and User Interface which include DC-DC Converters (Buck, Boost, Buck-Boost), Charge-pumps, Motor Drivers, Haptics Drivers (ERM and LRA), LED Drivers, Smart Battery Interface and LCD/AMOLED display power supplies for Mobile Phones and Automotive Industry.

Dr Qadeer holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering with 16 U.S. Patents and 20 IEEE publications

Krishnamurti Rao

Mr Krishnamurti Rao is a senior IT Professional, with over 30 years’ work experience in India’s largest Software Companies, spread over multiple geographies and technologies. His expertise in business include customer and vendor Management, Systems’ Performance and Value creation for Business, Strategy, Process and Productivity.

Mr Rao holds an MBA from IIM Calcutta and a B.Tech in Electronics Engineering from IIT Madras.

Achuthan Nedunghat

Mr Achuthan is an Electrical Engineer by profession with MS (by research) from IIT Madras with a combined experience of 40 years in research, consultancy, education, engineering, skill development, entrepreneurial practices, mechatronics based product design considering Reliability, FTA, FMECA, MTBF, MTRR, Availability etc. He has expertise in sensor development, embedded controllers, power electronics, technical documentation, manufacturing procedures etc.

Vignesh Nandakumar

Vignesh is an energy professional with extensive experience in starting, sustaining and building new businesses and leading diverse, high performing teams in different global markets. He is passionate to work with people to solve problems, and create new opportunities. Leader with cross-functional stake holder management, internal and external, across equity partners, lending partners, execution and legal partners.

During his previous stint at Sunedison as Vice President, he was responsible for M&A and project development of solar PV projects in India, Thailand and South Africa, generating over $450 M in revenue, over $130 M in margins, and additional 450 + MWs of contracted cashflow for future pipeline.

Dr Aravind

Dr Aravind is Asst Professor in the Dept of Chemical Engg, IIT Madras. His specializations include Solar cells, Solar water splitting, Carbon dioxide reduction, Photoconductivity, Oxide semiconductors. Dr Aravind holds a PhD from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Master of Science from France and Poland and a Bachelor’s degree from Anna University, Chennai.

Dr Ashok Jhunjhunwala

Dr Ashok Jhunjhunwala is Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras at Chennai, India. After his B.Tech from IITK, he got his MS and PhD from the University of Maine. From 1979 to 1981, he was with Washington State University as faculty. Since 1981, he has been teaching at IIT, Madras.

Dr. Jhunjhunwala is considered the pioneer in nurturing Industry -Academia interaction in India towards R&D, Innovation and Product Development. He conceived and built the first Research Park (IIT Madras Research Park) in India which houses over 100 R&D companies in its 1.2 million square feet built-up area. TIE conferred him the title of Dronacharya for his contributions to the cause of entrepreneurship, as he incubated and nurtured over 100 companies at IIT Madras. He heads the IITM Incubation Cell and Rural Technology and Business Incubator (RTBI). He founded and had been leading the Telecommunications and Computer Networks group (TeNeT), which has worked closely with industry in the development of a number of products for Indian telecom, banking and power industries.

Dr Ashok Jhunjhunwala has been one of the foremost mentors for Carbon Zero Challenge since the start of the contest. He encouraged student innovations and welcomed the idea behind the contest – innovation in the area of renewable energy.

The original scope of the contest when started in Sep 2016, was only to identify innovative ideas to solve India’s unique energy problems using renewable energy. Dr Jhunjhunwala was the visionary who suggested that the innovation must not stop just in the ideation phase but has to be materialized for all practical purposes and hence developing prototypes should be a key part of the contest.

As per his advice and guidance, the scope of CZC contest was expanded to development of prototypes. This was a key milestone in the whole CZC journey.

Dr Abdus Samad

Dr Abdus Samad is an Associate Professor at the Department of Ocean Engineering – IIT Madras, and teaches Ocean and Petroleum engineering subjects and works on several projects from different national and international bodies. Dr Samad holds several patents in the US and Indian patent offices and have contributed to more than 150 journal and conference articles. Dr Samad is a chartered engineer (CEng-MIMechE) and also an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Fluid Machinery and Systems. Dr Samad was recently awarded the Young Scientist Award.

Dr Abdus Samad holds a bachelor’s (2001) and master’s (2004) degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Aligarh Muslim University (India) and a PhD degree (2008) from Inha University (Republic of Korea).

CZC Advisors, Mentors and Judges