DEAN ACR NEWSLETTER – MAY 2025

From the Dean's Desk May-2025

Prof. Ravindra D. Gudi

Ph.D., FNAE, FNASc & FIIChE
Dean – Alumni and Corporate Relations
Institute AI & ML Chair Professor

“

Dear Alumni,

 

Greetings! It has been an eventful and inspiring few weeks for the Institute, and I am delighted to share some of the recent highlights with you.

 

It gives me great pleasure to begin with a notable update from our alumni community. Two of our Distinguished Alumni, Ritesh Arora and Nakul Aggarwal, co-founders of BrowserStack and graduates of the Class of 2006 (Computer Science, Hostel 6), have pledged a landmark donation of Rs. 100 crore to IIT Bombay. Their generous gift will go toward transforming student living on campus. This remarkable act of giving back reflects the deep and enduring bond our alumni share with their alma mater. You can read more about Ritesh and Nakul’s meaningful contribution in the Alumni Giving section of this newsletter.

 

Our alumni outreach in Singapore and Australia (Sydney and Melbourne) was a heartening reminder of the strength and warmth of the IIT Bombay community worldwide. These gatherings not only celebrated the global achievements of our graduates but also reaffirmed the enduring bonds that connect us across geographies. Do take a moment to read more in the Special Report featured in this issue.

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ALUMNI GIVING




• BrowserStack Co-founders, Ritesh Arora and Nakul Aggarwal

SPECIAL REPORT








• Singapore-Australia Roadshow

CURTAIN RAISER




• FAN Symposium 2025

CHAI AUR SAMOSE PE CHARCHA SERIES








• Dr. Nishikant (Nish) Sonwalkar

CORPORATE COLLABORATION



• Poonawalla Fincorp
• John Cockerill
• Tata Memorial Hospital

ALUMNI STARTUP SPOTLIGHT









Entvin AI Secures $500,000 Funding

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT





Prof. Shireesh Kedare

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT



• IITB Researchers Optimising Indian Railways

• Magnetic Field Regulates Blood Flow

• IITB’s Laser Trick Makes 3D Metal Printing Faster and Stronger

• The Hitchhiking DNA

IITB HUBS IN ACTION



• KCDH - Koita Centre for Digital Health

• SJMSOM - Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management

• C-MInDS in the News

STUDENT SUCCESS STORY



• IIT Bombay Triumphs in Digital Design Hackathon

• Yogastha Receives Global Recognition

LECTURE SERIES









LECTURE SERIES

ALUMNI IN ACTION









Portland Chapter Steps Up

INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS

IIT Bombay Receives National Intellectual Property Award

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IIT Bombay Earns Widespread Recognition

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IITB Wins Top Honour at FICCI BAF Awards

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Faculty Accolades

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IIT Bombay Signs MoU with SKUAST-K

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IIT Bombay Introduces Activity-Based Learning

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IIT Bombay Hosts École Supérieure de Commerce de Paris

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IIT Bombay Hosts Delegation from The University of Oklahoma

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IIT Bombay Hosts Hult Prize India Nationals 2025

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Upcoming Events

From the Dean's Desk May-2025

Dear Alumni,

 

Greetings! It has been an eventful and inspiring few weeks for the Institute, and I am delighted to share some of the recent highlights with you.

 

It gives me great pleasure to begin with a notable update from our alumni community. Two of our Distinguished Alumni, Ritesh Arora and Nakul Aggarwal, co-founders of BrowserStack and graduates of the Class of 2006 (Computer Science, Hostel 6), have pledged a landmark donation of Rs. 100 crore to IIT Bombay. Their generous gift will go toward transforming student living on campus. This remarkable act of giving back reflects the deep and enduring bond our alumni share with their alma mater. You can read more about Ritesh and Nakul’s meaningful contribution in the Alumni Giving section of this newsletter.

 

Our alumni outreach in Singapore and Australia (Sydney and Melbourne) was a heartening reminder of the strength and warmth of the IIT Bombay community worldwide. These gatherings not only celebrated the global achievements of our graduates but also reaffirmed the enduring bonds that connect us across geographies. Do take a moment to read more in the Special Report featured in this issue.

 

Speaking of alumni outreach, if you’re in or around Toronto this June, I warmly invite you to join us at the IITBAA Canada Alumni Connect 2025 on June 14. Several members of our team will be there, and we would love the opportunity to meet you in person, hear your stories, and share exciting updates from campus. It is a wonderful way to strengthen the vibrant bond that connects our global alumni community. Look for more details in the Upcoming Events section of the newsletter.

 

I am also heartened to see how our alumni worldwide continue to make a meaningful impact, and the Portland Chapter is a shining example of this. They have made impressive strides in alumni engagement, increasing donations and driving collaboration in the semiconductor field through the Semi-X initiative. With support from alumni in top tech companies, the chapter continues to build a strong community. For more information, look for the “Alumni in Action” section of the newsletter.

 

Continuing our celebration of alumni, this month’s Chai aur Samose Pe Charcha features Dr. Nishikant Sonwalkar—a trailblazer in solar energy, adaptive learning, and innovation—who graciously shared his insights with us.

 

This month also saw the forging of three impactful collaborations that highlight the Institute’s growing influence in both industry and society. We’ve signed new partnerships with Poonawalla Fincorp and John Cockerill, and launched a joint initiative with Tata Memorial Hospital and TISS. For more details, please refer to the Corporate Collaboration section of this newsletter.

 

In our Alumni Startup Spotlight section, I am delighted to share that Entvin AI, founded by our alumni, Sanskar Jain, Hemant Phalak, and Rishabh Arya, has secured $500,000 in seed funding from Y Combinator. Their AI platform is transforming the FDA drug approval process for pharmaceutical companies worldwide. This achievement is a powerful example of how our graduates continue to drive innovation at the intersection of technology and life sciences.

 

In the Faculty Spotlight this month, our very own Director of IIT Bombay, Prof. Shireesh Kedare, has been elected Chair of the SATU Presidents’ Forum. His appointment at the 2025 General Assembly in Taiwan is a significant recognition of IIT Bombay’s growing global leadership in higher education. As Chair, Prof. Kedare will help strengthen international academic partnerships across Southeast and South Asia.

 

Our Centres of Excellence and academic schools are also making waves across diverse domains. The Koita Centre for Digital Health (KCDH) recently hosted Digital Health Horizons, and SJMSOM’s HR Continuum 2025 convened top HR leaders to discuss the future of workplace culture in an increasingly digital world. In a detailed write-up, The Week featured C-MInDS and its pivotal role in advancing India’s AI revolution. These developments reflect the energy and ambition of our academic ecosystem, and IIT Bombay’s continued leadership in areas of national and global relevance. Please look for more in our section, IITB Hubs in Action.

 

As always, you’ll also find our regular features, including Research Spotlight, Institute Lecture Series, Student Success Stories, Institute Lecture Series, Faculty Accolades, Institute News and Highlights, Upcoming Events, and more in this month’s newsletter.

 

Finally, I want to thank you for staying connected with your alma mater. Your continued engagement, whether through mentorship, collaboration, or support, plays a vital role in shaping the next generation of IIT Bombay graduates and strengthening the Institute’s global impact. We deeply value your presence in our community.

 

Warmly,

 

Prof. Ravindra D. Gudi, Ph.D., FNAE, FNASc & FIIChE
Dean – Alumni and Corporate Relations
Institute AI & ML Chair Professor