Advisory Board
Scott E. Augenbaum
Cybercrime Prevention Trainer @ CyberSecure Mindset Retired FBI Agent
Scott E., a retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent with 30+ years of experience combating cybercrime, is a renowned cybersecurity author, trainer, and speaker. Since 2018, he has delivered tailored cybersecurity awareness sessions worldwide, authored The Secret to CyberSecurity, and appeared on major networks like CNN and FOX to empower individuals and organizations against cybercrime.
Arun Kumar B R
Software Consultant-TITAN Company Ltd
Arun Kumar B. R., Consultant at TITAN Company Ltd., brings over 16 years of expertise in technology solutions, specializing in RFID systems, gaming solutions, CRM, and premium electronic security products. Having held leadership roles at global organizations like New York Technology Partners and Merlinhawk Aerospace, he excels in driving innovative tech strategies and operational excellence.
Prof. K. Pattabhiraman
Academician | Director, IT Logix India
Pattabhiraman K, a BITS Pilani alumnus with 40+ years of experience, is a visionary in product design and innovation. He has pioneered industry-academia programs, mentored numerous careers, and driven global innovation with acclaimed technologies in automation and market-ready solutions.
Lokesh Kumar Manikonda
Ex-Country Head, Novartis
Lokesh Kumar Manikonda, Executive Vice President, is a global health expert with 28+ years of experience in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. As Country Head of Novartis Social Business India, he expanded Arogya Parivar to 18 states, impacting 90 million rural Indians with healthcare access and education. A visionary leader, he is recognized for driving sustainable, inclusive healthcare solutions worldwide.
Krishna Pidatala
International Development Specialist Former Sr. World Bank Official
Krishna Pidatala, a seasoned international development expert with 30+ years at the World Bank, has led transformative initiatives in digital infrastructure, social protection, and agricultural productivity across 35+ countries. An advocate for digital technology in development, he brings expertise in project implementation, impact evaluation, and fostering public-private partnerships, with a career spanning Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East.
P. Ganeswara Rao
Ex-CCM, South Central Railway Director, Celestial IT Services
P. Ganeswara Rao, former Chief Commercial Manager of South Central Railway, brings decades of expertise in operations and strategic management. Now Director at Celestial IT Services, he drives innovation and efficiency in IT solutions, bridging the gap between technology and operational excellence.
Kartik Donepudi
Founder & CTO, Quill AI | Y Combinator-backed Entrepre - neur
Kartik Donepudi is the Founder and CTO of Quill AI, a cutting-edge fintech startup backed by Y Combinator (S23). With a sharp focus on automation in financial analysis, Kartik is building AI-powered tools that are reshaping how analysts extract insights from SEC filings. Under his leadership, Quill AI raised $500,000 in pre-seed funding in 2023. Kartik brings a builder’s mindset, a deep understanding of AI, and startup grit to LeapStart's vision of real-world tech education.
Mehul Mohan
Founder & CEO, Codedamn & Fermion | Tech Educator | Learning Architect
Mehul Mohan is the Founder and CEO of Codedamn, an interactive learning platform for developers, and Fermion, a tool designed to help educators launch scalable, hands-on coding academies. A BITS Pilani alumnus and WWDC 2019 Scholar, Mehul has created content that has empowered over 25 million learners worldwide. His mission? Making tech education immersive, accessible, and deeply practical. At LeapStart, Mehul helps bridge the gap between learning and doing—bringing a product-builder’s mindset and a real-world approach to shaping the next generation of tech talent.
Nikhil Velpanur
Senior Director, AWS | TED Fellow | Innovation Leader
Nikhil Velpanur is a TED Fellow and Senior Director at Ama - zon AWS, where he leads initiatives across Partnerships, Fund - raising, Communications, and the AI Hub. He is also the Prin - cipal of Digital Innovation and heads Web3 & JIC at AWS. A thought leader at the forefront of emerging technologies, Nikhil brings unmatched insight into cloud, AI, and digital eco - systems. His presence at LeapStart inspires students to dream big, build boldly, and drive meaningful change through tech.
Apoorv Shankar
Product Designer | Hardware Innovator | Builder of Iconic Tech Products
Apoorv Shankar is an engineer-turned-product designer known for building intuitive consumer hardware that blends form, func - tion, and user-first design. He has led the development of Ultra - human’s flagship products—including the Red Dot Award-winning Ring R1 and the world’s lightest health wearable, Ring Air. Apoorv also set up the company’s in-house manufacturing unit, Ultra - factory, in Bangalore, and later expanded it to Texas. At LeapStart, he brings the mindset of a maker, combining design thinking with deep-tech innovation to inspire the next generation of builders.
Mithesh Lohiya
Director, Lohiya Group | Business Leader | Co-founder, Street Cause
Mitesh Lohiya is a business leader with a strong foundation in engineering and strategic management. A chemical engineer from CBIT and a postgraduate in MFAB from the Indian School of Business, he currently leads sales and marketing at the Lohi - ya Group. As co-founder of Street Cause, one of India’s largest youth-led NGOs, Mitesh has empowered thousands of students to lead community-driven change. At LeapStart, he brings a unique perspective that blends entrepreneurship, social responsibili - ty, and leadership—inspiring students to think beyond the class - room and build with purpose, impact, and real-world relevance.
Charlie Shelly
VP of Sales | InsurTech & FinTech Growth Leader
Charlie Shelly is a seasoned sales executive and current VP of Sales at a leading FinTech/InsurTech company. With an MBA and a pas - sion for leveraging innovation to solve real-world problems, he is transforming the residential real estate space through future-ready financial solutions. Known for building high-performing teams and scaling revenue, Charlie offers LeapStart students a masterclass in leadership, business strategy, and growth in fast-evolving industries.