Badgers in India: Advancing Innovation and Collaboration through Entrepreneurship
Get ready for an extraordinary utsav in Mumbai! This is your chance to connect with fellow UW alumni from across India and celebrate the incredible impact Badgers are making on the world. Join us in Mumbai for learning and networking, as we spotlight the dynamic ways our alumni and university leaders are shaping the future. Let’s come together to honor our shared legacy and pave the way for the next generation of Indian innovators and entrepreneurs. We can’t wait to see you there!
This event is free to attend but registration is required, and space is limited.
Event Highlights
Panel one: Explore groundbreaking global health collaborations between UW–Madison and India, highlighting key milestones since our last Badger Utsav in 2023.
Panel two: Dive into an engaging discussion on entrepreneurship and India’s evolving investment landscape, featuring insights from industry-leading alumni.
At the conclusion of the panels, enjoy networking and a specially curated lunch. This is your opportunity to chat face-to-face with distinguished speakers, fellow Badgers, and a delegation of more than a dozen UW leaders who are traveling from Wisconsin to connect with you. This event is free to attend, but space is limited. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to engage, learn, and celebrate! RSVP by March 10 to secure your spot.
Event Schedule
| 10–10:45 a.m. | Registration and networking |
| 10:45–11:15 a.m. | Badger Utsav welcome remarks |
| 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. | Panel one with Q & A |
| 12:15–1:30 p.m. | Panel two with Q & A |
| 1:30–3:30 p.m. | Lunch and networking |
Meet Our Speakers
Panel one
Krishna Ella PhD’93
Cofounder, chairman, and joint managing director of Bharat Biotech
Krishna Ella, an alumnus of UW–Madison, is a leading scientist and successful entrepreneur in the field of vaccines. Driven by a firm conviction that today’s neglected diseases will become tomorrow’s pandemics, Ella endeavors to develop technologies to provide innovation and affordable solutions for those diseases. Ella and his wife, Suchitra Ella, returned to India in 1996 to establish Bharat Biotech. The company has delivered more than 10 billion vaccine doses to the poorest and most underserved populations in more than 123 developing countries through UNICEF and Gavi. Ella’s latest work involved the development of COVAXIN®, proved effective through the world’s second-largest efficacy trial. It is India’s first and the world’s fourth SARS-CoV2 vaccine, after vaccines from the U.S. and the UK. It not only saved countless lives but also demonstrated India’s ingenious vaccine development capabilities, and it is priced as low as approximately $3 a dose. For his incomparable contributions to society and industry, the Republic of India, in 2022, conferred him with the Padma Bhushan, the country’s third-highest civilian award.
Anjali Makhija
Trustee and chief executive officer of S M Sehgal Foundation
Anjali Makhija, the trustee and chief executive officer of S M Sehgal Foundation has more than 30 years of experience in the development sector pertaining to gender equity, food security, water security, and community leadership across rural India. Makhija plays a key role in organization and strategy development, stakeholder engagement, and people management, with professional experience in women leadership through collectives, life skills education, and rural governance. She is a certified corporate director through the Institute of Directors, a member of the Internal Committee of Marks and Spencer, a member of the undergraduate board of studies in the Department of Social Work at BPS University–Sonipat, and a member of National Association of Professional Social Workers in India. For her work on rural development, she received the 2023 Social Impact Leader Award from Businessworld and an appreciation certificate as a finalist for the 2023 Amazing Indians Awards from Times Now. As a CEO of Sehgal Foundation, Makhija ensures that women’s empowerment remains a theme across all programs. She plays a key role in integrating gender equity into all internal policies and program implementation. Makhija exemplifies her belief in maintaining an organizational culture that empowers women at every level to promote greater individual and group leadership.
Jorge Osorio MS’88, PhD’96
Director of UW–Madison’s Global Health Institute
Jorge Osorio is a professor in the Department of Pathobiological Sciences in the UW School of Veterinary Medicine. Osorio has had a lengthy career in medical sciences, including virology, field epidemiological studies, vaccinology, antivirals, and vector control programs. He is also the codirector of a Colombia-Wisconsin One Health consortium, a joint effort between the University of Wisconsin and Universidad Nacional in Colombia that is studying emerging diseases and One Health issues. Osorio recently founded VaxThera, a Colombia-based company that will produce vaccines and biologicals for Colombia and the region. He was also a cofounder and chief scientific officer of Inviragen, a biotechnology company that developed a novel chimeric tetravalent dengue vaccine that recently successfully completed phase three clinical trials. He also developed vaccines against chikungunya, influenza, rabies, plague, and many other emerging infectious diseases. Osorio has served as vice president of research and vice president of government affairs for the Vaccine Business Division of Takeda Pharmaceuticals. His industry career also included positions at Heska Corporation (Loveland, CO), Merial Ltd. (Athens, GA), and Chiron-Powderject Vaccines (Madison). He has more than 30 years of research and industry experience with more than 130 scientific publications in international journals and 32 patents.
Erik Iverson
Chief executive officer of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
In June 2016, Erik Iverson joined the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), a nonprofit, mission-driven organization that has been supporting scientific research within the UW–Madison community for nearly a century. WARF is the designated patent management organization for the UW, partnering with university researchers on patenting and licensing their discoveries and providing grants to the UW to support further research. Iverson has more than 20 years of executive experience leading organizations and programs committed to entrepreneurial efforts that positively impact people worldwide. Prior to joining WARF, he served as a lead executive at the Infectious Disease Research Institute, an attorney at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and an attorney within the law firm of Perkins Coie. He holds a bachelor of arts degree from Gustavus Adolphus College, a doctor of law degree from the University of North Dakota, and a master of laws degree from New York University.
Panel two
Rangaswamy Parthasarathy MS’73
Executive chairman of Thirumalai Chemicals Limited
Rangaswamy Parthasarathy, known as “Sarathy,” is the executive chairman of Thirumalai Chemicals Limited (TCL), a leading manufacturer of chemical intermediates and fine chemicals, with operations in India, Southeast Asia, and the United States. Sarathy holds degrees in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology–Bombay and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Under his leadership, TCL focuses on innovation in technology and process development, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, aiming to reduce water usage, minimize waste, and optimize energy consumption. Sarathy has had an extensive career spanning leadership roles in manufacturing, technology development, marketing, and business start-ups across India and the United States. From 2007 to 2011, he served as vice president and president of the Indian Chemical Council, where he played a key role in advancing the industry. Beyond his business responsibilities, Sarathy remains actively engaged in public advocacy, championing policies for clean manufacturing practices in the chemical and process industries. He is also deeply committed to social causes, particularly in the areas of education and health care. As the founder of the Vedavalli Schools and a trustee of the Thirumalai Mission Hospital, he supports rural development, health care services, and women’s empowerment across more than 350 villages in South India.
Archit Gupta ’08
Founder and chief executive officer of Clear
Archit Gupta is the founder and CEO of Clear (formerly ClearTax), a leading financial technology platform in India that simplifies tax filing, invoicing, and investment solutions for individuals and businesses. Under his leadership, Clear has grown to become one of India’s foremost tax and financial compliance platforms, serving millions of users and helping to digitize financial services in a rapidly changing regulatory landscape. Gupta holds a bachelor of technology degree in computer science from the Indian Institute of Technology–Guwahati. He furthered his education with a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he developed a strong foundation in technology and innovation, later applying these skills to the fintech space. His work with Clear reflects his commitment to leveraging technology to simplify complex financial processes, improve transparency, and drive accessibility in India’s financial ecosystem.
Neha Alluri ’15
Cofounder and director of the Manduva Project
Neha Alluri is the cofounder and director of the Manduva Project, headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana. The business sources handmade quality food products from a cottage industry of more than 40 women, providing them with supplemental income. The Manduva Project has more than 20 products and has penetrated several markets across the country, beyond the primary metropolitan and cosmopolitan cities. It also currently stocks and sells through its own website and Amazon India. Prior to cofounding the Manduva Project, Alluri worked with Navabharat Limited, an edible oil processing and refining business, where she worked on corporate social responsibility initiatives, operations, and marketing. In Mumbai, she worked with Dasra, a strategic philanthropy foundation, to aid the organization with institutional support for nonprofits in India. Alluri is an ardent food lover and explorer, and she enjoys experimenting and ideating. She also enjoys spending time with friends and family and tries to develop and hone her curiosity on a wide range of topics.
Ravi Mariwala ’88
Managing director of Scientific Precision Pvt. Ltd. and founder and CEO of SmaartWater
As the founder and vice chairman of SmaartWater, Ravi Mariwala has developed 10 technology platforms and more than 20 solutions that collectively treat and harvest more than 200 million liters of water. His second venture, Ivar Carbons, focuses on renewable, coconut-shell-derived specialty carbons for air and water purification, mining, and the oil and gas sectors. Part of the Marico promoter group, Mariwala serves on the boards of multiple companies and foundations. He contributes to the FICCI Water and Sanitation Committee, shaping sustainable water policies for India. As an early-stage investor, Mariwala supports ventures in technology, sustainability, and social impact and actively backs initiatives in conservation, education, and human rights. Mariwala holds a bachelor of science in chemical engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of Delaware. His past roles include being a member of the Research Council of India’s Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (2020–23), a founding adviser to Stanford University’s Tech and Innovation Group for Human Rights and International Justice (2018), and an adjunct faculty member at the Institute of Chemical Technology–Mumbai (2014–19).
Dan Olszewski ’87
Goldberg Family Director of the Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship
Dan Olszewski directs the Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship at the Wisconsin School of Business. During his 18-year tenure, he has worked with more than 4,000 students and earned numerous teaching awards. While at UW–Madison, he has helped launch the Morgridge Entrepreneurial Bootcamp, the Creative Destruction Lab, and many other entrepreneurial initiatives. Prior to joining the UW, Olszewski was CEO of Parts Now. During his tenure, revenues at the global imaging supplies company increased from $26 million to more than $400 million. Prior to that, he was a consultant at McKinsey & Company. Currently, Olszewski holds board positions at First Business Financial Services (NASDAQ: FBIZ) and the National Guardian Life Insurance Company. He has previously served on the boards of various start-ups, midsize businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Olszewski is a proud graduate of UW–Madison with a bachelor’s degree in economics and computer sciences and received an MBA from the Harvard Business School.
Sponsors
This event is presented in partnership with the Global Health Institute, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, the Center for South Asia, and the Wisconsin Alumni Association®.
Additional Information
When you register, please inform us of any dietary needs, accommodations (such as captions or interpreting services), or other needs.
The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association continues to monitor and follow the latest public health guidance from local authorities and will hold this event in accordance with those recommendations. If updated guidance requires changes to the event, registrants will be notified via email or event signage.
