Event Speakers

Padmaja Ruparel is nationally recognized as a key player in the Indian entrepreneurial ecosystem with a proven track record of mentoring numerous founders over the last two decades. She has been an active angel investor and has helped various start-ups achieve their growth objectives. In her professional journey, she has also worked with various large corporates, M&A, start-ups, and early-stage companies in key leadership roles.

Padmaja Ruparel is the Co-Founder of Indian Angel Network (IAN), India’s single largest platform for seed and early-age investing, which comprises successful entrepreneurs and dynamic CEOs from across the world. Under her leadership, the organization has grown multi-fold in the past 17 years. It boasts of a strong network of close to 500 investors across 10 countries and a portfolio of ~200 companies in 7 countries spanning 17 sectors.

Padmaja Ruparel has been pivotal in establishing IAN’s international operations in London, making it one of the first angel groups to establish a presence outside their home country. She has also played an instrumental role in conceptualizing and launching BioAngels, India's only sector-focused angel investor group, in partnership with BIRAC, the innovation arm of the Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India.

As a forward-thinking leader, Padmaja’s contributions to the Indian entrepreneurial ecosystem are unparalleled as evident in her extensive industry experience. She is actively working with numerous committees of BIRAC, the Ministry of Finance, DPIIT, SEBI, and the National Expert Advisory Committee on Innovation, Incubation, and Technology Entrepreneurship. Additionally, she is a member of the Executive Council of IVCA and even co-leads the LP/Family Office Council, helping shape the pathway of the venture capital landscape in India.

Padmaja was closely involved in setting up the Delhi chapter of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TIE), the world’s largest entrepreneurship-focused organization, having 16,000+ members across 60 chapters in 40 countries. She also partnered with the Indian government to form a unique incubator model with 400 domain experts for mentoring around 50 new companies. Additionally, her role as a member of the Governing Council of EM3 Services and Independent Director on the Boards of Avendus Finance Pvt. Ltd. & Ester Industries Ltd., speaks volumes about her commitment to building a prospering business landscape in India.

As a key member of the Planning Commission's Committee on ‘Angel & Early Stage Investing in India’, Padmajacontributed to a seminal report, ‘Creating a Vibrant Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in India’ as well. She was also an active member in creating the Lankan Angel Network for fostering entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka.