AspireLabs Mentors

Ranjit Singh

Founder–AspireLabs, Reimagine Plastic Director & Mentor–Legistify, Co-create Change, Creative Clutch

Mr. Ranjit, with over three decades of experience in corporate management across Indian, international, and multicultural business environments, excels in driving corporate growth and turnaround initiatives. He has held key positions such as Managing Director at Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited (KPTL) and Global COO and Board Member at Polyplex Corporation Limited, significantly contributing to their globalisation and sustainable profitability. Mr. Ranjit’s expertise spans various industries, including infrastructure, plastics, specialty chemicals, automotive, financial services, education, and strategy consulting. As a transformational leader, he focuses on sustainability and ESG strategies, actively consulting, mentoring, and investing in startups. Mr. Ranjit is the founder of Aspirelabs, an accelerator with a focus on sustainability, and Reimagine Plastic, an initiative promoting circular economy models. His interests lie in the circular economy and upcycling, and he serves as a mentor, investor, and advisor in diverse fields, including sustainability, education, mental health, and rural development. Mr. Ranjit also contributes as a member of the Board of Governors at IIM Jammu.

Sophie van den Berg

International Solid Waste Expert and Plastic Recycling Business Adviser ✔Africa ✔Asia ✔LatinAmerica at WASTE (www.waste.nl), The Netherlands

Sophie van den Berg is a chemical engineer and holds an MSc degree in Environmental Science. She has more than 25 years of international experience in the assessment of solid waste management systems, economic and environmental viability analysis of resource recovery systems, and marketing studies for recyclables. She has the following expertise in private sector development: implementation, financing, and coordination of productive micro-projects in solid waste management, including training and coaching for income generating activities aimed at SMEs. Other experiences include business development of (plastic) waste recycling plants, participatory planning, environmental sustainability, and gender equality, in emerging and developing countries. Her passion is to grow plastic recycling companies that generate social and environmental impact in Africa and Asia. She identifies early-stage impact businesses, supports them to be viable for scale and investment-ready and matches them with investment funds.

Prof Anup K Ghosh

Technical Expert – Emeritus Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, IIT Delhi

Prof. Anup K. Ghosh, an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at IIT Delhi, has over 29 years of research experience. With over 1300 citations and an h-index of 20 and 8 patents to his credit, he is regarded as a global leader in polymer processing and rheology, having significantly contributed in the areas of reactive processing of polymer blends and alloys and microcellular processing. He has made outstanding contributions to blend morphology development during reactive extrusion. The lamellar structure formation mechanism proposed by him has been cited by renowned researchers Paul (Journal of Macromolecular Science, Part C, 2007) and Han (Polymer, 1999). He has uniquely used rheology as a tool for morphology prediction and the subsequent processability of polymers. Known for his understanding of the foamability of polymers, he has developed microcellular scaffolds, which have been successfully tested for cell growth in AIIMS.

Jeroen Ijgosse

Sustainability Expert – 25 Years experience, Global Impact, Waste Management

Jeroen IJgosse, MSc in International Development Technologies Sciences, brings 25 years of expertise in integrated sustainable waste management (ISWM) and sustainable sanitation across Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe. His extensive experience spans diverse countries, including Belize, Brazil, India, and Tanzania. Jeroen excels in waste policy development, institutional capacity building, environmental fiscal reform, and financial waste management. As the Programme Director of FINILOOP, he currently leads a three-year initiative in India, collaborating with partners to enhance city-wide plastic waste management and uplift livelihoods in the plastic waste value chain. Jeroen is a seasoned expert, well-versed in the operational policies and guidelines of international funding agencies such as the World Bank, IADB, KfW, and GiZ.

Ajay Batra

CEO, Uniqorn Growth Partners, Angel Investor and Startup Mentor

Ajay Batra is a seasoned entrepreneur, angel investor, and startup mentor who has helped numerous ventures grow and succeed. He is currently the CEO of Uniqorn Growth Partners, a global startup advisory firm. He has over 25 years of experience starting and scaling up his own businesses and guiding other ventures in their journey of discovery and growth. Also, he has been a consultant to stellar corporations like Accenture, IBM, Sony, Wipro, and TCS and has worked with highly respected organisations like the Azim Premji Foundation, the Wadhwani Foundation, and the Times Group. His professional experience spans diverse work and social cultures across geographies—India, the USA, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Russia, the UK, and Sweden, to name a few countries.

Mohan Krishnan

Marketing Researcher, MD TPCKI, visiting faculty-IIT Bombay,TERI University & IIFT Delhi & Kolkata

Mohan has over twenty-five years of experience in the research and consulting industry. His experience spans diverse sectors in the area of technology and marketing issues. He has advised private and public sector companies, associations, and forums in sectors such as consumer goods, ICT, energy, environment, logistics, steel, automotive, and financial services markets. Mohan has contributed several articles and research papers on a wide range of subjects. He is also a regular speaker and a visiting faculty member at IIT Bombay, TERI University, and IIFT Delhi and Kolkata. He started his career as an engineer in the sustainable development sector at Development Alternatives, then moved to the consumer research area at IMRB International, where he later specialised in technology research, before moving to head a sister company, Henley Centre, a marketing consulting firm. He returned to IMRB to head BIRD, a B2B and technology research unit in Mumbai, before moving to Delhi to head consumer quantitative and SRI between 2008 and 2010. He also headed the quality improvement function both as an employee and as a consultant between 2011 and 2012 before starting his NGO in the education sector. He’s also on the on the advisory boards of a few start-ups: The Peninsula Centre, a think tank using geo-located information; The Peninsula Studios; and Buysmaart.com/Enixta. In addition, he’s a director at the Centre for Marketing in Emerging Economies, IIM Lucknow. He has an MBA in Marketing Management from FMS and a B.Tech. from IIT Delhi.

Brinda Sharma

Programme Lead, TOP

Brinda Sharma is an experienced development professional with over two decades of expertise in programme management and implementation across various sectors, including healthcare, women’s education, and solid waste management. Currently serving as a programme lead at Trust of People, she demonstrates strong leadership in driving initiatives aimed at community development and sustainability in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.

Prabhat Pani

Executive Director of ‘Centre for Innovation in Sustainable Development’, S.P. Jain Institute of Management

Since 2019, Prabhat Pani has been associated with the top management institute, SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai, currently as the Executive Director of ‘Centre for Innovation in Sustainable Development’ and as a teaching faculty member, and earlier as Chairperson of the Post Graduate Programme in Development Management. During 2016–2022, Prabhat Pani was associated with the premier philanthropic organisation, Tata Trusts. His last role was as Senior Advisor for Partnerships, and earlier he was operationally managing diverse portfolios, including as Head of Partnerships and as Head of Programmatic Technology. During the previous 30+ years, Prabhat has managed leadership roles in for-profit entities in FMCG, telecom, and hospitality spaces, much of it in various entities in the Tata Group. He is a member of the Board of Governors of IIM-Sambalpur, a Trustee in Tata Power Community Development Trust and in Everest Foundation, and on the Governing Council of YES Foundation.

Krishna Reddy

Vice President, Head R&D, New Product Development, Polyplex

With over 35 years in the industry, Krishna leads R&D, new products, technical services, sustainability, and new application development. His contributions have earned Polyplex recognition as a top global film supplier, marked by over 30 worldwide patents. Krishna’s focus on innovation has led to pioneering sustainable packaging solutions, including ultra-high barrier films and transparent barrier films. His impact extends beyond industry norms, positioning Polyplex as a standout provider of specialty products.

Gautam Biswas

General Manager, Polyplex Corporation Ltd

Gautam Biswas is a seasoned professional with over three decades of experience in the packaging industry, currently serving as the Deputy General Manager (R&D) at Polyplex Corporation Ltd. With a career spanning various roles in innovation, development, quality management, and sustainability, Gautam has a proven track record of driving profitability and fostering innovation in packaging solutions. His expertise lies in re-engineering processes, interacting with brand owners, and spearheading new development initiatives. Prior to his current role, Gautam held key positions at leading companies such as Paharpur (Flexible Packaging), Kavin Care Group, Orient Press Ltd. and JM Patel Group, accumulating a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field.

Saurabh Agnihotri

Chief of Operations, FINISH SOCIETY

Sourav Aghnotri is a dedicated professional with over a decade of experience in project management and leadership roles within the development sector. Currently serving as the Chief of Operations at Finish Society–India, he plays a pivotal role in managing initiatives related to sanitation, waste management, and water recycling across multiple states in India. With a proven track record of effectively liaising with donors, CSR partners, and government agencies, Sourav oversees a team of 200 executive functionaries, ensuring the successful execution of projects aimed at societal betterment. His previous positions as National Head of Projects and Regional Project Manager highlight his expertise in driving impactful initiatives and contributing to the governance of organizations dedicated to social and environmental causes. Sourav’s background in both project management and relationship management, gained from his tenure at TATA AIG General Insurance Company Limited, underscores his versatility and commitment to driving positive change.

Dr. Ishwer Singh

Retd. Director, CIPET, Amritsar

Dr. Ishwer Singh is a highly qualified professional with a Ph.D. in Industrial Management in Plastics Technology. With extensive experience, he served as Deputy Manager and Research Associate before holding a prominent position as Chief Manager/Director at the Central Institute of Plastics Engineering & Technology (CIPET), Government of India. Notably, he is currently a technical consultant for plastics waste management at Khanna Paper Mills, Asia’s largest paper mill, specialising in waste paper recycling. Dr. Singh has undertaken various international programmes and initiatives, contributing significantly to the field of plastics technology.

Prof. Chetan Chitre

Assistant Professor (Economics), Indian Institute of Management, Amritsar

Chetan Chitre is an experienced academic and professional with a diverse background in economics and management. With over a decade of experience in teaching and academic roles, combined with several years of corporate experience in managerial positions, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his current role as Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Management Amritsar.

Prof. Mahima Gupta

Associate Professor at Indian Institute of Management, Amritsar

Mahima Gupta is an accomplished academic professional with over a decade of experience in teaching and research. Currently serving as the Dean of Academics and Programmes at the Indian Institute of Management Amritsar, she has previously held positions as an Associate Professor and Assistant Professor at esteemed institutions like IMT Ghaziabad and Great Lakes Institute of Management. With expertise in operations research, her career spans both academia and industry, including a research internship at IBM Research.