Shail Kumar

Building AI-Era Institutions, Growth, Capital & Partnerships

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I focus on making complex problems feel simpler and more workable. If you want, share what you’re trying to untangle, and I’ll help from there.

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About

My most ambitious undertaking was envisioning and spearheading Ekagrid, an initiative to build a next-generation research university in India. It began with my book, Building Golden India (2015), which Nobel Laureate Prof. Randy Schekman presented to India's Prime Minister in 2017. In 2016, to act upon the book's ideas, I founded Nalanda 2.0, a US-based think tank whose recommendations for reform were later reflected in India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

In 2026, Ekagrid catalyzed the Indian AI Research Organization (IAIRO), envisioned as India's "ISRO for AI."

Earlier, at UC San Diego, I led development for seven schools and colleges. At UC Berkeley, I was a senior member of The Campaign for Berkeley team where I secured several 7- and 8-figure gifts and grants, and built corporate partnerships globally. I also led corporate planning at Applied Materials an initiative to scale Lam Research, and enterprise sales at Persistent Systems. I founded two technology ventures - growing one from zero to a 3M dollar revenue run rate in under two years, and raising 2M dollar for the other and leading its sale.

Along the way, I co-founded the PanIIT alumni movement in the US, leading to PanIIT USA and PanIIT India, and served as President of the IIT Kharagpur Foundation (USA). Recipient, IIT Kharagpur Distinguished Service Award.

MBA, Indiana University Bloomington; B.Tech (Honors), IIT Kharagpur

Beyond work: Vipassana, Well-being, Friends & Family

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