IIM Calcutta Innovation Park Reinforces its Investment Committee with Four Industry Leaders to Drive Cross-Industry Startup Investing

On April 7, 2026, IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) announced the induction of four new senior investment leaders into its Investment Committee. This strategic move is aimed at enhancing the governance and decision-making framework that guides its startup investment strategy. The expanded committee now comprises experienced investors, fund managers, and industry operators with expertise in venture capital, private credit, asset management, and early-stage company building.

Commitment to Disciplined Capital Deployment

The appointments reflect IIMCIP’s commitment to disciplined capital deployment, grounded in robust due diligence and measurable impact. Dr. VK Rai, CEO of IIMCIP, commented on the development, stating, “The newly inducted members bring complementary experience across venture capital, capital markets, credit assessment, impact investing, and venture building. This adds depth to IIMCIP’s investment committee and strengthens the strategic guidance we provide to our startups.”

New Members of IIMCIP’s Investment Committee

The following four industry leaders have joined the Investment Committee:

• Shankar Jadhav

  Director & CIO, BlueRock; Director, Technocraft Industries India Ltd.

  Shankar Jadhav is a capital markets professional and former Managing Director of BSE Investments. He brings deep experience across investment strategy, capital markets, and board-level decision-making. His perspective will strengthen the committee’s ability to evaluate scalability, capital efficiency, and long-term value creation.

• Kanchan Jain

  MD & CEO, Ascertis Credit; Director, IIMCIP Board

  Kanchan Jain is a global credit and structured finance specialist with over three decades of experience in private credit, capital markets, and institutional investing. Having held senior leadership roles at HSBC London and Barclays Capital before founding Ascertis Credit, she adds expertise in risk evaluation, governance, and structured capital to the committee.

• Krishnan Neelakantan

  Managing Partner, Ankur Capital

  Krishnan Neelakantan is an experienced early-stage investor focused on deep science, climate, and agriculture innovation. He has a strong track record of backing technology-driven ventures that address real-world challenges. His previous leadership roles in capital markets research at CLSA and impact investing at Samhita Social Ventures provide a distinctive perspective at the intersection of venture capital and impact-driven enterprise building.

• Kalyani Amilineni

  Managing Partner, Amil Ventures

  Kalyani Amilineni is a founder and strategy advisor who works closely with early-stage businesses. She brings hands-on experience in startup mentoring, fundraising strategy, and growth planning. With prior leadership roles at Wipro and HCLTech, she contributes a practitioner’s perspective that will strengthen IIMCIP’s ability to support founders beyond capital through strategic guidance and market-facing execution.

Strategic Insights from Leadership

Ajay Jain, Chairman of the IIMCIP Board, shared his perspective on these appointments: “India’s next generation of market-defining companies will be built at the intersection of financial rigor and responsible growth. As India’s startup ecosystem matures, stronger governance and more disciplined capital allocation have become non-negotiable.”

Strengthening the Investment Framework

The expanded Investment Committee forms a core pillar of IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, enhancing its framework for assessing and supporting early- and growth-stage startups. This committee will enable sharper investment theses, more structured due diligence processes, and a governance model that meets the expectations of co-investors, limited partners, and regulators.

Existing Committee Members

The new members join an already impressive committee that includes:

• Hari Balasubramanian, Mentor & Angel Investor, Member of Indian Angel Network
• Sachin Oswal, Angel Investor & Entrepreneur, Founder of Originity
• Anuj Sharma, Founder of ALSiSAR IMPACT
• Uday Chatterjee, Angel Investor, Director of TIE Dehradun
• Sooraj Dhawan, Founder and Director of Falcon Investment Pvt Ltd
• Ajay Jain, Sustainability and Water Industry Expert, Member of IIM Calcutta BoG, Chairman of IIMCIP Board

Conclusion

The collective expertise of the newly formed committee, alongside existing members, will enable promising startups to scale with the right strategic support. This initiative by IIM Calcutta Innovation Park is a significant step towards fostering innovation and growth in India’s vibrant startup ecosystem.

Note: The information provided is based on the latest developments as of April 2026 and aims to highlight the strategic enhancements made by IIM Calcutta Innovation Park in its investment framework.