Jan 18 2025 to Jan 18 2025 6:30 p.m.

Price: Register Book/Buy

Where

Courtyard Koota

Ground floor, Good Earth Tarana Good Earth Malhar, near Rajarajeswari medical college Kambipura, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560074

Event Description

In this book talk, Nagaraja takes us behind the scenes—into boardrooms, villages, and classrooms—where ideas take root and transformations unfold. He shares lessons learned from failures, triumphs, and the pursuit of purpose. From building businesses to mentoring students, from launching digital platforms for farmers to influencing policy, his journey inspires action.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, policymaker, or student, BackToBharat invites you to reimagine growth, embrace sustainability, and build a future that works for everyone.
 

Nagaraja Prakasam – A Journey of Impact and Innovation  

Nagaraja Prakasam’s inspiring journey is one of vision, resilience, and impact. With over three decades of experience spanning the United States and India, Nagaraja has emerged as a leading voice in sustainable entrepreneurship and impact investing.

His book, BackToBharat – In Search of a Sustainable Future, reflects his deep understanding of India’s economic challenges and opportunities. Winner of the 2024 GLF-WWF Honours Book Award, the book is a call to action for entrepreneurs and consumers to rethink growth through sustainable and inclusive practices. Drawing lessons from India’s past and present, it charts a bold path toward a self-reliant and balanced future.

Nagaraja’s work goes beyond ideas—he’s a practitioner of change. As a partner at Acumen, a $100-million impact venture fund, and co-founder of the Nativelead Foundation, he has championed businesses and ecosystems that uplift communities. From empowering entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu’s non-metros to replicating the model in Kerala as MiZone/Malabar Angels, his initiatives have nurtured over 120 start-ups and built networks of 242 angel investors.

An early advocate for impact investing, Nagaraja co-founded IAN Impact, transforming how start-ups address social problems. With 33 investments and 65+ funding rounds, including Uniphore’s $2.5 billion valuation and 120x return, his track record speaks volumes. He brings stories of persistence and belief, having backed companies rejected by others and turning them into unicorns.

But Nagaraja’s journey is more than business success—it’s about creating impact where it matters most. Whether mentoring 110+ colleges, speaking at global forums, or collaborating with the government to launch initiatives like KisanMitr and RutagE Smart Village Centers, he has stayed grounded in his mission to empower people.

His personal mantra—People, Problems, Tech (PPT)—captures his philosophy: leverage India’s strengths to solve its challenges. Through his Bharat Darshan, a journey across rural India, Nagaraja gained firsthand insights into the needs of farmers, artisans, and small businesses, shaping his vision for a sustainable future.

Nagaraja’s story resonates with anyone interested in entrepreneurship, sustainability, or impact investing. It’s about daring to dream, taking risks, and redefining success—not just as profit but as progress for people and the planet.