Global IndianstoryBobbie Kalra: The Indian entrepreneur leading the way we map our world

Bobbie Kalra: The Indian entrepreneur leading the way we map our world

Written by: Global Indian

(December 21, 2021) When it comes to mapping in the times of technology, this IT head honcho is right at the crux of innovation. With everything being digitally mapped today, the reliance on geospatial mapping is of prime importance and Bobbie Kalra, founder Magnasoft has his fingers on the pulse of an industry that is set to grow Rs 63,100 crore by 2025. The Indian entrepreneur has given the geospatial industry cutting-edge technology and services with Magnasoft, which is among the leaders in this space.

The ambitious India-based digital geospatial information specialist has been shaking things up for quite some time now with his intelligent 3D models to enable informed decision-making for all kinds of applications. From first helping Bengaluru increase property taxation by 100 percent to having worked across 72 countries in the areas of architecture, utilities, high-tech space, infrastructure, and telecom projects, Kalra has come full circle since his first venture back in 1995.

Vegetation management & analysis remains a challenge for power utilities. Here's a glimpse of the issues and possible solutions.https://t.co/NcD1TFYha9 #utilities #energy #powerlines #vegetationmanagement #geospatial #mapping

— Magnasoft (@magnasoft) April 15, 2021

The engineer from Bangalore

Born in Bhopal, Kalra moved to Bengaluru when he was less than a year old as his father worked with BHEL. After schooling at Baldwin’s Boys High School, he did his mechanical engineering from Bangalore University in 1994. “This was the age of the new tech entrepreneur and I was hugely inspired by the success of Infosys. I wanted to do something on my own,” recalls Kalra, who then began helping his sister and her husband with the St Marks Business Centre. “I would help them with design when I was still in college. It was here that I learnt the fundamentals of working with debit and credit.”

As his engineering course, he launched his own company in the services line. So, in 1995 he rented office space at St Marks and launched the St Marks CADD Services after obtaining a bank loan. “Around that time a lot of old engineering drawings were being digitised and I jumped onto the bandwagon. I got my first break with Tata Consulting Engineering and that set the ball rolling. We would digitise drafts and also engineer design and details,” says Kalra, who grew the team from a single member company to a team of 80 engineers.

A course in executive education and disruptive strategy at Harvard University, the world of mapping is his oyster.

Global Indian entrepreneur Bobbie Kalra

Mapping forth

Their next break came with projects for Kyga nuclear power plant, Bosche and other architects. In 1996, they landed a contract with Chicago Computerised Facility Integration (CFI). “They had a huge contract with AT&T and were looking for a company to work on the offshore model. We landed the deal and would work on the UNIX system when modem speeds were around 14kbps. We would go to the VSNL office to upload large files,” he smiles of a simpler yet tougher IT era.

Following the telecom bust CFI pivoted its model to focus on geospatial mapping. Soon Kalra’s company followed suit. They bought the first few licenses for the SIM software and turned their focus to the field of GIS. In 2000, Kalra founded Magnasoft by merging St Marks CADD Services and raised VC funds from Global Technology Ventures, the VC arm of Café Coffee Day Group. “Around this time the government changed in Karnataka and was looking to create a geospatial map of the Bangalore. We were invited to show how GIS could improve Bangalore city. So, while most other companies focused on power point presentations, what we did was focus on the heart of the municipal system: property taxation,” he tells Global Indian.

Within a week Kalra and his team came up with a property enumeration programme; they mapped a small area of the city (Richmond Town area), and conducted a survey keeping all the parameters that influenced taxation in mind. Magnasoft landed the contract and soon it was helping Bangalore increase its taxation by 100 percent.

Bobbie with his family

Pivoting the business

Like any entrepreneurial journey, Kalra’s was also speckled with challenges. But the company’s agility and Kalra’s foresight to pivot as per the need help them not just stay afloat but also grow slowly but steadily. After the dot com crash, Magnasoft began looking at markets abroad and invested directly in US sales. “Ever since, it has been a journey of accruals and reinvesting,” says the entrepreneur who moved to the US in 2002 to expand his business and focus on fundamental growth and cash flows.

Soon they had a presence in over 72 countries such as North America, Europe, Latin America, Australia, Middle East, Africa and New Zealand. As the market began opening up to GISM, Magnasoft too began to cause a disruption in the space. By 2008 though, Kalra moved back to India and

continued to shuttle between the US and India to work on his business. “Today, we’ve chosen to focus only on a few verticals such as utilities, communications, telecom, vegetation management for power lines, high tech, and infrastructure. We’ve also pared down our operations to just a few markets like North America, Scandinavia and UK apart from a few large enterprise deals in India,” says Kalra, who is now focused on direct sales and hiring talent for leadership roles in the US and UK.

Global Indian Bobbie Kalra

On the growth path

The company has also brought on board directors and advisors: Phaneesh Murthy, Abraham Mathew, Rajeev Kuchal, and Bhupinder Singh. “The board has been instrumental in helping us focus on a few strong points and strengthen our presence in those areas. The pandemic, of course, had thrown us off path for about a month, but the company was agile enough to get back on track within 30 days. Our staff was all working from home and we managed to put in space systems and security practices to ensure that work continued regardless,” says the agile entrepreneur, who typically begins his day 4 am.

What keeps him going is his love for mapping and the fact that he enjoys visualisation. That apart, Kalra also has a love for theatre and has in the past portrayed small roles in several plays, including Girish Karnad’s Crossing to Talikota. “Due to time constraints, I don’t take on any big roles, but I’ve loved essaying small roles and working on the back-end. I’ve also acted in a Kannada serial,” says the man, who has worked with theatre artistes like Arjun Sajnani, Munira Sen, and Ashish Sen.

On the weekends, jam sessions where he plays the guitar and percussion instruments is his energizing time. Incidentally, Kalra was a drummer back in his college days. That apart, he also believes in giving back to the community he lives and works in and is an active member of the Bangalore Round Table. “We have worked towards helping educate over 3 million children through the Freedom Through Education programme and during the pandemic we also worked towards procuring and distributing oxygen concentrators,” says the multi-faceted Kalra.

Incidentally, Bobbie, had also launched an ingenious app in Mumbai to protect children commuting to and fro from school. The app, Northstar was designed for both parents and school authorities to keep an eye on their children in real time. At heart, disruption is key to his goals, even as he takes time to give back to society, albeit tech wise.

Follow Bobbie Kalra on LinkedIn and Twitter

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Published on 21, Dec 2021

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Chetna Maroo: British-Indian author’s debut book makes it to the 2023 Booker Prize longlist

(September 25, 2023) "It took three years. I write slowly, the first pages in longhand, then typing. I usually try to get each sentence and paragraph sounding right before I go on, reading and editing from the beginning of the story," says Chetna Maroo, the Indian-origin author whose debut book Western Lane has been longlisted for the 2023 Booker Prize. The 160-page novel revolves around Gopi, an 11-year-old who is brought up with two other sisters in the UK and is driven to become an athlete by her father as they struggle with grief. The novel, set within the context of the British Gujarati milieu, has been praised by the Booker judges for its use of the sport of squash as a metaphor for complex human emotions. "It’s an honour. It’s humbling to see Western Lane amongst all the books that have been longlisted in the history of the prize," the Kenya-born said in an interview. [caption id="attachment_45318" align="aligncenter" width="766"] Chetna Maroo[/caption] The novel, which is Chetna's debut, hit the stalls in February this year, and in a few months has garnered praise from book lovers all across. The London-based author moved to the UK from Kenya in childhood and

novel, which is Chetna's debut, hit the stalls in February this year, and in a few months has garnered praise from book lovers all across. The London-based author moved to the UK from Kenya in childhood and grew up with three sisters and two brothers. It's this bond that she brought to life with Western Lane, telling the story of three sisters who grow up in the absence of a mother and their bond with one another. Reading the nuances of the squash in Western Lane, one could easily imagine that Chetna was a child prodigy. But growing up in the UK, she didn't pick up the squash racquet until her late teens as she calls herself "extremely uncoordinated" as a child. It wasn't until her 20s and 30s that she played squash properly. "I always liked the squash court and felt at ease at the squash court. There was something about the squash court itself, about the simple white box: it’s such a surreal, unfamiliar place, where time seems suspended and the outside world can be forgotten," Chetna added. It was her physical presence in the court for years that helped her bring the experience to the book.

However, writing wasn't her first passion. In fact, before taking up writing as a profession, she worked as an accountant for many years. While still keeping her day job, Chetna started taking writing seriously only a decade ago, wherein she wrote many short stories. Those years brought with it many rejections but also a couple of acceptances where her stories were published in The Paris Review, The Stinging Fly, and The Dublin Review. In 2022, Chetna was bestowed with the Plimpton Prize for Fiction for one of her short stories. Having been brought up on a great diet of books, she was always interested in the world of fiction, especially sci-fi and thrillers. And this love later metamorphosised into her passion for writing.

Western Lane | Global Indian

While she was glued to her desk at home writing short stories, she kept developing the story of Gopi for three years. It began with a month-long writing workshop in 2018 that played a catalyst in changing the trajectory of her life. It was in this workshop that she first developed the story of Gopi, however, it wasn't until the next six months that she began working on the book. "For a good six months, I read a lot of children's stories, and a lot of them were retrospective narratives," Chetna said in a podcast.

Having a personal tryst with squash and grief of losing her mother, Chetna was able to draw inspiration for the story of Gopi in Western Lane. "I lost my mother in my early 20s, so that's how I depict the grief part in the novel," she said. Western Lane tells the story of Gopi and her sisters who have recently lost their mother. Their father is bereft and struggling to parent his daughters, and encourages Gopi to hone her skills in squash.

Chetna Maroo | Global Indian

For someone who loves music and art, Chetna knew that writing was something that she had a chance with. Despite her novel being longlisted for the 2023 Booker Prize, Chetna doesn't believe in giving too much into the highs and lows of life. "I am in a happy state but I like to keep things steady. That's the best way forward." added the Global Indian.

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Voice of reason: Dr. Meera Shah’s crusade for women’s reproductive rights

(October 19, 2022) A few months ago, scores of women took to the streets across America after the US Supreme Court overturned abortion rights in the country. Almost 50 years after American women's constitutional right to abortion was recognised, the country’s apex court effectively eliminated the right, allowing states to enforce a ban on abortions. [caption id="attachment_30779" align="aligncenter" width="486"] Dr. Meera Shah[/caption] Among the ladies who raised their voices against this change in law, was Dr Meera Shah, an Indian-American Chief Medical Officer of New York's Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic. An abortion provider who has made it her life's mission to make safe and legal abortions accessible to her patients, Meera even travels to other states to help women struggling with pregnancy. "When somebody has a positive pregnancy test, our immediate reaction as healthcare providers is to provide them with all the options. Never assume that it’s happy news you are delivering – you always want to mirror your reaction to the patient’s reaction. All options and all choices are valid, and I honour them," the doctor told American Kahani during an interview. Despite getting several threats from anti-abortion protestors and pro-life campaigners, Dr. Shah is resolute and passionate about

alid, and I honour them," the doctor told American Kahani during an interview.

Despite getting several threats from anti-abortion protestors and pro-life campaigners, Dr. Shah is resolute and passionate about her work. Recently, she even came out with a book 'You’re The Only One I’ve Told: The Stories Behind Abortion', a collection of narratives by women who have had abortions, countered stereotypes about them, or have fought myths that persist around the subject. “People have said that the book has been eye-opening,” she said during an interview, adding, "That in itself is destigmatising — the understanding that even the most basic facts about abortion that have been littered by the anti-abortion movement.” Dr. Shah is also the national medical spokesperson at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Standing for women's rights

Born to Jain immigrants from India, Dr. Shah was a brilliant kid growing up. In fact, she was so good at academics, that she had many career options after finishing high school. "The options were multiple choice. A, B, and C, doctor, lawyer, engineer: Pick one," she said to Elle Magazine, adding, "Reading and writing were my first loves. Going to the library or the bookstore was the biggest treat for me - that's how my parents would reward me for good behaviour."

[caption id="attachment_30780" align="aligncenter" width="566"] Abortion | Meera Shah | Global Indian Dr Shah with her friends[/caption]

Drawn to social justice work, Dr. Shah chose to become a doctor. A Fellow of Physicians for Reproductive Health, Dr. Shah earned a medical degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and a Master’s in Public Health from Columbia University. And it was during her residency days that she witnessed the struggle of women who chose to abort their fetuses. "An incredible mentor who is a very vocal activist for abortion access encouraged me to become an advocate for her patients in the day-to-day, as well as on a larger policy front."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPJrRHxp3g8

When she first started working as an abortion provider, she struggled to tell people what she did - mostly because of the stigma attached to abortion. However, weeks of self-analysis, and leaning into her faith, Jainism, made her realise that she was helping those who were shunned not just by society, but many times by their own. "Supporting people and helping them exercise their autonomy is ethical, and the right thing to do," Dr. Shah told Elle.

The secret-keeper

After graduating from medical school, Dr. Shah joined Planned Parenthood, where she specialises in sexual and reproductive healthcare as well as transgenic care for transgender and gender non-binary people. She sees patients from all income levels, cultures, and races, and treats them equally. Listening to their stories of struggle motivated this Global Indian to dedicate her life to changing the narrative around abortion. For many years she hesitated to talk about her work. However, once she opened up, many women approached her with their own stories. "It was like the floodgates opened. I have become a sudden confidante at dinner parties, at rooftop barbecues, at the grocery store, even at jury duty… Being more open about my work helped people be more open about their own abortion stories," she described in the introduction to her new book, You’re The Only One I’ve Told: The Stories Behind Abortion.

Inspired and moved by the stories of many close friends and acquaintances, Dr. Shah began collecting stories of the survivors, which she later printed as a book. A champion of the reproductive rights of women, an activist, counselor, and advisor, Dr. Shah has described the nuance and richness of each subject’s life, both preceding and following the procedure. "I love to write and I thought this would be one other mechanism for bringing change. Each storyteller was able to edit their story. I sent a draft, and they made changes - because it's not my story, it's theirs.”

A board member of Sakhi, a community-based organisation in the New York metropolitan area committed to ending violence against women, Dr. Shah has observed that there is a lot of stigma and shame surrounding abortion in the South Asian community. "There are a lot of cultural nuances that go into somebody’s views on sex and abortion and unintended pregnancy. I see patients who are of South Asian identity all the time, and I am trying to bring this idea closer to the community because we just don’t talk about it very much," she told American Kahaani.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq9TKfqcrpw

While much needs to be done for the cause, Dr. Shah is committed to her work. The young doctor is planning to start an advocacy support centre for women - especially of colour - who need any mental, medical or legal support before or after abortions.

Follow Dr Meera Shah on LinkedIn

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Rescuing expats in need: How Girish Pant became one of the youngest recipients of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman

(February 27, 2024) Whether it was aiding over 5,000 seafarers in repatriation from nations like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Russia, Uzbekistan, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, and Nepal, or assisting Indian labourers facing diverse challenges including job loss, accidents, and visa troubles, Girish Pant has devoted his life to service. The Dubai-based social and humanitarian worker has also played a crucial role in rescuing women who were trafficked to the UAE from countries like Tunisia, Malaysia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait. In 2019, he received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, the Indian government’s highest award for NRIs for helping thousands of distressed expats. “My grandfather was a freedom fighter who went to jail with Govind Ballabh Pant, the first chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. My father, who has a humble background, taught me the importance of helping others,” Girish tells Global Indian. "Receiving the award was one of the most memorable experiences of my life," he says. Girish has received 42 awards for his humanitarian efforts, including the World Iconic Award conferred by the former president of Sri Lanka and the Youth Leadership Climate Award from a USA based organisation. [caption id="attachment_49451" align="aligncenter" width="526"] Girish Pant[/caption] Girish fondly recalls how

ng the World Iconic Award conferred by the former president of Sri Lanka and the Youth Leadership Climate Award from a USA based organisation.

[caption id="attachment_49451" align="aligncenter" width="526"] Indian Social Worker | Girish Pant | Global Indian Girish Pant[/caption]

Girish fondly recalls how late Sushma Swaraj, former External Affairs Minister, acknowledged his efforts in aiding distressed expatriates. Her recognition played a pivotal role in his selection for the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award.

Leadership in assisting seafarers and overstayers

Girish Pant has chaired the committee set up by the Consul General of India, to aid individuals who have overstayed their visa in the UAE, as well as seafarers. He played a significant role in rescuing stranded individuals, including seafarers trapped on vessels, and victims of job scams and human trafficking. He has also facilitated the repatriation of human remains in cases of death or suicide. "I have assisted hundreds of people across the region, offering counseling, food aid, and communication with their families, while also coordinating with local government authorities and the Indian Mission," he remarks.

Media gave me the moniker ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan of UAE’

Girish Pant

In one instance, when ships carrying thousands of seafarers, including Indians, were stranded in the Arabian Sea, Girish coordinated with the UAE’s Federal Transport Authority and the Consulate General of India to bring them safely back. Then UAE Ambassador praised Girish's efforts on Twitter. "I recall a seafarer who spent 12 months alone at sea. It took over a month of coordination with local authorities to bring him back safely. Upon his return, he expressed his gratitude by touching my feet,” he shares.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCl-Bv9kq9g&t=28s

He deeply appreciates the support of UAE authorities, including the labour department, police, immigration, and the Federal Transport Authority, saying, “They have recognised and endorsed my role as a volunteer for the consulate and as a humanitarian advocate over the years." Girish Pant has also followed up with local immigration authorities and secured waivers, helping Indians stranded in the UAE back to their families.

Many of them lacked the knowledge or confidence to approach the authorities, feeling intimidated by the process. “I've been deeply moved by helping individuals who couldn't return to their native countries for 16-20 years due to overstay penalties,” he remarks.

Helping people in distress

In 2018, late Sushma Swaraj, the former External Affairs Minister of India, initiated the Indian-International Distress Committee and designated Girish Pant as the UAE in-charge. Since then, and continuing to the present, Girish has assisted over 9,000 distressed expatriates.

This includes taking care of Indian workers who have lost their jobs, and collaborating with local authorities and the Indian government. Sometimes, he personally delivers food to those in need, even at unconventional hours. In one instance, he provided comfort to abandoned Indian and Pakistani labourers living inside a bus on the outskirts of the Oman Border. His work garnered attention from media outlets such as the BBC.

"I have been involved in rescuing women forced by agents into prostitution or dance bar jobs, and domestic servitude, as well as aiding individuals facing a range of issues such as loss of passport, accidents, and mental health challenges.”

[caption id="attachment_49452" align="aligncenter" width="486"] Indian Social Worker | Girish Pant | Global Indian Girish Pant with late Sushma Swaraj[/caption]

Helping his countrymen in UAE during Covid

Just after Girish received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award, the pandemic broke out and he swung into action for the hundreds of Indians who were stuck in the UAE then. Amidst the challenges of the pandemic, Girish, who was then the president of the Indian People’s Forum and the Labour Welfare and Council Affairs of Indian People Forum, worked with authorities to organise six chartered flights. Thousands of blue-collar workers were helped to obtain legal documentation from local authorities, and were able to return safely to India.

I believe it's my calling to help those in need. I feel blessed that God makes it possible for me to do so.

Girish Pant

During the pandemic, he also helped people locate friends and family who were hospitalised in the UAE. Moreover, 90 non-Covid human remains were returned to their families in India by coordinating with embassy and ambulance services during the time when flight services were limited and ambulance services were in high demand. More than 450 Covid and non-Covid human remains were cremated in Dubai during the peak time of COVID, and even free of cost service was arranged for those who could not afford. “The Consul General of India sought my help, and tasked me with visiting every police station each morning to identify unclaimed bodies with unresolved cases due to closed companies and absentee owners,” he recalls. “Since the families couldn’t afford repatriation, we took responsibility. We were also handling emergency cases like miscarriages and accidents.” During this time, his own father was battling Covid in India, while he was working as a Covid warrior helping people not just from India but other countries in the UAE.

Service above self during Russia-Ukraine war

When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Girish, who was 5,000 km away, assisted in the evacuation of stranded Indian students. “I became involved because of four students from my home state, Uttarakhand,” he says. He expanded his efforts, creating 15 WhatsApp groups to coordinate aid based local and regional needs. Girish barely slept in 10 days, working tirelessly as a liaison between the MEA and the Indian Embassy.

“I transformed my living room into a makeshift control centre, ensuring smooth communication among all involved parties," he smiles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBsJ8lMDmUQ

Bringing Indian community together in UAE

As part of Indian Peoples Forum (IPF) Girish Pant has coordinated diverse socio-cultural events for the Indian community, with a focus on yoga and Hindi. “I have encouraged participation and mobilised participants for the International Day of Yoga programmes across Dubai and the Northern Emirates,” he says.

Along with the IPF volunteers he has also organised annual Hindi-Utsav events across all UAE schools. Girish also rallies the Indian community together when Indian dignitaries come to visit.

Journey from India to UAE

Born in Uttarakhand, Girish Pant finished high school in Delhi and graduated from Delhi University. Much later, he completed an MBA in finance from Symbiosis University. After working in India for a few years, he chased his dream of going abroad, and applied for jobs overseas. “In 2007, I received job opportunities in not one but five different countries - Oman, Libya, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and chose to move to UAE,” he says.

There, he also began to take a keen interest in volunteer meetings held by the Consulate General of India to keep the Indian community together. His passion for humanitarian efforts in UAE led him to consistently aid those in need, making a mark for himself.

[caption id="attachment_49478" align="aligncenter" width="802"] Indian Social Worker | Girish Pant | Global Indian Girish Pant received International Achievers' Award for Social Service in Dubai[/caption]

With firsthand experience in assisting individuals in distress, he possesses intricate knowledge of navigating bureaucratic processes and liaising with different departments - a task often daunting for the average person. After a decade, he leveraged his expertise to start a consultancy firm that assists expatriates and locals. “My aim is to simplify life for everyone, even going as far as waiving my consultancy fees for those who are unable to afford my services,” says Girish, the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awardee from UAE.

Girish also hopes to make an impact in his home state, Uttarakhand. Growing up, there were no roads, and going from his village to the town meant long, challenging journeys on foot. While infrastructure has improved since then, he believes there is still much to be done.

Flashback

Girish’s family had moved to Delhi from Uttarakhand when he was in class eight. His father started a small green grocery shop and Girish would work there part time, selling paan and vegetables, along with studying. When he was in standard 12 that shop was shut down and he had to do multiple part time jobs along with studies to meet the needs of the family. No one helped them out during the trying times.

Despite facing many hardships while growing up, I chose not to develop a negative mindset. Instead, became determined to help others in whichever ways I could.

Girish Pant

As his family couldn’t afford to pay for college, Girish secured admission at Delhi University on sports quota as he was a good hockey player. “I also joined NCC and was considered the most well-behaved cadet, and even received an award in hockey by Ashok Kumar, hockey player and son of Dhyan Chand.”

[caption id="attachment_49456" align="aligncenter" width="522"] Indian Social Worker | Girish Pant | Global Indian Girish Pant with Sonu Sood[/caption]

After completing college, he worked in a few organisations in India including the accounts department of Times Internet. While working there, an incident further fuelled his determination to help others. While returning from work late one night, he witnessed a girl injured in an accident and rushed her to the hospital. “My boss rebuked me for getting involved in a potential police case but I felt a sense of fulfilment knowing I had saved a life. When the girl recovered, her family expressed gratitude, and Dabur India, her employer, issued a letter to the GM at Times Internet, praising my actions,” Girish tells. “I had helped many people in my capacity by then but that first written appreciation, further strengthened my determination to help others, leading me to eventually win a Pravasi Bharatiya Samman as one of the youngest recipients so far, and the first Uttarakhandi to get this award,” he signs off.

You can get in touch with Girish Pant on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and his Website

Reading Time: 5 mins

Dr Nayan Kalnad: At the forefront of the digital healthcare revolution

(June 7, 2024) "M-Health, E-Health, we had lots of names for digital healthcare when I first started working in this space. It was very novel and a lot of people were sceptical," Dr Nayan Kalnad says, as he connects with Global Indian from the UK, where he currently lives and runs his digital healthcare company, Avegen. "Do you remember when people said 'digital banking'? Now, it's just banking. You can do your banking work while you're in a car on the way to the airport. That's the kind of change we want to see in healthcare. There should be no distinction between digital and non-digital," he says. Seizing an opportunity Dr Nayan's first turning point came in 2007, when he was introduced to a technology that would change his approach to healthcare. It was an interactive voice response system, part of a pilot project to improve healthcare responses for HIV patients, many of whom avoided going to doctors because of the prevailing stigma. "At that stage, I saw the potential of what this could do, especially because due to my experience of working in clinics," Dr Nayan explains. Surrounded by scepticism, Dr Nayan decided to stick with his instincts anyway,

experience of working in clinics," Dr Nayan explains.

Surrounded by scepticism, Dr Nayan decided to stick with his instincts anyway, and follow through on what he knew would come to become the future of healthcare. Today, Avegen operates around the world and its services have been used by over one million people globally. Their products include cardiac rehab apps, digital HIV-care programmes and maternity monitoring tools.

[caption id="attachment_38122" align="aligncenter" width="330"] Dr Nayan Kalnad, CEO and co-founder, Avegen[/caption]

From medicine to pharmaceuticals

Born in India, Dr Nayan Kalnad was raised in Mangalore, and studied medicine at Kasturba Medical College. He pivoted to pharmaceuticals, joining Pfizer, where he worked mainly in drug development before moving on to Johnson & Johnson."I was working to improve care delivery for HIV-positive patients in India," he recalls. They noticed that patients living with HIV, especially in rural areas, had very limited access to healthcare The stigma surrounding the illness was the main cause - Dr Nayan's team found that HIV+ people preferred to avoid taking health issues to a doctor. "We wondered if we could use IT to solve this problem."

This was around 2007-08 and the team decided to try an Interactive Voice Response system. The user could call a number, enter the number corresponding to the issue and pick out the symptoms. The system would use an algorithm to give them advice and its database already contained information on the drugs the patient had been taking. "The other part was to call the patient and educate them on living with HIV," Dr Nayan explains. "What medicines should they take, what food should they eat? We created a data bank, back in those days. It was my first exposure to using IT within healthcare and I felt like digital technology could help solve challenges that patients, doctors and nurses face."

The digital-healthcare dream

Dr Nayan moved to London to study at London Business School, after which he went back to J&J. By this time, the conglomerate had set up a team to examine how IT could be used in the healthcare context. "We built products for patients who needed cardiac rehabilitation, to try and reduce the risk of a repeat heart attack and to reduce the time heart patients spent in the hospital." The project was piloted in four hospitals - three in the US and one in the UK, "another critical experience," Dr Nayan says. Shortly after, he left J&J to co-found Avegen.

In 2015, Dr Nayan and Neeraj Apte, an engineer with over 20 years of experience in software development, came together to create Avegen. A couple of years were spent exploring the best business structure and fine-tuning their model, before dedicating their efforts to making Avegen the go-to development platform for scalable digital health products. "We were like any startup," Dr Nayan says. "Our initial idea did not work."

That idea was to build a virtual call center for doctors in India. "We were handling about 1 lakh calls per week," he recalls. "It was a call center, basically and it took up all the oxygen in the room." While they were meeting a need, it was not the purpose for which Avegen was created. It was also difficult to scale up. "We had to stop, pivot and return our focus to the original aim - building a digital platform. That pivot happened around 2019 and we re-branded." This was when they build the platform that Avegen continues to use - HealthMachine enables healthcare providers and pharma companies to build, implement and scale their digital health products. It's their way of helping democratise the creation of digital health products, removing the need for a large team and extensive investments in software engineering.

[caption id="attachment_38123" align="alignnone" width="2560"] The Avegen team[/caption]

Expanding the scope of healthcare

"Today we have digital health for pregnancy, HIV, TB, pulmonary arterial hypertension. We have around eight or nine conditions for which we build digital health products," Dr Nayan says, adding, "We have hundreds of thousands of users every month and have deployed it in multiple countries, although our strongest presence is in Europe and India."

Simply put, the idea is to make interaction easier, especially in countries like India where patients travel many miles to see a doctor. The pandemic only reinforced this need. One Avegen product, used by Europe's largest HIV clinic, asks the patient to complete a questionnaire instead of setting up an appointment with a hospital. The information is sent to the clinic, where doctors can decide if the patient needs to come in to the hospital or not. "Often, patients come from very far away, only to be told that they are fine."

Maternity care is another important pillar for Dr Nayan and Avegen. "India has a high maternal mortality rate and some of that is avoidable," he explains. "Expecting mothers need to make regular visits, do blood tests and take folic acid supplements and follow an evidence-based care programme. We want to make it easier for them to do this." Pregnant women need to download the app, which will tell them what to do based on how far along they are, and also connect them with experts. "Good health is not just about what happens within the four walls of the clinic. It's about what happens outside of it. I can get my bloods done at a clinic, but when I go out, do I decrease the salt in my food, or get regular exercise? These are the main drivers of good health. We want to support patients outside and widen the scope of healthcare."

Overcoming challenges

When he first started working in digital healthcare, people didn’t trust the concept. "The common understanding was that healthcare had to be face-to-face; they didn't trust the digital tech, hence didn't use it." However, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the world's perspective on digital healthcare overnight. "During the pandemic, digital products became essential to the functioning of the healthcare ecosystem," Dr. Kalnad noted.

Avegen collaborated with government bodies and charities to provide digital healthcare solutions during the pandemic, such as supporting 30,000 HIV patients in Mumbai who couldn't access their medication due to lockdowns. "We have come a long way since. In the coming decades, we will see digital health becoming mainstream," Dr Nayan predicts.

The way forward

Despite the progress, Dr Nayan admits there is work to be done. "Scaling and integrating digital healthcare into the existing healthcare system is crucial," he says, adding, "It needs to become accessible to everyone, regardless of their location or socioeconomic status. Digital health should not be for a certain segment of the population; it should be for everyone."

Dr Nayan Kalnad, CEO, Avegen, talks to a colleague

This vision aligns with Avegen's mission as well, which is to provide digital health solutions to all, irrespective of where they live or what healthcare challenges they face. "We believe that healthcare should be a fundamental right. We want to build digital health products that are relevant to the user, easy to use, and engaging. This is done through collaboration with healthcare providers, governments, non-profits, and other stakeholders to bring digital health products to the public."

Nayan Kalnad's journey is a testament to the power of innovation and technology in improving healthcare. His dedication to making healthcare accessible and affordable to everyone has inspired many, and his work with Avegen has shown that digital health services have the potential to transform the healthcare industry.

Follow Dr Nayan Kalnad on LinkedIn and check out Avegen's work here.

Saurabh Netravalkar: India-born AI engineer who led USA to Super Eight in T20 World Cup

(June 28, 2024) The USA cricket team made history by qualifying for the Super Eight stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup in their very first appearance in the tournament. Achieving a remarkable victory over the previous edition's finalists, Pakistan, they showcased stunning sportsmanship. India-born cricketer and Oracle engineer Saurabh Netravalkar played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s defeat during a thrilling Super Over clash. Oracle congratulated him, tweeting, "Congrats USA Cricket on a historic result! Proud of the team and our very own engineering and cricket star Saurabh Netravalkar." In another tweet, Oracle highlighted, "He is one of our AI engineers and a USA cricket star." [caption id="attachment_52694" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Saurabh Netravalkar[/caption] Later, the left-arm pacer showcased his composure and skill under pressure by dismissing both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the USA vs. India game. Facing many of his former teammates, Netravalkar described the game as an "emotional moment," having once played for India’s Under-19 team before pursuing his American dream. Despite the USA not qualifying for the semifinals, Saurabh Netravalkar stood out and emerged as the face of USA cricket. Juggling two demanding careers We seldom come across a successful professional cricketer who has an equally successful

emotional moment," having once played for India’s Under-19 team before pursuing his American dream. Despite the USA not qualifying for the semifinals, Saurabh Netravalkar stood out and emerged as the face of USA cricket.

Juggling two demanding careers

We seldom come across a successful professional cricketer who has an equally successful career outside the realm of sports. A principal member of technical staff at Oracle, Saurabh Netravalkar is one such rare cricketer. A left-arm medium-fast bowler, Saurabh has has even captained the USA national team, representing the United States in international cricket. He juggles his corporate role and also plays for the Washington Freedom, an American professional Twenty20 cricket team that competes in the Major League Cricket (MLC).

It’s not easy to excel in two very demanding jobs. Saurabh works odd hours on tours and even on his team bus to meet his corporate responsibilities.

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Not new to outstanding performances, Saurabh has been India's highest wicket taker in the 2010 Under 19 World Cup in New Zealand, and was the man of the series in the tri-nations U-19 tournament in South Africa. The Mumbai-born was also named the best junior cricketer in India in 2009/10.

When his cricketing career was just taking off in India, he had moved to the US to pursue his higher studies.

Choosing academics over sports

When someone possesses a brilliant academic record in computer science engineering from one of the nation’s premier institutions, lucrative and stable employment opportunities abroad provide a constant allure. This led Saurabh, an alumnus of the Sardar Patel Institute of Technology in Mumbai to pursue his masters abroad, that too at an Ivy League school, and subsequently bag a lucrative job at Oracle.

However, the cricketer in him was not able to stay away from the sport for long. With his dedication, coupled with luck, he has become a prominent cricketer in the United States in a short span of time. Saurabh has been efficiently giving action-packed performances with his ability to effortlessly swing the ball in both directions.

[caption id="attachment_52693" align="aligncenter" width="522"] Indian Cricketer | Saurabh Netravalkar | Global Indian Saurabh Netravalkar in action[/caption]

The hard decision

He was 23 when he had to take the crucial decision regarding his career path. The Mumbai boy, who had already proven his mettle as a skilled left-arm pacer, ultimately opted to prioritise further education in the United States, relinquishing his aspirations of a cricketing career in India. This decision came two years after his inaugural match in the Mumbai Ranji Trophy back in 2013, where he played against Karnataka, a match that also featured his former India Under-19 teammate, KL Rahul.

“It was a very emotional decision for me to leave cricket behind and come to the US to pursue higher education,” the Mumbai-born cricketer said in an interview.

Unforgettable experiences

For Saurabh, his experiences in his short but successful cricketing career in India are significant. Those experiences have helped him to charter a fresh path in the world of U.S. cricket.

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He cherishes participating in the BCCI Corporate Trophy as a member of the Air India team under the leadership of the renowned Indian cricketer of that era, Yuvraj Singh. Other present-day Indian cricket stars like Suresh Raina were also part of the tournament. “My performance in that competition was commendable, and it played a pivotal role in my selection for the India Under-19 squad,” he shared. He had made his first-class debut for Mumbai in the 2013–14 Ranji Trophy.

While K.L. Rahul, along with fellow participants of the 2010 U-19 World Cup such as Mayank Agarwal and Jaydev Unadkat, embarked on their journey towards representing the senior Indian cricket team and securing IPL contracts, Saurabh went on to pursue a master's degree in computer science at Cornell University.

Once a sportsman, always a sportsman

After completing his masters and entering the corporate world, the software engineer has been able to find a foothold in the United States team, and play with some of the current top players. “It was always a dream to play against top international players and test my abilities. I am really grateful to get that chance finally," said the Global Indian who loves singing to the tunes of his guitar.

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Saurabh has been balancing his passion and full-time job successfully. “I am a software engineer, so I have to mostly code. The timings are flexible, which is a good thing about this profession. So, I can work at my own time,” he remarked. “My goal in cricket and life is to keep on scaling up and to be consistent,” he added.

In Saurabh Netravalkar, cricket enthusiasts and the diaspora find a remarkable example of someone representing India's beloved sport on an international stage.

Follow Saurabh Netravalkar on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter

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