What they call their work
What they do
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Clean Energy Workforce Training 1 activity
- Building institutional and technical capacity in advanced engineering fieldsTrains students and professionals in advanced materials and chemical engineering techniques for renewable fuel production. Participates in the AWS Generative AI Accelerator (GAIA) Class of 2025, receiving cloud infrastructure support and mentorship to enhance technical capabilities.
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Energy Policy Advocacy & Research 1 activity
- Conducting research on sustainable materials and energy technologiesCarries out research on high-performance batteries, fuel cells, solar energy, carbon capture, water purification, air pollution control, and soil restoration using advanced nanostructures. Focuses on scalable production of materials for renewable energy applications, including biofuels and sustainable fuels, with pilot-scale synthesis and industrial demonstration.
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Archaeological and Cultural Conservation 1 activity
- Documenting and preserving cultural heritage through digital technologiesOperates a Digital Heritage Lab that uses digital tourism technologies to explore, document, and preserve lesser-known heritage sites in India, particularly in the Purvanchal region, analyzing the influence of social, cultural, and religious factors on built environments.
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Climate Change Research and Advocacy Funding 1 activity
- Funding research initiatives at IIT (BHU)Raises and allocates capital to sponsor cutting-edge research in areas including materials science, energy innovation, sustainable technologies, biofuels, carbon capture, renewable energy integration, and waste-to-energy solutions. Supports research center development, equipment procurement, staff recruitment, and industry collaboration.
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Industry-Specific Student Scholarships and Competitions 1 activity
- Funding student innovation and entrepreneurshipAwards $30,000 in seed funding to nine student-led startups from IIT (BHU) and provides mentorship through alumni engagement. Also established the “Above & Beyond Fund,” a one crore rupee endowed fund to support exceptional undergraduate students demonstrating initiative, curiosity, and innovation.
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Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
- Providing scholarships and financial aid to studentsOffers scholarships and financial assistance to students at IIT (BHU) regardless of financial background to reduce economic barriers and support academic success and personal development.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Funding infrastructure and facility development at IIT (BHU)Supports the construction, renovation, and expansion of academic and student facilities at IIT (BHU), including the Malviya Student Activity and Computing Centre (MSACC), Yavatkar Convention Centre (YCC), a G+8 multipurpose annex tower for the Chemical Engineering Department, and laboratory upgrades for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Includes planned development of centers such as CREAMS and CREST with multi-year budgets totaling tens of crores of rupees.
- Funding teaching and learning enhancements at IIT (BHU)Provides grants for educational infrastructure, including US$5,000 for second-hand equipment for a Tinkering & Prototyping lab and support for experimental, engaging, and inclusive curriculum development. Also funds the establishment of specialized labs such as the Big-Data and Computation Laboratory (BDaC) and Digital Heritage Lab.
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Who runs it
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAGAR BHIMAVARAPU | CEO | 10 | $75K |
- NARESH JAIN — CHAIRMAN
- RAJ YAVATKAR — BOARD MEMBER
- RAMESH SRINIVASAN — DIRECTOR
- SOUMYO SARKAR — DIRECTOR
- VIKASH AGARWAL — SECRECTARY
Who they work with
- AWS Generative AI Accelerator Partner — Selected for the GAIA Class of 2025, receiving cloud infrastructure support and mentorship.
- Archaeological Survey of India Government — References ASI as a key agency responsible for protecting and maintaining heritage monuments in India, indicating alignment with national heritage preservation efforts.
- Department of Architecture, Planning and Design Partner — Collaborates to establish the Tinkering & Prototyping lab, providing space and integrating with existing curriculum and lab facilities.
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology Partner — Collaborates with CREST by providing technical expertise in chemical engineering and materials science.
- Dr. Raj Yavatkar Partner — Alumnus and donor whose contribution supported the development of the Yavatkar Convention Centre at IIT (BHU).
- E-Cell at IIT BHU, Varanasi Partner — Collaborates with the IIT (BHU) Foundation as co-title sponsor of E-Summit’26.
- IIT (BHU) Partner — Collaborates with IIT (BHU) faculty on research and infrastructure development projects.
- IIT (BHU) Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology Partner — Host academic department providing foundational support and institutional alignment for CREAMS.
- Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi Partner — Primary beneficiary and implementing institution for Foundation-funded projects including infrastructure, scholarships, and research.
- Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University) Partner — Principal grantee of funds distributed by the organization; the primary institution the foundation exists to support.
- Lightspeed Venture Partners Funder — Backed the company in significant investment rounds as of 2025.
- Shashank Bhonge Partner — Alumnus contributing technical expertise and support to student-led semiconductor innovation.
- Sri Sagar Bhimavarapu Partner — Alumnus co-spearheading the AURA Lab to enable student-led semiconductor projects.
- Sri Sunil Khanna Partner — Alumnus leading the AURA Lab initiative to support student innovation in deep-tech engineering.
- Vijay Panyala Partner — Alumnus providing technical input and support for undergraduate semiconductor research at IIT (BHU).
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Expertise-Driven Sustainable Innovationmethodology: expertise-driven researchBy leveraging institutional strengths in chemical engineering and advanced materials, the foundation advances sustainable technologies—particularly in renewable fuels—through research that emphasizes industrial scalability and continuous process integration.
- Financial Access and Excellence Reinforcementmethodology: financial_access_aidBy providing scholarships and financial aid alongside support for top-tier faculty and research, the foundation ensures equitable access to education while simultaneously elevating institutional excellence and global competitiveness.
- Friends-of Model for Strategic Grantmakingmethodology: friends-of-modelBy operating as a U.S.-based "Friends of" organization, the foundation channels donor contributions to align with IIT (BHU)'s strategic plans, ensuring that funding priorities directly support institutional development and long-term academic goals in India.
- Infrastructure-Led Academic and Research Advancementmethodology: infrastructure-led academic developmentBy investing in modernized, expanded, and specialized physical infrastructure—including laboratories and faculty facilities—the foundation enables academic growth, supports cutting-edge research, and bridges innovations from lab to industry at scale.
- Peer and Experiential Learning Ecosystemmethodology: peer_to_peer_learningBy integrating hands-on tinkering, faculty mentorship, and peer-to-peer collaboration in lab-based environments, the foundation fosters deeper student engagement and innovation, enabling students to translate theoretical knowledge into practical deep-tech applications.