Whoop will build viable alternatives to the feed, the primary construct with which folks currently connect with content on social media. One of our first experiments will be creating a digital arcade of quests—hunts, puzzles, and games—designed to help folks discover, explore, and engage deeply with thought-provoking ideas and content from around the world. For now, we will focus exclusively on riddles as our primary format. Hence our current tagline: curious ideas, one riddle at a time. This keeps things simple and intriguing while leaving room for growth.Join Whoop to solve riddles for free or upgrade to win real rewards. Everyone's welcome!

We are setting up a social experiment: a community supporting founders in finding, founding, funding, failing, and flying! The long march begins. || This is the (previously) provocatively named [F-ING] (still on my profile to maintain continuity). Our investment work continues as-is. Quest is sector-agnostic and specializes in working with startups, small and medium-sized businesses, and non-profits, investing time, network, and capital in curious ideas. Our commitments range from paid advisory and fractional/full-time positions to early-stage investments and high-value introductions. • Early-stage support to Founders: Problem Identification, Proposition Development, Pitch, Angel Investing, 1:1 Advisory, et cetera • Post-revenue Startups/MSMEs/Established Companies: Consulting for design in three vital areas: product (cost engineering, innovation & renovation), value chain (optimization, resilience, and expansion/GTM), and organizations (setting up high-performance strategy & operations teams):-Past/ongoing works have focused on organizations in mobility (e.g., EV, alt models in consumer transport), consumer goods (e.g., plant-based foods, no-nasties CPG products, packaging), HealthTech (e.g., medication management, TCAM contraindications), EdTech (e.g., Learner support, GenAI applications), Non-profits (Branding, Resilience, Program Development, Fundraising)-We typically steer clear of PropTech, FinTech, and Crypto | We have an interest in Hardware & Deep Tech -Providing freelance Advisory via expert networks of Guidepoint and Stream Research

Early stage advisor (since June 2023) to Bengaluru based Urban Mobility startup with a subscription based 'zero cancellation, zero surge-pricing and zero pollution' proposition for the multi-billion dollar Indian daily commute market. Invested since October 2023.

//Merged it with Quest where it should have been, to begin with. Keeping this here, though, for continuity and as a reminder on not cluttering the funnel (by cluttering it).We are setting up a social experiment: a community that will support founders in finding, founding, funding, failing, and flying! The long march begins.

Advisory Consultant to a Robotics focused edtech startup serving the global market. Focus on international expansion.

Early stage advisor to Packaging Marketplace startup simplifying primary packaging procurement for FMCG businesses.

Sounding board to the two co-founders (Chief Investor & CEO). Developing robust corporate strategy, coherently integrating the journey of NPBridge so far with new routes to responsible profitable growth.Ambit: Market Prioritization & GTM, Product Strategy (non-technical), Comms, & Risk

Sounding board / Researcher / Contrarian / Idea Executor / Advisor (one of many) to the Founder of Galaxy USA, Inc. - a NY-based diamond merchant - on Special Projects and New Ventures outside the core diamond business. The founder, Mr. Kushal Sacheti, is an avid and intrepid entrepreneur, philanthropist, and connoisseur of social impact ideas. I am the Idiot to his Dostoyevsky.

Donned many hats. Started as an Industrial Strategist (predominantly Supply Chain Network Optimization), then Asset Strategy & Scenario Planning (for erstwhile Tea business). Thereafter a Food work stream (India market; peripheral role) and a Home Care Industrial Strategy project (SEAA market) followed by leading an Asset Strategy and Industrial Design work stream in ANZ Moved on to Design to Value methodology (McKinsey edition) based projects (about 5 workshops, 3 of them accclaimed - SEAA/Mexico; plus peripheral support for 4 other workshops - Europe and SEAA)Then setup the Network Design program for the company (dubbed Center for Network Excellence, not sure what they call it now). Trained the team. Piloted a combination of global, continental, and regional projects to acclaim. Failed in two. Created original methods and analyses to cut project times. Also did process improvement work and exploratory work - for potential new methodologies and work streams - in between and in parallel to the works above.Had the good fortune of learning from those in the trenches with me (too many to list; you know who you are), a few great team leaders (Ramiro Martinez-Pardo, Mark Branch, Keya Biswas, Padmapriya Iyer, Georges Ltaif), and many great leaders in the wider organization (too many to list). Powered through personal challenges to deliver results. Decided to leave in April/May 2021. Life's too short to work for the type of people I was working for then.

• Led 3 different coal production shifts (each a 50 member multinational team) for 2 months each as part of a Production Process Optimization Project. • Successfully managed production, safety & mine maintenance. Identified, implemented & codified best practices. • Re-engineered the production process to optimize resource allocation. Recovered ~40 minutes per shift.• Increased production by 7% compared to equivalent period in previous year. • Championed capability building by implementing training of operators on multiple machines. Mapped skills of individual operators to equipment as a Shift Capability Matrix to utilize workforce efficiently & reduce overtime.

• Served as an Internal Consultant to the CEO. • Initiated and successfully completed Business Process Re-engineering Projects in Operations, Maintenance and Supply Chain. Influenced the C-Suite to support implementation.• Introduced KPIs (e.g. equipment availability & utilization, shift utilization etc.) to monitor operational efficiency. Instituted shift-wise performance report cards for equipment operators and support staff.• Designed & Implemented Pre-Use Inspection Checklists (for operators), Service Checklists (for mechanics) & Troubleshooting Database for compliance to current good operating/ maintenance practices. • Developed production planning tools (MS Excel) to determine shift wise targets & equipment deployment.• Implemented frugal technology solutions that improved inter-department coordination, real time shift documentation and handover. Developed the preliminary requirement narrative for ERP implementation.

• Improved Spare Parts Supply Chain Management by developing local vendors and introducing dual sourcing to reduce supply risk. Reduced lead time by over 70% via supplier selection and pooling. • Introduced Scientific Demand Forecasting and developed replenishment plans for different Spare Part SKUs.• Cut costs by ~30% through better forecasts, assured supply contracts and use of aftermarket 3rd party spares.

• Led a 65 member multinational team for planned & unplanned maintenance of over 70 equipment units.• Re-engineered maintenance management process to optimize resource allocation. Identified, implemented & codified best practices.• Delivered over 80% equipment availability - 10% improvement with ~33% less manpower per shift.• Championed capability building by implementing Fire Team concept, ‘dual trade’ training and personnel rotation in different assignments for skill development.

(In addition to previous KRAs)• Devised mine electrification strategy for company’s captive coal concession and rolled out the first phase implementation as part of the Colliery Engineering Team. • Identified power sources and proposed supply network redesign consistent with statutory and right-of-way constraints.

• Provided decision support through primary & secondary research and cost-benefit analyses. Communicated insights and synthesized conclusions into recommendations regularly shared with Board of Directors. • Published over 20 actionable reports on Statutory Clearances, Strategic Coal Sourcing, Logistics Mode Selection, Vehicle Routing, Local Intelligence & Political Assessment of project areas. • Proactively engaged over 20 stakeholders (in-house departments, Government agencies and Private Contractors) regarding timely progress on project deliverables, recognizing issues and devising resolution. • Developed & periodically updated the communication dossier for statutory clearances. Fulfilled statutory & engineering compliance requirements at all levels of Governance: Town, District, State and Federal. • Prepared impactful presentation materials and published monthly State-of-the-art Reports for the Board of Directors and Investors (current and prospective).

• Designed the end-to-end multi-modal supply chain for supply of 7,000,000 MT coal per annum for company’s 2×600 MW Thermal Power Plant. • Identified & prioritized coal sources, optimized the supply network and conducted requirement assessment. • Gathered geological & logistical intelligence, developed financial models and recommended investment worthy projects in coal to company’s Board. • Conceived and implemented an online Document Management Process for over 30,000 documents of Coal Business (accumulated since 2006-07) to ensure speedy retrieval, secure backup and efficient information sharing.• Developed Corporate Social Responsibility Program and Emergency Preparedness Plan for the project area.

• Conceived & started institute’s first ever student-led science and technology publication.• Edited & published 10 issues with over 5000 copies per issue in print. • Built & led ~25 member team for content creation, interviews, general editing, finance, printing and publicity; ~15 member senior panel for technical writing, editing and feedback. • Successfully engaged student writers from India & abroad for content.• Secured a funding of INR 500,000 from Chevron Corporation (2009-10). • Secured a funding of INR 300,000 from Institute’s Dean of Research and Development (2008-09).The magazine has interviewed over 20 eminent scientists including Nobel Prize Winners, Turing Awardees and famed astronomers. As of 2014-15, the magazine is in its 7th year of publication.

• Introduced the idea of alumni networking for placements. Created the Alumni Safety Net to dilute impact of global recession. Over 50 new recruiters engaged.• Identified and contacted potential recruiters; handled logistics and recruitment process for ~20 companies. • Successfully executed several amorphous (contingent and emergency) assignments & streamlined the placement procedure.• Member of a team responsible for ~80% placements during one of the most difficult recruitment years in recent history due the collapse of financial markets worldwide.At the time Students' Placement Office was responsible for over 1000 jobs and 500 summer internships.

• Elected Head of the Student Government. Actively represented over 4000 students in Institute administration. • Responsible for all activities under the 5 councils of Students’ Gymkhana. Successfully executed works, handled events & initiatives worth INR 1,500,000 during tenure.• Took several new initiatives and enacted policies, e.g.: (a) Annual Accounts Audit (opened the records to community for scrutiny) to increase financial transparency. (b) Performance Based Funding to Societies/Clubs via Quarterly Reviews. (c) New residence allocation policy to deal with Student Interaction Problem and space issues.• Led the efforts to start Institute’s Contract Workers’ Welfare and Relief Fund (instituted on Oct 13, 2007) at Students' end.

Supervisor: Abhay Kumar, Scientific Office F, Industrial and Medical Accelerators Division, Raja Ramanna Center for Advanced Technology, Indore• Completed and optimized the Structural Design of 31.613 MHz Radio Frequency Cavity for INDUS Particle Accelerator at RRCAT using Finite Element Method • Validated the design using ASME Code and Theory of Solid Mechanics • Accounted for multiple parameters while optimizing (material used, weld amounts, frequency fluctuations due to external pressure et cetera)• Work formed the basis for electromagnetic and thermal design of the cavity

• Led team of 30 people and organized India Inspired, flagship event of Antaragni.• Organized and hosted widely appreciated Panel Discussion In for Nation on RTI Act • Hosted Ramon Magsaysay Awardees, Padmashree Awardee and high ranking Government officers as panelists. • Organized a nationwide essay contest Cut-the-tape on RTI in collaboration with NGO Kabir• Jointly handled Show Management during the festival.India Inspired was conceived by friend and batch-mate Rahul Gupta in 2005. The campaign was covered by MTV India on its Youth Segment Kya Baat Hai