Next Practice is about active value creation; we are passionate about customers and about improving their lives. We help enterprises create, deliver and capture value. We offer business design, incubation and consulting services for businesses, covering the entire process from consumer insight, concept and strategy development, to pilot and scale-up. We also develop entry strategies for those setting up businesses in India, conduct business due-diligence for those who want to invest in or acquire businesses, and also advise those looking at M&As. The three founders are pioneering professionals with significant ‘on the ground’ experience and successful track record in building and operating businesses; who believe that India needs to innovate and develop “Next Practices” to achieve its potential. - Rama Bijapurkar: Recognized thought leader on marketing strategy and consumer related issues, Independent Director on the Boards of many companies like Infosys, Godrej, CRISIL, Axis Bank, Mahindra Holidays & Resorts etc, serves on the Board of Governors of IIM Ahmedabad, author of the best-selling “We Are Like That Only”, Penguin India (published internationally as “Winning In The Indian Markets by Wiley International)- S. Raghunandhan: Over 23 years work experience, spanning various service businesses, including logistics & distribution, hospitality, and retail; ex CEO - Retail with the Prestige Group, ex CEO HyperCity, ex country head DHL etc- R. Sriram: Cofounder, ex CEO & MD, Crossword Bookstores Ltd., Independent Director of Kokuyo Camlin Ltd, Board of Advisors of Seedfund, Trustee SNEHA (Society for Nutrition, Education & Health Action) & Pratham Books, Board of advisors of Junoon Theatre, Toybank, visiting faculty IIM Ahmedabad & Lucknow, ex President of The Indus Entrepreneurs, Mumbai.Please contact us for active value creation:R. Sriram sriram@nextpracticeretail.comS. Raghunandhan raghu@nextpracticeretail.com

SNEHA believes Every Woman and Child Counts....in Sanskrit it means “Love”...it stands for Society for Nutrition, Education and Health ActionA voluntary, secular, non-profit organization, SNEHA addresses the special needs of slum women and children in Mumbai by working to improve their health. * Over 54% of Mumbai lives in extremely crowded slums* 100,000 babies die before their fifth birthday* 1 in 2 children are malnourished in Mumbai* 66% of women face physical & mental harassment in their own homes* 450 mothers die in every 100,000 births SNEHA was born on November 27, 1999 in Dharavi, Mumbai to address and prevent these concerns. It was founded by a group of dedicated doctors and social workers led by neonatalogist and former dean of Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital and Medical College (LTMGH & LTMMC), Sion, Mumbai, Dr. Armida Fernandez. SNEHA is registered under the Bombay Public Trust Act 1950 and under the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act for receipt of foreign donations.Our VisionWe dedicate our energies, expertise and resources to ensure quality nutrition, education and health care of women and children.Our MissionWe impact quality of care and influence urban health policies through innovative solutions to problems in nutrition, education and health in urban communities. We build sustainable and replicable models of intervention and partnerships that empower women to change their lives and those around them.Our Values* Nurture* Valuing every person* Commitment* Trust* Excellence

SNEHA believes Every Woman and Child Counts....in Sanskrit it means “Love”...it stands for Society for Nutrition, Education and Health ActionA voluntary, secular, non-profit organization, SNEHA addresses the special needs of slum women and children in Mumbai by working to improve their health. * Over 54% of Mumbai lives in extremely crowded slums* 100,000 babies die before their fifth birthday* 1 in 2 children are malnourished in Mumbai* 66% of women face physical & mental harassment in their own homes* 450 mothers die in every 100,000 births

At Pratham Books www.prathambooks.org we believe that every child has the right to enjoy good books. And we believe they should have stories set in surroundings familiar to them and in a language close to their culture. We believe that to make books accessible to every child, the price points have to be very low. With a range of stories created to excite children with different likes and tastes, the books are illustrated by some of the most enthusiastic and talented illustrators. Our aim is to have something good for every child, in every part of the country, and in the process spread the joy of reading far and wide.We have published over 300 original titles in 18 Indian languages, which total up to about 2000 books. The books cover a range of genres including early readers, fiction, non-fiction, and storybooks on science, history, mathematics and nature. Our vision is to reach 200 million children in India, and we hope to someday put 'a book in every child's hand'. StoryWeaver www.storyweaver.org.in is a platform that hosts stories in languages from all across India and around the world. You can read, create, translate, or download an endless stream of stories. All the stories are available under Creative Commons licenses which means that the stories are free to read, and can be translated into new languages, new stories can be created, and artworks can be freely accessed, by anyone. Donate-a-Book https://donateabook.org.in is a unique crowd funding initiative by Pratham Books to help bridge the gap between those who want to help children read and those who need books for children. Donate-a-Book enables anyone - at an individual or organizational level - to set up campaigns to raise funds for books for libraries, reading programs or storytelling sessions. Once the campaign reaches its end date or meets the goal (whichever comes earlier), one gets to select a collection of wonderful books across 6 languages from Pratham Books for the same amount.

Pratham Books is a not-for-profit trust that was created in response to an articulated need within the Pratham network (www.pratham.org) to have good reading content for children at affordable costs in multiple languages.Pratham Books mission is 'A Book in Every Child's Hand' and is trying to create a shift in the paradigm for publishing children’s books in India. The low cost model proves that children’s literature can be attractive and affordable and therefore more accessible.Read India Books is an imprint of Pratham Books and is the first of several publishing brands that we hope to create. Over the next one year Pratham Books will publish an additional 100 children’s book titles under the Read India brand. Please read our new blog at: http://blog.prathambooks.org/Join our Facebook Page too:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pratham-Books/9307274926

The journey began on August 15th, 2004. Shweta Chari, an Electronics Engineer founded Toybank with a vision of reaching out to children through fun and play using toys. A small idea that started in a small restaurant in Bombay has over the years gathered momentum with the help and support of friends and volunteers from all across Bombay. Within a shortest span of time and very minimal resources, Toybank is bringing smiles on thousands of deprived faces. Toybank acts as a leveler of the society by taking toys from those that can give and distributing them to the ones in need.In a way Toybank attempts to prove the belief of John.F.Kennedy, 'If the free society cannot help the many that are poor, it can never save the few who are rich.'Toybank honestly dreams to place a toy in the hands of every child in India and the world. The toy shapes the psyche of the children, so utmost care is taken to give only unbiased and morally correct toys to children.Toybank norms for types of toys: 1. Toys that promote violence such as, guns, swords and similar such toys are not accepted by Toybank 2. Toys in good condition are a must, any part broken or torn from the toy then that toy should kindly be kept aside. 3. Barbie dolls are also not accepted as Toybank does not believe in discrimination.The toys that are collected are then segregated according to age groups and then are gift-wrapped for the children.As through the years, toys were collected, segregated and gift-wrapped and then gifted on a one-on-one basis to the kids from all over Bombay. We soon realized that the beneficiaries of toys were impacted much beyond our expectation. The children began to recognize that play was one of their core rights. They also began expressing themselves better and were more in tune with their lives and circumstances.Toybank now runs in Bangalore and Poona with the support from core Toybankers Vinay and Swetha.

Junoon believesthe arts are necessary for the existence of a healthy, joyful, creative society.Junoon aimsto unleash the potential of theatre to contribute to making a creative, imaginative, humane world.Junoon willcreate multiple platforms to make theatre accessible, welcoming and engagingreach out especially to children and youthdevelop the ecosystem of theatre - audiences, theatre groups and performing spacesWe have a dreamThat every child in India will grow up with the arts as an integral part of their lives. They will know what it is to feel their hearts sing, to enjoy rigour, to revel in curiousity. To let their imagination take flight, to cultivate the discipline of creativity. To be peaceful inside. To have faith in their own potential. To stand tall. To contribute to others. To build a more harmonious, generous, joyful, and sensitive world.That in our congested cities every adult will have a breathing space to turn to. A space that celebrates the arts. A space where they can be together with other people and also truly come home to themselves. To recoup. To relax. To nourish their minds. And to find joy in the creative energy unleashed for them and with them.That we become a nation of people who draw strength and sustenance from our human capacities. Our ability to fly with our imaginations, to find wonder in the most mundane. To be curious about everything. To experience the world through all our senses. To express ourselves in multiple ways. To have a deep and complex understanding of ourselves and others. To be completely, joyfully, alive at every moment of our existence.We believeThat there are many people out there who share this dream. Who understand its worth. We believe that you are one of those people. Join us in our Junoon. In whatever way you can. Help us to make this dream a reality.

Camlin is a household brand in India, with products ranging from stationery, fine and applied art, hobby and school segments. Kokuyo is a leading Japanese Group catering to the stationery and furniture needs of homes, schools and office.On 30th May 2011 Camlin Ltd executed Joint Venture Agreement with its promoters and Kokuyo S & T Co Ltd Japan, a wholly owned Subsidiary of Kokuyo Co., Ltd, which is a leading company in Japan with over 100 years of experience in stationery and furniture products, design and construction of Office and store interiors, mail order business, lifestyle retail and distribution having an annual turnover US$ 3200 Million. Through this Joint Venture, Kokuyo S & T Co ltd have acquired a controlling stake in the company by way of acquiring stake from the promoters, preferential allotment and from the open offer made to the public. The company is now a subsidiary company of Kokuyo S & T Co Ltd.Consequent to the company becoming a subsidiary of Kokuyo S & T company Ltd Japan, the company has sought Shareholders approval and received Registrar of companies approval for changing the name of the Company from “Camlin Limited” to “Kokuyo Camlin Limited” which has come to effect from 25.01.2012.The Company’s strength lies in its World Class Quality, giving the consumers “Value for money” offering innovative products and continuous R&D initiatives backed by market research.

Camlin is a household brand in India, with products ranging from stationery, fine and applied art, hobby and school segments. Kokuyo is a leading Japanese Group catering to the stationery and furniture needs of homes, schools and office.On 30th May 2011 Camlin Ltd executed Joint Venture Agreement with its promoters and Kokuyo S & T Co Ltd Japan, a wholly owned Subsidiary of Kokuyo Co., Ltd, which is a leading company in Japan with over 100 years of experience in stationery and furniture products, design and construction of Office and store interiors, mail order business, lifestyle retail and distribution having an annual turnover US$ 3200 Million. Through this Joint Venture, Kokuyo S & T Co ltd have acquired a controlling stake in the company by way of acquiring stake from the promoters, preferential allotment and from the open offer made to the public. The company is now a subsidiary company of Kokuyo S & T Co Ltd.Consequent to the company becoming a subsidiary of Kokuyo S & T company Ltd Japan, the company has sought Shareholders approval and received Registrar of companies approval for changing the name of the Company from “Camlin Limited” to “Kokuyo Camlin Limited” which has come to effect from 25.01.2012.The Company’s strength lies in its World Class Quality, giving the consumers “Value for money” offering innovative products and continuous R&D initiatives backed by market research.

I serve on the Board of Advisors of seedfarm - seedfund's incubator and am an advisor to several incubatee companies.

The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) is a global not-for-profit organization focused on promoting entrepreneurship. TiE helps budding entrepreneurs through advice, guidance and assistance from successful & experienced entrepreneurs and professionals.TiE Mumbai (www.tiemumbai.org) was seeded in October 1999, and formally launched on December 7th, 1999. Today, TiE Mumbai is a multi-faceted organization and is an active TiE chapter dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship leading to wealth and job creation.I serve as a Board Member of TiE Mumbai since April 2008 and served as President for the term April 2010 - March 2012.

I curated the Kala Ghoda Literature Festival in 2005 & 2006 with Janhavi Acharekar; with Shivmeet Deol in 2007; with Rashmi Dhanwani, Peter Griffin, Annie Zaidi and Janhavi in 2008; and with Peter Griffin, Annie Zaidi, Neha Lamech and Rashmi Dhanwani in 2009.

Gini & Jony Ltd is a leading kidswear brand in India.

“I am a part of all that I have read.” – John KieranSriram’s passion for books was serendipitous & led him to Landmark in 1988, establish Walden in 1990 & Crossword in 1992. He co-founded Crossword with Ms. K. Anita in 1992 & helped build it into India’s leading chain. He created wealth for India Book House, the initial promoters, & arranged for Crossword's buyout in 2000 by current promoter Shoppers’ Stop Ltd. Crossword was ranked the 6th most admired retailer by Businessworld in 2006 & 5th in 2004. It won the Images Retailer of the year Award 2005 & 2007 & the Reid and Taylor Retailer of the Year Award 2005.While at Crossword, Sriram established the Crossword Book Awards, now known as the Vodafone Crossword Book Awards, to annually recognise and reward the best Indian writers and books.A pioneer who has helped change the face of bookselling in India, Sriram was named “Marketing Superstar” in 1994 by Advertising Age International & received the Indira Super Achiever Award in 2004. A guest lecturer at IIM-A, IIM-L etc & noted speaker, he remains a student and book evangelist.

Cofounded Walden along with Ms. K. Anita and Mr. Sudarshan Reddy for the Promoters Mr. V Ramprasad and Mr. Choudhary.