#ASK_ME_ANYTHING_SERIES

As entrepreneurs we have so many thoughts/questions running inside – some go answered and some remain unanswered. We are creating a unique series to give the start-up community an opportunity to have a candid conversation directly with the individuals who have unique insights about issues.

The IIT Madras HTIC Medtech Incubator is excited to host the ” Ask Me Anything Series ” weekly. We will be bringing in experts from different sectors to answer some pertinent questions that matter the most to start-ups. The AMAs will be hosted every Thursday from 3 to 4 pm.  Pen down your questions related to funding for this Thursday, we have Mr Nitin Deshmukh, Founding Managing Partner – Kotak Investment Advisors Ltd to answer your questions.

Topic for the week: ASK NITIN DESHMUKH ANYTHING ON FUNDING

Date: 4 June 2020 (Thursday)

To Register: https://forms.gle/vr5aBw9QrL2b3miSA

Link to join the session: meet.google.com/kri-bxni-wjk

Nitin Deshmukh, Founding Managing Partner – Kotak Investment Advisors Ltd 

 

Nitin Deshmukh is the founding member of the Private Equity Group at Kotak and has played a   pivotal role in building the Alternate Assets business at Kotak Investment Advisors Ltd as its founding Managing Partner – Private Equity and Board member.

          With over 35 years of experience, 31 of which in Venture Capital / Private Equity investing Nitin has seen the growth of the VC and PE space from being a mere nomenclature to being one of the most preferred financing vehicles in the country today. Nitin’s uncanny ability to identify trends and leaders in their infancy and helping them realize their potential, has been the hallmark of his career. Nitin has led investments in over 70 companies, a number of which have grown to leadership positions in their respective sectors. Nitin also served on the Board of several of these companies.

        Prior to joining Kotak Group in June 2004, Nitin was Director of Dresdner Kleinwort Capital when it started operations in India in June 2001. Prior to joining Dresdner, Nitin had a long stint of over 12.5 years with ICICI Venture from 1989 to 2001. During this period, Nitin headed the Western regional office of ICICI Venture from 1992 to 1997 and from 1997 to 2001 he was the Chief of Private Equity Investments, heading the investment management activities of various Funds. He started his career with Cipla, India’s leading pharmaceutical company, where he held various technical and management positions for 3.5 years.

          During his career to date Nitin has spearheaded 45 plus investments in the Pharmaceutical, Life Sciences, Health Care and Medech companies, many of them have grown to be global players. Among the Life Sciences- Pharma- Healthcare deals led by Nitin included Sun Pharmaceuticals, Biocon, Intas Pharmaceuticals, Natco Pharma, Ajanta Pharma, Syngene, Bharat Serums & Vaccines, Neuland Laboratories, Advanced Enzymes, Intas Biopharmaceuticals, Rubicon, Medicorp (acquired by Mylan)  Metahelix (acquired by Rallis ), Bangalore Genei ( acquired by Merck), VLife Sciences, Novalead, Strand Life Sciences (acquired by HCG’s Triesta) , Manipal Health , Pandorum among others. Nitin also served on the Board of most of these companies.

          Besides, Nitin has a strong association with the Biotech and Pharmaceutical Industry in the country, having served as the first honorary Director General of Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE), the apex industry association of biotech companies in India from 2002 to 2005 and serving as its Director for 12 years actively participating in various policy committees related to Biotech Policy, & Startup Funding.   

       Nitin is very actively associated with BIRAC (Biotech Industry Research Assistance Council), Department of Biotechnology’s (DBT) industry academia interface agency funding innovation excellence in India in the Life Sciences & Medtech space as member & Chair of its various Fund investment committees for investments in startups and early stage companies, as well as their mentoring activities. Nitin also serves as a member of the Investment Committees of Venture Center, Pune, Centre for Cellular & Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), Bangalore both business incubators & venture accelerators nurturing life science startups. Nitin also currently serves on the Advisory Boards of Keiretsu Forum India, a global angel investor network and 1 Crowd, a unique crowd funding platform for start-ups and early stage ventures.

     Nitin is a Member of the Board of Governors of Institute of Chemical Technology, ICT (formerly UDCT), Mumbai and Chair’s it’s Pharma Advisory Board as well as the Start Up Policy Committee besides serving as a member of its Innovation Council and Startup Policy Committee. Nitin also currently serves as a member of the Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) National Committee on Private Equity and Venture Capital as well as the CII National Committee on Biotech.

Nitin holds an MBA degree from University of Bombay and a Master’s Degree in Pharmaceutical Technology from Institute of Chemical Technology (formerly UDCT), Mumbai where his research work led to a patent filing on machine design for the manufacture of Novel Drug Delivery Systems (NDDS). He also completed the Post-Graduation Program in Pharmaceutical Technology at the University of Ghent, Belgium. Nitin is a recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award (2012) from the Institute of Chemical Technology (former UDCT).