Speaking & media

Stories worth a stage.

On AI for people without internet, building ecosystems outside the metros, and what building a Batpod teaches you about failure.

Watch

AWS Now Go Build CTO Fellowship Season 2 Episode 2: EdTech, Ownership, and Public Good

Amazon Web Services

Rethinking Digital Education with Youth in the Lead

International Peace Institute

YourStory × Meta

Bharat Builds With Llama, Episode 1

YourStory × Meta

Now Go Build CTO Fellowship, Season 2

Amazon · Werner Vogels

Bio

Bio, positions and headshot, ready for a programme or press release.

Abheejit Khandagale

Co Founder & CTA, Social Innovation Labs, Switzerland

Chair, REIN Global (prev Vruksh Ecosystems, India)

Board Member, Let's Read, France

Short bio

Abheejit Khandagale is a social entrepreneur from Nagpur, India, building technology for the next billion. He co-founded ekatra, a WEF UpLink Top Innovator, and leads technology and alliances at Si Labs. He is an Amazon Now Go Build CTO Fellow, a U.S. State Department Professional Fellow, and the builder of India's first Batpod.

Long bio

Abheejit is a social entrepreneur from Nagpur, India, with extensive experience across emerging technology, non-profit, and policy sectors. He is the Co-Founder of Social Innovation Labs, a global initiative HQ'd in Switzerland. He recently served as Digital Solutions Director at Catalyst Now, a global non profit network.

He has been recognized as a Top Innovator by the World Economic Forum, is an Amazon CTO Fellow, and Professional Fellow under US Department of State.

He founded non-profit Vruksh Ecosystems, which focuses on grassroots entrepreneurship education and supports entrepreneurs across South Asia in their Zero to One journey.

Abheejit regularly speaks at global conferences about his research and entrepreneurial work. He is passionate about using technology to create more equitable and accessible opportunities for all, and hopes to inspire others to follow their dreams and make a positive impact on the world.

Topics

AI for the next billion

Designing learning and services for people without smartphones, data, or formal classrooms.

Ecosystems beyond the metros

What it takes to build a startup culture in a city nobody is watching.

Fall. Learn. Build.

From a failed exam to India's first Batpod: failure as fuel.

Data infrastructure for social impact

Why the social sector needs the real-time data every other sector already has.

Appearances

2026

Project Lincoln: A Decade Apart

Fab conference circuit

2026

JanAI Pavilion, with Catalyst Now

India AI Impact Summit, Delhi

2015

Building India's first Batpod

FAB11, Fab Foundation, Boston

Speaking or press inquiries: get in touch.