Nita Ambani and more at India Conference at Harvard 2025

ICH is one of the largest and most influential student-led India-focused conferences in the United States. Scheduled for Feb. 15-16 in Boston, the 22nd edition of ICH is set to highlight India’s growing influence on the global stage.

An annual event hosted jointly by Harvard Business School (HBS) and Harvard Kennedy School (HKS), it fosters dialogue on India’s evolving role in global affairs, bringing together thought leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and cultural icons.

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Nita Ambani will be headlining this year’s event, presenting a keynote that will align with ICH’s theme for 2025, “From India to the World,” which celebrates India’s emergence as a global leader shaping pathways for peace, prosperity, and innovation.

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From big-name investors and tech leaders to successful entrepreneurs and social activists, the speakers at the 2025 India Conference at Harvard (ICH) are diverse and far from few. The lineup includes revolutionary fashion designers, chefs, and chief economists, offering a wealth of knowledge and insight.

The list of speakers announced so far are: Nita Ambani, founder chairperson of Reliance Foundation; Ashish Chauhan, CEO and managing director of the National Stock Exchange of India; fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee; and chef Suvir Saran.

Other notable speakers include Kirthiga Reddy, CEO of Verix; Pramath Raj Sinha, founding dean of the Indian School of Business and Ashoka University; and Ritesh Malik, founder of Innov8.

The event will also host Saurabh Dwivedi, editor of The Lallantop; Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO of the National Skill Development Corporation; and Amb. Rahul Chhabra, senior advisor to the UNDP. Additional speakers include Harsh Lal, co-founder of The Souled Store; Prachi Patankar, anti-caste and feminist writer; Kedar Kulkarni, co-founder and CEO of HyperVerge; and Deep Nishar, managing director of General Catalyst.

Also featured are Karishma Mehta, founder and CEO of Humans of Bombay; Pranav Pai, founding partner and chief investment officer of 3one4; and Madhusudanan R., co-founder of M2P Fintech.

Other industry leaders include Preston Dunlap, the first CTO and chief architect of the U.S. Space Force; Mitul Thapliyal, managing partner at MicroSave Consulting; and Mithun Sacheti, founder of CaratLane.

Social activists such as Meena Kandasamy, poet and anti-caste activist, and Shrujana Shridhar, co-founder of Mavelinadu Collective, will also speak.

In addition to big names, ICH introduces “Launchpad@ICH,” an initiative designed to celebrate and support entrepreneurial visionaries, tech-driven problem solvers, and groundbreaking artists. Through a startup pitch competition, a policy hackathon, and an immersive arts showcase, Launchpad is set to highlight the ingenuity and creativity that India has to offer.

Art exhibit

For the first time in conference history, “Art@ICH” presents a unique exhibition featuring Indian art, textiles, photography, and print. This thoughtfully curated showcase brings together emerging artists and established voices who are actively reshaping contemporary Indian art through innovation and global sensibilities.

Artists participating in Art@ICH employ diverse mediums, from traditional paintings and textiles to digital art and mixed media installations. Their works reflect India’s evolving artistic identity, exploring themes of culture, technology, cosmology, texture, and tone. This initiative highlights India’s multifaceted identity—not just as a hub for innovation and economic growth but as a cultural powerhouse nurturing extraordinary artistic talent.

A special highlight of the showcase is the presence of renowned Gond artist, Smt. Saroj Venkat Shyam, who will conduct an interactive workshop, offering attendees an opportunity to immerse themselves in this traditional folk art form from Madhya Pradesh.

Bhavya Jain, one of the directors of Art@ICH shares, “The assembly of artwork is diverse in its essence, ranging from art for art’s sake to narrative storytelling and community-driven initiatives. While this showcase is but a drop in the ocean of Indian art, we hope it fosters contemporary conversations around what it means to be an Indian artist in a globalized world.”

Pitch competition

The startup pitch competition at ICH has garnered overwhelming interest, receiving over 160 applications from Indian founders spanning the globe—from North America, UK to India. These applications represent a vast array of cutting-edge innovations, from AI breakthroughs to female health solutions, climate tech, and agri-tech. The competition is a testament to the boldness and ambition of Indian entrepreneurs, showcasing world-class ideas with high-impact potential.

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Sanchit Dayal, co-director of the pitch competition says, “The quality of entrepreneurial talent at the first ever Startup Pitch Competition at ICH is a testament to the bold ambition of new India’s young entrepreneurs. Always extremely excited to support the country’s startup ecosystem.”

Following an intense selection process, seven finalists have emerged, each presenting a visionary approach to tackling critical global and local challenges. The competition consists of two rigorous rounds.

In the first round, founders must effectively articulate the problem they are addressing, their solution, traction, and team strength.

Advancing to the second round, the top four teams have the opportunity to present their business model, go-to-market strategy, and long-term vision to a distinguished panel of investors and industry leaders.

Fellow director of the pitch competition Manan Patel shares, “The response has been nothing short of outstanding. The level of competition is fierce, and the judges have their work cut out for them. The caliber of innovation coming out of India is truly world-class.”

Policy Hackathon

In a bid to create a lasting impact, Policy Hackathon at ICH invites the global community to tackle one of India’s most pressing challenges — climate vulnerability and adaptation. Hosted in collaboration with ISB Bharti Institute of Public Policy and GDi Partners, this initiative aims to generate data-driven and policy-oriented solutions for climate resilience.

The response has been overwhelming, the ICH team claims. The organizing team initially aimed for 100 registrations but received over 400 sign-ups from participants across India, the U.S., UK, China, and beyond. With no age restrictions, the competition has drawn diverse talent from students, policy organizations, startups, consulting firms, multilaterals, and government representatives.

The hackathon is structured into two distinct tracks: the “Analytics Track” which is focused on leveraging data to drive solutions and the “Policy Track,” designed for crafting actionable policy frameworks.

Finalists will present their solutions to a jury panel comprising distinguished academicians and practitioners from Harvard, ISB, GDi Partners, and the Indian Government. A total prize pool of $10,000 awaits the winners, alongside opportunities to co-publish research with partner organizations and engage with Indian government officials, offering a potential pathway for their ideas to influence real-world policy decisions.

“I have been blessed with such a stellar team […] who have gone above and beyond to make this hackathon an enriching experience for participants. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to work with! We are all excited to see our collective efforts come to life at the conference.” says Mehr Pasricha, the director of Policy Hackathon at ICH.

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Launchpad@ICH is where creativity meets impact—whether through entrepreneurial ventures, policy-driven innovation, or transformative art, the ICH team shares. Attendees will witness some of the most cutting-edge ideas shaping India’s future.