Avinash Punekar: The New Chief Executive Officer at iCreate

Innovation-based start-up incubator iCreate (International Centre for Technology and Entrepreneurship) has announced the appointment of Avinash Punekar as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective from October 1, 2022.

With over three decades of experience in leadership roles across technology and operations in both startups and large businesses, Avinash will lead iCreate’s efforts in incubating breakthrough innovators and startups from across India and the globe.

Avinash Punekar most recently held the position of CEO of the IIT Mandi iHub and HCI Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation supported by the Indian government and working to establish India as a global leader in the fields of human-computer interaction (HCI) and brain-computer interface (BCI), which includes AR/VR, AI, DL/ML, and multisensory systems.

“We are thrilled to have Avinash drive the next chapter of iCreate’s growth. Our purpose is to create entrepreneurial capital and a flourishing community, and we are certain that Avinash’s remarkable track record in the startup ecosystem as an investor, entrepreneur and administrator of multiple respected organisations will help us achieve this goal more quickly. As a seasoned professional in the field, Avinash’s extensive knowledge will be a great contribution to the organisation,” said Parag Amin, Chief Mentor and Founding Director of iCreate.

IIT Bombay graduate Avinash has a degree in aerospace engineering. His background includes running large, international SaaS businesses and working on several government platforms, including the National Innovation Foundation.

“I am thrilled to join iCreate in their aim of assisting tech innovators to scale in producing ground-breaking solutions at a time when the world is looking to India for innovative solutions to some of the most critical concerns. I look forward to collaborating with the entire leadership team, stakeholders, and most importantly, the startup ecosystem to synergize our efforts for their benefit,” Avinash Punekar, the Chief Executive Officer of iCreate, said.