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Mr. Naga Prakasam, a dynamic leader with a three-decade global journey, retired at 41, embracing his role as a farmer and champion for startups across India. Serving as a lead angel investor, Naga has guided 31 startups through 65+ rounds, witnessing 16 successful deals, notably Uniphore's remarkable transformation into a unicorn with a 120x return. He's led 12 boards, navigated eight exits, and experienced two write-offs, showcasing his seasoned expertise.
As the author of "BackToBharat – In Search of a Sustainable Future," Naga delves into India's economic challenges, offering insights for entrepreneurs. His mantra, "Start-ups should focus on India’s strength – People, Problems, Tech (PPT)," reflects his approach. Naga's influential journey includes steering Uniphore from multiple rejections to a $2.5 billion valuation in just six years of dedicated board service. His hands-on strategy involves extensive travel to rural areas in 28 states/UTs, gaining firsthand knowledge.
A thought leader in the impact space, Naga motivates students across 110+ colleges. Forbes recognizes him as a social investor engineering social change, and he has chaired pivotal events like "Green Revolution 2.0 – Food Security and the Role of Innovation." As an advisor at Acumen, a New York-based $100M impact venture fund, Naga contributes to global growth. Co-founder and chairman of Nativelead Foundation (NLF), he empowers entrepreneurship in Tamil Nadu's non-metros, supporting 242 angels and 120 startups.
Naga's advisory roles span NSRCEL, IIMB; IIT Madras Incubator; CIIE, IIMA; and more. He played a crucial role in conceptualising KisanMitr, a national platform for self-reliant farmers, and contributes to NITI Aayog consultations on agriculture entrepreneurship.
