Cdr. Navneet Kaushik (Project Director- Start Ups) is a retired Naval Officer/Veteran and now serving as Senior Scientist with Technology Development Board, Government of India. He is an ex-NDA and holds a Master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering from IIT Kharagpur. He did his B.Tech. from Naval College of Engineering and B.Sc. from National Defence Academy. He holds about 22+ years of experience in the Indian Navy and the Government of India, he has a proven track record of transforming organizational effectiveness and driving customer-led technology projects from idea to delivery Influential communicator, known for motivating teams, negotiating with international stakeholders (South America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa), and managing key relationships in government ministries as well as private-sector organizations. He has led the board agenda to fund innovative technology and indigenization projects, resulting in loans to companies such as QuNu labs, Bharat Biotech, Botlab Dynamics (indigenous drones), Mylabs, and Biological E. He has guided 20 start-ups at the India Innovation Growth Program in Boston, USA as an ecosystem expert while representing Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India.