Akash Sharma

Startup Ecosystem & Incubation professional with 5+ years of experience across leading entrepreneurship and innovation institutions, specializing in startup incubation, pre-incubation, program strategy, ecosystem development, and institutional projects. Experienced in working with founders across the startup lifecycle—from idea validation and product-market fit to fundraising and scaling—while building strong networks across investors, mentors, corporates, government, academia, and industry. Proven track record of designing and leading entrepreneurship programs, developing large-scale institutional proposals, managing incubation initiatives, and building innovation ecosystems.

Incubation Manager at Institute Incubation and Innovation Council (I3C), IIT Jammu (2025-03 – Present)

• Led development of major institutional initiatives at IIT Jammu, including the AI Centre of Excellence (AI CoE) and the establishment of AIC & ACIC Centres under Atal Innovation Mission (AIM); spearheaded end-to-end proposal development, documentation, institutional coordination, and budgeting for projects worth ₹10 Cr and ₹5 Cr, respectively.
• Led the Pre-Incubation & Startup Development initiatives, designing program frameworks, selection processes, mentoring structures, milestone tracking, and founder support mechanisms to help early-stage ideas transition into scalable ventures.
• Built and strengthened the entrepreneurship ecosystem at IIT Jammu by working closely with faculty, students, industry mentors, investors, and external ecosystem partners; also mentored Budding Entrepreneurs Clubs in structuring their activities and successfully executing entrepreneurship-focused events.
• Drove startup growth, funding readiness, and ecosystem outreach, providing strategic advisory on product-market fit, scaling and fundraising, facilitating connections with VCs, angel investors and government funding programs, and leading high-impact demo days, startup programs, and strategic partnerships.

Assistant Program Manager at I-venture @ ISB (2024-04 – 2025-03)

• Lead and manage incubation & Acceleration programs, providing tailored mentorship and strategic support to early-stage startups, driving their growth and development.
• Foster relationships with key stakeholders, including entrepreneurs, investors, and mentors, while organizing workshops and networking events to enhance startup visibility and opportunities.
• Oversee program operations, manage budgets, and analyze performance to ensure efficient execution.

Program Associate at NSRCEL @ IIM Bangalore (2023-05 – 2024-03)

• Worked with over 400 women entrepreneurs, providing personalized support to refine their pitches and business plans, ensuring clarity and effectiveness.
• Analyzed startup data and performance metrics to evaluate progress, offering actionable insights that drove improvements and enhanced business strategies.
• Coordinated with faculty to plan and finalize class schedules, session timings, and related academic activities.

Program Associate at Forge Accelerator (2022-05 – 2023-04)

• Scouted and evaluated over 250+ startups to identify solutions for Vedanta's business unit challenges and specific use cases.
• Monitored and tracked startup engagement, ensuring alignment with program objectives and milestone achievements.
• Crafted investor decks for high-potential startups, presented to Vedanta leadership to drive corporate partnerships and investment opportunities.

Junior Associate at IIT Madras Incubation cell (2021-06 – 2022-01)

• Conducted initial screening of startups applying for incubation, evaluating their potential and alignment with program goals.
• Spearheaded the "Build Club" initiative to foster a student community focused on innovation and hands-on project development.

Executive Master of Business administration (MBA) in Marketing – Indian Institute of Technology, Patna (2026 – 2028)

Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering – Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai (2017 – 2021)

Senior Secondary in Non - Med – MHAC School, Nagbani, Jammu (2015 – 2016)