Our People
The team behind Thiran
Experienced operators, academics, and industry leaders united by one goal — helping founders build enterprises that last.
Leadership
Executive team
R. Senthil Kumar
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Serial entrepreneur with 18+ years across manufacturing and technology ventures. Leads Thiran’s vision of building an inclusive innovation ecosystem for Tamil Nadu and beyond.
Dr. Priya Raghavan
Chief Operating Officer
Former academic-industry liaison with a PhD in Innovation Management. Oversees programs, operations, and institutional partnerships.
A. Mohammed Farook
Head of Incubation Programs
Ex-startup founder and program director who has mentored 100+ early-stage teams through idea validation, product build, and first revenue.
S. Kavitha
Head of Partnerships & Outreach
Builds Thiran’s network of academic institutions, corporate CSR programs, government departments, and investor communities.
Governance
Board of Directors
As a Section 8 not-for-profit company, Thiran is governed by an independent board committed to transparency and founder-first policies.
V. Natarajan
Chairperson, Board of Directors
Retired managing director of a listed engineering company; champions governance and long-term institution building.
Dr. Lakshmi Venkatesh
Director
Professor of Entrepreneurship and former dean, guiding Thiran’s academic collaborations and student entrepreneurship initiatives.
K. Arunachalam
Director
Chartered accountant and MSME advisor; leads audit, compliance, and financial transparency for the foundation.
Advisors
Advisory council
Meera Krishnan
Advisor — Venture Capital
Early-stage investor with a portfolio across agritech and healthcare; advises on investment readiness and fundraising.
James Prakash
Advisor — Technology
CTO with two decades in product engineering, AI/ML, and cloud platforms; guides deep-tech startups on architecture.
Anitha Selvaraj
Advisor — Social Impact
Development-sector leader focused on rural livelihoods and women’s entrepreneurship programs.
Whether you're developing a new technology, solving a social challenge, or building the next generation of businesses, Thiran Incubation Foundation is ready to support your journey.