Team i-Hub

Megha Gajjar is a qualified Company Secretary (CS) with over a decade of professional experience in startup ecosystem development, innovation management, policy formulation, and project management. She currently serves as Lead – Investments at Gujarat Student Startup and Innovation Hub (i-Hub Gujarat), where she leads initiatives related to startup fundraising, investor engagement, government grant implementation, and strategic ecosystem partnerships. She has played a key role in managing flagship programs such as the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), designing and executing startup acceleration programs, and drafting policy recommendations to strengthen Gujarat's innovation ecosystem. Prior to joining i-Hub Gujarat, Megha worked with the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), Gujarat Grassroots Innovation Augmentation Network (GIAN), and Shree Gujarat SEWA Cooperative Federation, contributing to large-scale education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and public policy initiatives. Her expertise spans proposal drafting, report writing, stakeholder management, research, and program implementation. She has also authored books, research papers, and policy documents, reflecting her strong commitment to knowledge creation and public service. In recognition of her professional contributions, she received the Best Work in the Professional Field Award from the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) in 2024. Passionate about innovation and entrepreneurship, Megha continues to work towards creating a vibrant startup ecosystem by connecting innovators, investors, industry, academia, and government to drive sustainable economic growth.

With over 2 years of investment research experience, He leverages expertise in financial analysis to conduct due diligence across high-potential sectors including FMCG, chemicals and hospitals. Holding CFA Level 2 qualifications and B.Com. degree, he possesses strong skills in evaluating business models, performing valuation analyses and monitoring investment portfolios - having previously worked with investment Banking and equity research firms. Mayank utilizes his proficiencies in market research and financial modeling to assess early-stage startup opportunities. He engages thoroughly to ensure his insights strongly inform strategic investment decisions. Beyond number-crunching, Mayank has a multidimensional personality. An avid traveler and cricket buff, he channels creativity, discipline, and determination from his diverse passions into his core strength as an investment expert.

Innovation & Startup Ecosystem Professional with 6+ years of experience in startup acceleration, mentorship, IPR facilitation, and innovation management. Currently Acceleration Manager at i-Hub Gujarat, supporting high-impact ventures across Semiconductor, ICT, Deep Tech, FinTech, and Cybersecurity. "Reinventing Conducive Ecosystem for the NexGen Entrepreneurs" Mentorship: Mentored 80+ startups in building scalable ventures. IPR Facilitation: Coordinated 1,400+ IPR filings. Funding Management: Managed key funding schemes including SSIP 2.0, NewGen IEDC, and SISFS. Outreach: Sensitized 12,000+ young minds on innovation and entrepreneurship.

Acceleration Manager at i-Hub Gujarat with 6+ years of experience in startup incubation, acceleration, and ecosystem development. Passionate about supporting founders through mentorship, strategic partnerships, funding facilitation, and government-backed innovation programs. With a background in Microbiology and extensive experience managing initiatives such as SISFS, NIDHI-iTBI, MeitY GENESIS, and SSIP 2.0, I have mentored 60+ startups, facilitated funding support of over ₹3 Crores, and engaged 4,000+ students and innovators through entrepreneurship programs. Committed to building a thriving innovation ecosystem and enabling startups to scale sustainable, high-impact ventures.

I am Nikunj Kachhadiya, currently serving as Assistant Manager (Administration) at Gujarat Student Startup and Innovation Hub. With extensive experience in administration, procurement, and institutional operations, I am responsible for managing government procurement through the GeM Portal, drafting policy documents, preparing administrative and financial notes, tendering processes, work orders, contract management, and ensuring compliance with government regulations and organizational procedures. My role also involves coordinating with various government departments, educational institutions, startups, vendors, and stakeholders to facilitate smooth execution of innovation programs, infrastructure development, and strategic initiatives.

"I work across venture capital, technology, and startup ecosystems — helping early-stage founders build and raise. I've done this through Dholakia Ventures, We Founder Circle, and EvolveX Accelerator, and I currently work with i-Hub Gujarat, where I support flagship Government of Gujarat programs like SSIP and Srujan. My work covers investment evaluation, accelerator programs, founder support, and fundraising. Over the years I've worked closely with startups like Merry Health, ClearDekho, Zippee, Agnikul, Pocketly, DhiWise, Ambitio, and EcoRatings. I've cleared all three levels of the CFA Program, which gives me the analytical grounding to go with the on-ground experience of working with founders directly. Long term, I want to back exceptional founders through institutional venture scale funding and strategic guidance."

Currently working as Media Manager at i-Hub Gujarat, I lead content strategy and multimedia production, creating engaging content through writing, photography, videography, and graphic design. I manage digital campaigns, document key events, and develop visual and editorial content that showcases i-Hub Gujarat's programs, startup ecosystem initiatives, industry collaborations, and interactions with government, academic, and ecosystem partners.

Serves as a Program Assistant at i-Hub Gujarat, driving startup evaluation, investment facilitation, and ecosystem development initiatives. Manages the end-to-end startup screening and evaluation lifecycle across incubation, acceleration, and funding programs while coordinating with startups, investors, and ecosystem partners. Contributes to flagship initiatives, including Startup Conclave, Startup RISE, and Startup Srujan, ensuring seamless planning and execution. Leads sensitization and outreach sessions for students, faculty members, and aspiring entrepreneurs, creating awareness about i-Hub Gujarat's offerings and providing guidance on startup, innovation, and incubation-related opportunities.

I am a dedicated administrative and event coordination professional associated with i-Hub Gujarat. I have experience in managing official events, coordinating visits of dignitaries, handling administrative tasks, and ensuring smooth execution of programs and workshops. I am organized, responsible, and committed to delivering quality work while supporting innovation, education, and startup-related initiatives & food coordination.

Startup ecosystem professional with 5+ years of experience in entrepreneurship, incubation, and innovation management. I began my journey as the founder of Mobies, gaining hands-on experience in building and operating a startup. Currently, I serve as Assistant Incubation Manager at i-Hub Gujarat, supporting early-stage startups in Health & Wellness, AYUSH, and Blue Economy sectors from proof-of-concept to investment readiness, and have supported 100+ startups. Previously worked with SRISTI BioNEST, gaining exposure to grassroots innovation under Prof. Anil K. Gupta.

Providing ELV support in IHUB.

With a professional background in homeopathic medicine and extensive experience in the healthcare sector, I oversee the Healthcare, AYUSH, and Health & Wellness startup portfolio, supporting innovators from ideation to growth. I guide aspiring innovators by providing guidance on government funding opportunities, startup support schemes, mentorship and acceleration programs, as well as participation in exhibitions and networking platforms. I also conduct student sensitization sessions to foster an entrepreneurial mindset and promote innovation across academic institutions. As part of the investment team, I contribute to startup evaluation, due diligence, and investment-related activities. Additionally, I am actively involved in the Startup Rise Program at i-Hub Gujarat, collaborating with ecosystem stakeholders to strengthen the startup ecosystem and accelerate innovation-driven entrepreneurship.

I am responsible for managing the AgriTech portfolio at i-Hub, which includes coordinating with relevant stakeholders, supporting AgriTech-related initiatives, and facilitating activities within the ecosystem. Alongside this, I also handle building maintenance and civil works, including coordination, monitoring, and follow-up of repair, maintenance, and infrastructure-related activities at i-Hub.

Research Assistant at i-Hub Gujarat, managing co-working space operations while leading research initiatives, supporting startups, and driving innovation programs. Skilled in innovation management, project coordination, and startup ecosystem development.

Jayraj Dodiya Program Associate, i-Hub Gujarat Jayraj Dodiya is a Program Associate at i-Hub Gujarat, working within the SSIP 2.0 startup ecosystem initiative. He works on Srujan, evaluating and supporting early-stage startups in Cleantech, Defense, and Social Impact. He also co-leads the Samriddhi acceleration program, helping startups prepare for and secure investment. Prior to i-Hub, he co-founded Cranmberry Pvt. Ltd., a venture-building company behind CityNect and ProBroker, giving him firsthand experience as a founder alongside his current role as an ecosystem evaluator. He holds a B.Tech in Civil Engineering from Nirma University.

Dr. Brijesh Barot is serving as a Project Coordinator at i-Hub. I am responsible for coordinating project activities and overseeing the day-to-day operations, maintenance, and infrastructure-related work of the i-Hub building to ensure its smooth and efficient functioning.

Brief About Myself I am a dedicated and detail-oriented administrative professional with over 14 years of experience in documentation, operations, program coordination, startup support, and records management. Throughout my career, I have worked with diverse organizations, gaining expertise in document verification, administrative support, digital record management, stakeholder coordination, and portal management. Currently, I work as a Research Assistant at i-Hub Gujarat, where I assist startups with documentation, application processes, co-working space operations, and portal management. I am a quick learner with strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, and I enjoy working collaboratively to achieve organizational goals. I am committed to continuous learning and always strive to deliver accurate, efficient, and high-quality work.