Founders and Directors

Ketan Bakshi
(Founder, Chairman)

Ketan Bakshi is one of the founders of Neilsoft and has over three decades of experience in the engineering & IT industry. He was instrumental in launching the first IBM-PC compatible system (Neptune) in India in 1984 and has focused on the CAD/CAM and Engineering segments since 1986. He has worked in various capacities in technical, marketing, sales, and management functions prior to founding Neilsoft.

Mr. Bakshi has a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering and Masters in Computer Science. He was a member of India-based NASSCOM's Executive Council (2009-11) and has led several initiatives to leverage India's 'engineering services' strengths as part of the global workshare (hybrid) system.

Rupa Shah
(Co-Founder, Director)

Rupa Shah is one of the founders of Neilsoft and has over 25 years of experience in accounts, finance, audits, commercial, and regulatory matters. Her experience includes managing the accounting function for major accounts while at New India Assurance Company and stints in taxation and investment management areas prior to co-founding Neilsoft.

Mrs. Shah is a graduate from Mumbai University and a qualified Chartered Accountant.

Shirish Sathe
(Co-Founder)

Shirish Sathe is one of the founders of Neilsoft and has over 30 years of experience in engineering and CAD modeling / tooling. He has worked in various engineering capacities for companies abroad and in India in the manufacturing & construction industries.

Mr. Sathe is a Mechanical Engineer.

Chirag Bakshi
(Director)

Chirag Bakshi is the founder and CEO of Zumigo, a Mobile Security company that provides Mobile Location and Identity solutions. He is a veteran of the mobile industry and Silicon Valley, and was previously Vice President & General Manager of the VeriSign Mobile Messaging business. He helped the company build a world-class scalable and robust Wireless Platform driving significant revenue for Mobile Operators and Enterprises. Chirag also served as a General Manager at EFI where he established a very successful Network Graphics Server Business Unit and a Director at Apple for their LaserWriter line of products.

He has his B-Tech degree from IIT Bombay, and M.S. degrees from Stanford and the University of Michigan. He holds several patents in software and mobile technologies. Additionally, Chirag served on the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) Board and Wireless Internet Caucus (WIC) Leadership Council.

Satyen Patel
(Director)

Satyen Patel is currently the Executive Chairman at Prescient Co Inc., Chairman at Eton Solutions LP and Managing Partner at Kanusul Capital Inc. He was the Founder & Vice Chairman of Scandent Group, a Private Equity fund and Executive Vice-Chairman, Cambridge Solutions Ltd., an IT and BPO company listed on the Mumbai Stock Exchange.

Satyen Patel has held senior management positions with several multinational companies in the US and Singapore. His previous directorship's include a non-executive Directorship with 3i plc Asia Pacific (PE/Venture Fund) as Director of Strategic Development for Grand Met/Pillsbury Company in Minneapolis, Director of International Business Development with Pepsi Cola International in New York and Managing Director of Nike South East Asia & South Asia to name a few.

Rajan Vakil
(Director)

Rajan Vakil is a leading stock broker and HNI investor with membership on the Bombay Stock Exchange. He has been involved with Neilsoft since 1995 as an angel/seed investor and is a qualified Chartered Accountant. As an independent Director, he has guided Neilsoft’s Management in its various funding decisions and buyback/dividend policies. He brings with him financial market’s knowledge to the Board.

Nikhilesh Panchal
(Director)

Nikhilesh Panchal is a lawyer with over 39 years of practice, and has rich experience and expertise in structuring acquisitions, mergers, foreign collaborations, joint venture transactions and related procedures under Foreign Exchange Management Act. He has also been involved in a number of high value public, domestic primary, equity and debt capital market transactions by Indian companies and international listing of Indian/foreign group companies with a domestic presence.

Nikhilesh serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director on the Boards of various listed and unlisted companies. He holds a Masters degree in Law and is a registered Advocate Solicitor with the Bombay Incorporated Law Society and Law Society of England & Wales, United Kingdom. He is also a registered Patent and Trademark Attorney. Nikhilesh is a partner at M/s Khaitan & Co since 2005, and prior to that he was a partner at M/s Little & Co.

Shashank Patkar
(Director)

Shashank Patkar is the Founder & CEO of Valuepreneurs Consulting Services LLP, a firm focusing on value creation. He has over 35 years of experience in Sales, Finance, Operations and global transformation, primarily in IT services and product companies. At Geometric Software, he held CxO level positions across the functions and led many strategic and transformational initiative. He was also CEO of JV between Geometric & Dassault Systemes.

Currently he advises IT services & product companies, in process harmonisation, enhancing effectiveness of corporate functions, business strategy and bringing focus on margin levers, leading to value creation.

Shashank also takes interest in Hitech Agriculture, and has co-founded a company focusing on Hydroponic / Vertical farming.

Shashank has done Masters in Management Studies from S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research and B.E. (Mechanical) from University of Bombay.

Venkatasubramanian R
(Director)

Venkatasubramanian R. is a Chartered Accountant by training. He has over 35 years of experience in Financial Services spanning Transaction banking, Institutional broking, Investment Banking and Restructuring in companies like Kotak Mahindra. He has been a part of many path breaking and large Equity transactions.

He has special interest in Equity Capital markets and has managed Equity Funds both on Private Equity and Public markets.

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