Pune

A former pilot of the Indian Air Force, Shashishekhar Pathak along with his wife, Devika, launched ‘Bamboochi’ in 2016 to make cycles from bamboo. The company offers electric, foldable, tandem and more cycle variants.

On 1 May, India’s first design agency, the Pune-based Elephant Design, celebrates its 32nd year in business. It has seen them give life to household products and brands like Britannia Marie Gold, Tata Salt, Gillette Guard, Kurkure, ICICI Bank, Paper Boat, Viacom18, Uber, amongst others.

Earth Fokus, a Chennai-based startup incubated at IIT-Madras, recently launched its latest lines of water-saving nozzles—EcoMist Umbrella and QuaMist360—which can help save large quantities of water with every hand wash.

Meet, Rupali, the first woman in Shell's retailer network to run multiple fuel stations. In the oil and gas retailing industry, which is highly male-dominated, Rupali is a rare leader paving the way for many more women to join this profession. She is a great example of how #GreatThingsHappenWhenWeMove. Here’s her story

Atulya Mittal launched Pune-based Nexzu Mobility, which sells made-in-India electric cycles, which come in two variants, and with features such as double batteries and dual electric disc brakes

Till Dr Mangala Narlikar from Pune became a mother of three, she was known as the wife of celebrated scientist Jayant Narlikar. Very few knew she was a Math wizard waiting to explode. #WomenInSTEM

Pune-based Amrit Kumar Bakhshy, former president of the Schizophrenia Awareness Association, talks about his daughter’s schizophrenia, his book on caregivers in India, and his role in helping draft the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017.

Mukund Thakar, a floriculturist, in Pune's Maval district launched the Pawna Phul Utpadak Sangh, helping farmers diversify their produce and earn in lakhs. Their Valentine's Day consignment is their biggest yet with 7 lakh roses reaching as far as Jammu and Kashmir and Guwahati.

Sudhir Wagamare spent almost two decades perfecting his expertise in innovating high-end paediatric and neonatal ventilators. It was during his B.Com course that Sudhir realised his potential to become an innovator, breaking the myth that only professional engineers could work on tech-based innovations. He is now being supported by the Marico Innovation Foundation to take his work forward.

Hindustani Classical vocalist Hirabai Barodekar of the Kirana Gharana was a recipient of the Padma Bhushan and paved the way for female artists at a time when they were not allowed to perform on stage. Her immense talent and popularity earned her several awards and disciples, including Padma Shri winner Prabha Atre, Vrinda Limaye, Bakul Pandit, Saraswati Rane and many more.