Democratizing innovation for social impact | Mr. Praveen Srivatsa | TEDxIIHMR U
In India, we often imagine the power of technology through the lens of shiny IT hubs and elite coders. But as Praveen Srivatsa shows, the real digital revolution is unfolding in unexpected places, temples livestreaming rituals over WhatsApp and UPI, fishermen boosting their incomes with mobile auctions, and rural students learning with AI tutors. These stories reveal how innovation, when made accessible, can radically transform lives.Mr. Praveen Srivatsa at TEDx IIHMRU, Jaipur, shared his vision of “Democratizing Innovation for Social Impact.” He argues that true progress lies not in dependence on big tech providers but in building local capacity, empowering communities to create, adapt, and sustain solutions for themselves. His work with young non-engineering graduates who have developed AI-driven tools for schools, NGOs, and healthcare illustrates that talent and ingenuity exist everywhere, if only given the chance.He imagines a future where micro-innovation centers flourish across India’s 800 districts, bridging startups, CSR initiatives, senior mentors, and grassroots innovators to drive inclusive growth. Learn how democratizing technology can shift innovation from the hands of a few to the power of many.Praveen Srivatsa is the Founder-Director of Thinkar Foundation, a social impact-driven organization fostering open-source platforms and micro-innovation labs across India. He is a technologist, mentor, and thought leader passionate about reimagining how innovation can empower communities. Praveen Srivatsa is a champion of community-driven innovation and a seasoned consultant bridging business, technology, and social impact. As Founder of Thinkar Foundation, he trains rural students in AI/ML and emerging technologies, empowering them to solve challenges in education and local development. Alongside this grassroots work, Praveen mentors startups and enterprises, guiding teams on ideation, product design, go-to-market strategies, and fundraising. On the technology front, he architects intelligent, planet-scale solutions across Cloud, Big Data, DevOps, AI/ML, IoT, and Cognitive Services on Azure, AWS, Google, and IBM Cloud. Over the past decade, he has worked on innovations like robotic medical devices, cognitive video-based assessment systems, and digital health platforms. On the TEDx stage, he shares his vision of using technology as a catalyst for inclusive progress, where rural youth and startups alike co-create resilient, impactful solutions for the future. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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