Akshay Saxena
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Akshay Saxena | |
|---|---|
| Born | 16 March 1984 India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Alma mater | Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Harvard Business School |
| Years active | 2009- present |
| Organization | Avanti Fellows |
| Known for | Social entrepreneur |
| Board member of | Save the Children India (2016-2021) |
Akshay Saxena (born 16 March 1984), is an Indian social entrepreneur. He is the co-founder of Avanti Fellows, a non-profit organization focused on improving access to quality education for underprivileged students in India.[1] A graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and a former consultant with the Boston Consulting Group in India, Saxena also worked in the medical technology sector with HeartFlow Inc. before launching Avanti Fellows in 2010.[2] Saxena’s work has earned him recognition, including being named Social Entrepreneur of the Year in India in 2024 and receiving the Schwab Foundation’s Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2025. [3]
Education
[edit]Between 2001 and 2006, Saxena completed his undergraduate and graduate studies in Chemical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT). During his time at IIT, he was actively involved in student mentorship initiatives. In 2009, he also attended Harvard Business School to pursue an MBA.[4]
Early career
[edit]In 2006, Saxena started working as a consultant at the Boston Consulting Group in India until 2009. He also contributed to humanitarian projects with organizations such as the World Food Programme and Save the Children.[5] Saxena began his entrepreneurial career in the medical technology sector, where he worked as an early team member at HeartFlow Inc. and RegenMed Systems.[6]
Avanti Fellows
[edit]In 2010, Saxena co-founded Avanti Fellows with Krishna Ramkumar. Avanti Fellows is a non-profit organization aimed at improving access to quality education for students from low-income backgrounds in India. The organization partners with government schools to offer blended learning programs that prepare students for competitive exams like Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).[4]
Avanti’s model focuses on delivering low-cost, scalable STEM education through a blend of peer-based learning, technology, and academic mentoring. Under Saxena’s leadership, the organization has expanded across India, partnering with public education systems such as the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti. Avanti’s programs serve students in grades 9 to 12, combining online instruction, teacher support, and exam preparation to improve academic outcomes.[1] Avanti Fellows has received support from other organizations, including USAID, Tata Trusts, J.P. Morgan, and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation.[7] By 2023, the organization had reached over 77,000 students in 29 states and union territories of India.[8]
Recognitions
[edit]- 2024: Awarded Social Entrepreneur of the Year in India.[9]
- 2025: Awarded Social Entrepreneur of the Year by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "26 of 29 students from JNV Puducherry clear JEE Advanced, thanks to a couple of former IITians". India Today. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ Anjuli, Bhargava (24 April 2015). "Social impact and making money go hand in hand". Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ a b PTI (21 January 2025). "Avanti Fellows' Akshay Saxena, RCRC's Ved Arya among Schwab Foundation Awards recipients". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ a b Leader, The Weekend. "Training those who cannot afford coaching institutes to clear entrance exams". www.theweekendleader.com. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ Khosla, Varuni (9 June 2017). "My First year at work: Akshay Saxena Co-founder, Avanti Learning Centres". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Akshay Saxena". Echoing Green Fellows Directory. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ "Avanti Fellows Receives a Total Funding of USD 4.5 M From its Supporters to Realize its Vision of Creating a Self- resilient Education Ecosystem for Bharat". 12 November 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ "Davos: Young people put pressure on WEF's rich and powerful – DW – 01/20/2025". dw.com. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Akshay Saxena awarded Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2024 - CNBC TV18". CNBCTV18. 10 September 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2025.