Prakhar Agrawal

Current

• President / Founder at Baroda User Group
• Research Intern at Ankur Scientific Energy Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
• Promoter at The 5 Percent Shop

• User Group Lead at PASS
• User Group Lead at Culminis
• Student Partner at Microsoft

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3 more...

Past

• Chair/Founder at BITS-ACM Student Chapter
• Fedora Ambassador at Fedora Project
• Summer Intern at Yuken India Limited

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Education

• Birla Institute of Technology and Science
• Delhi Public School - Vasant Kunj
• St. Mary's Convent School, Dhampur

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Recommended

3 people have recommended Prakhar

Connections

355 connections

Industry

Information Technology and Services

Websites

• My Blog
• My Company

Prakhar Agrawal’s Summary

I am a final year undergrad student at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (India).

Currently working as a Research Intern at Ankur Scientific, I am the founder Chair of the BITS-Pilani Student Chapter of the ACM and a Microsoft Student Partner.

I am a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) and a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS); and also lead the Culminis and PASS User Groups (UGs) in my region.

A self-professed geek, I love reading and writing articles on new technology, business, innovations, and great ideas. I plan to launch my own venture in Online Retail after my graduation.

Prakhar Agrawal’s Specialties:

• Languages: C/C++, Java, Ruby, Python, HTML, XML, VB.Net, C#.Net, ASP.Net
• Development Platform: Visual Studio 2003/2005/2008.
• Operating Systems: Linux (Fedora/Ubuntu/Open Suse), Solaris, Windows XP/Vista, Windows Server 2003/2008.
• Softwares: Oracle 10g, MySQL, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premier Pro, Adobe After Effects, Dreamweaver CS-3, XNA Game Studio, Microsoft Robotics Studio, Multipoint SDK, Android SDK
• Soft Skills: Leadership, Management, Motivating people, Inspiring Innovation.

Prakhar Agrawal’s Experience

• President / Founder

  Baroda User Group

  (Information Technology and Services industry)

  August 2009 — Present (4 months)

  The Baroda User Group (a.k.a. BUG) is a Baroda (Gujarat, India) based not-for-profit volunteer-driven network of professionals and students interested in evangelizing Microsoft technologies.
  
  We have meetings on the second Saturday of every month. The venue keeps changing and is notified through announcement on the portal as well as email notifications. Individual SMS notifications are also sent to the registered members.
  
  BUG is proudly supported by Microsoft Corporation, INETA (the International .Net Association) and PASS (Professional Association for SQL Server).

• Research Intern

  Ankur Scientific Energy Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

  (Mechanical or Industrial Engineering industry)

  July 2009 — Present (5 months)

  The sun, the winds, the tides and the greens. The need of the hour is to harness these for our energy needs. The spiraling prices of conventional fuels and the pollution levels of today have made our search for new, cheaper and cleaner fuels so much more urgent and important.
  
  Ankur Scientific was born out of this need. We started operations in 1986. Founded by Dr. B.C.Jain, a leading technocrat of India and an alumnus of BITS-Pilani and MIT-Sloan, we have from the inception, dedicated ourselves to the development, manufacture and popularization of Biomass Gasifiers and Solar Hot Water Systems.
  
  Today we are seen as pioneers in the field of Biomass Gasification. We at Ankur Scientific firmly believe that we have an economically viable and commercially proven technology to harness the inexhaustible energy of the SUN and also the vast renewable energy resources provided by agricultural and other biomass materials.
  
  Continuous development, resulting in innovative product ideas, are an integral part of our organizational culture. We are indeed proud of our achievements in the past, and aim to play a significant role in the future. We are confident that we will continue to be at the cutting edge of technology in the field of renewable energy resources.

• Promoter

  The 5 Percent Shop

  (Privately Held; Retail industry)

  June 2009 — Present (6 months)

  To be launched in January 2010, The5PercentShop aims to become India's leading comparison based social shopping portal, the one-stop destination for all shoppers, merchants and market enthusiasts.
  
  The5PercentShop will sell directly as well as initiate selling. With the sudden upsurge of brands and stores, both online and offline, that claim to sell the best of the products at the most reasonable prices the shopper goes crazy. What is the assurance that the price offered to him is the best? Normally before making a buying decision of an expensive product the consumer does an in depth research on the product from various websites which is an extremely tedious task. He would often wish a single website that would meet all his buying needs. To fulfilling this motive is coming The5PercentShop.
  
  Starting as a brainchild of two people, The5PercentShop plans to scale to 500 stores within a year, and over 2000 stores within five years. We are looking for people who have the 'it' factor. We are looking for people who are full of life, are willing to learn and most importantly are willing to work as a team.

• User Group Lead

  PASS

  (Computer Software industry)

  February 2009 — Present (10 months)

  The Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS) is an independent, not-for-profit association, dedicated to supporting, educating, and promoting the Microsoft SQL Server community.
  
  From local user groups and special interest groups (SIGs) to webcasts and the annual PASS Community Summit – the largest gathering of SQL Server professionals in the world – PASS enables knowledge sharing, in-depth learning, access to the Microsoft SQL Server team, and the ability to influence the direction of SQL Server technologies.

• User Group Lead

  Culminis

  (Privately Held; Information Technology and Services industry)

  September 2008 — Present (1 year 3 months)

  Culminis is an international not-for-profit organization devoted to the development and growth of the IT community.
  
  After supporting and connecting professional user groups and associations, student organizations, and solution providers for more than two years we have come to understand the goals and needs of each group, as well as the resources they have to share.
  
  With this knowledge we are developing programs that ensure a meaningful and equitable exchange of those resources, ultimately elevating the status of the IT Pro both in their industry and in the community.

• Student Partner

  Microsoft

  (Public Company; MSFT; Computer Software industry)

  January 2008 — Present (1 year 11 months)

  Microsoft Student Partner's are Technology Enthusiasts who crave for learning new technology and share it with everyone. It is a community driven group supported by Microsoft Academia.
  
  We get a unique opportunity to take conduct technical sessions and seminars at various universities and colleges in cities all over India. We organize the Academic Developers’ Conference (DevCon), deploy & maintain Live@Edu services, administer the MSDN AA university portals, participate and drive entries in the Imagine Cup and promote Microsoft academic projects in campus.

• Chair/Founder

  BITS-ACM Student Chapter

  (Computer Software industry)

  September 2007 — July 2009 (1 year 11 months)

  • Founded the BITS-ACM Chapter and played a key role in forming its vision, core team and tie ups with Culminis, INETA & PASS.
  • Engineered rise to becoming the world's largest ACM Chapter with over 475 Members. Spearheaded Sponsorship & Marketing, catapulated funds to INR 2.5 Lakhs.
  • Conceptualized and organized its key events viz. the International BITS Coding League, Checkmate, Code Obfuscation, Technopinoy, and the ACM Distinguished Speakers Program.
  • Coordinated the ACM-ICPC Asia India Nationals - the third event of its kind in India to be certified by ACM International.
  • Initiated the ACM TutorZ Series - Conducted over 30 lectures and workshops on C, Java, Python, Algorithms, Visual Studio, Flash & Photoshop, Hacking and Game Design.
  • Organising Agile-BITS 2009 - an International Workshop on Agile Methodologies.
  • Fostering 12 projects in Apogee 2009 - the annual International Technical Festival of BITS-Pilani.
  • Mentoring many other ACM Chapters in various colleges.

• Fedora Ambassador

  Fedora Project

  (Non-Profit; Computer Software industry)

  January 2008 — December 2008 (1 year )

  The official campus ambassador for Fedora Project at BITS-Pilani. My work comprised of the following:
  
  * Represent Fedora Project to the wider public
  * Help spread the word about Fedora, Linux, and Open Source
  * Be a point of contact for local community members and channel the feedback to Fedora Project
  * Help recruit project contributors
  * Think of creative ways for promoting Fedora in your region

• Summer Intern

  Yuken India Limited

  (Mechanical or Industrial Engineering industry)

  May 2008 — July 2008 (3 months)

  I interned in the summers of 2008 at Yuken India Limited (YIL) Bangalore, as a part of the official Practice School (University-Industry Linkage) program of BITS-Pilani.
  
  Project Title: "Process Optimization using Shainen Techniques".
  
  Yuken India Limited (YIL) was set up in 1976 in Technical and Financial Collaboration with Yuken Kogyo Comp. Ltd, (Japan) for the manufacture of Oil Hydraulic Equipment. YIL has been certified as a ISO-9001 : 2000.
  
  In the last 29 years, YIL has achieved the fastest growth rate in the Oil Hydraulics Industry in the Country inspite of being the last entrant. From a modest turnover of Rs.24 lakhs in 1978, YIL has grown to Rs.103 crores year ending 2007-2008. Today, most manufacturers of Original Equipment have accepted YIL as their preferred partners for hydraulics.

Prakhar Agrawal’s Education

• Birla Institute of Technology and Science

  B.E. (Hons) , Mechanical , 2006 — 2010 (expected)

  Activities and Societies:

  BITS-ACM Student Chapter, Opera Campus Crew Lead, Fedora Ambassador, Mozilla Campus Rep, Microsoft Student Partner

• Delhi Public School - Vasant Kunj

  12th [Senior Secondary] , PCM Stream , 2003 — 2005

• St. Mary's Convent School, Dhampur

  10th [High School] , 1991 — 2003

  Throughout Topper.

  Activities and Societies:

  Assistant Head Boy, Head of the Discipline Committee, Best Debater

Additional Information

Prakhar Agrawal’s Websites:

• My Blog
• My Company

Prakhar Agrawal’s Interests:

High Performance Computing, Algorithms, Networking, Entrepreneurship, Management, Blogging

Prakhar Agrawal’s Groups:

ACM (Association for Computing Machinery), IEEE Compter Society, CSI (Computer Society of India), Microsoft Student Partners, BITS Pilani Students

•    Earlystage.com Entrepreneurs
•    NetSquared
•    On Startups - The Community For Entrepreneurs
•    Microsoft Student Partners
•    LInked Business Strategists
•    True Wealth Business Network
•    Open Coffee Club@Bangalore
•    The Official Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Group
•    Chessmasters
•    Private Equity and Venture Capital Group
•    HeadStart Network
•    Bright Ideas & Entrepreneurs
•    TopLinked.com (Open Networkers)
•    Speakers and Panelists
•    IIM IIT FMS ISB XLRI SYM TISS DCE DIT BITS Only
•    Technology Marketing Community
•    Indian Startups
•    Start-Up Phase Forum
•    BITS, Pilani
•    ----- The Startups & Societal Ventures Network ----- Innovating more effectively
•    India Leadership Network
•    Startup Specialists
•    GoBigNetwork Startup Community
•    PASS Professional Association for SQL Server
•    High Performance Computing (HPC).
•    Entrepreneur's Network
•    CEO/ CIO/COE/COO/CFO/Head/VP/ Director/President Level - Senior Leadership Group
•    Startup Mastermind
•    Social Entrepreneurs
•    Wells Fargo Teammates & Alumni
•    Venture Capital Group
•    Social Entrepreneurship for Internet & Technology Entrepreneurs (S.E.I.T.E.)
•    Let's Get Funded
•    TED: Ideas Worth Spreading
•    Future Trends
•    Internships and Interns
•    Indian Start-up Discussions
•    E-Recruitment Group (Post Jobs) (Post Resumes) Concept by Group of Sr. Recruiters
•    Band of Entrepreneurs
•    iDiscuss Group (Global Discussion Forum) Feel Free to discuss !!
•    The Indian Startup Fraternity
•    BITS-ACM
•    BangaloreITPro User Group
•    Best Business opportunities in India
•    WorkFree
•    Student Entrepreneurs Network
•    Baroda User Group

Prakhar Agrawal’s Honors:

Microsoft Student Partner
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist
Microsoft Imagine Cup 2009 Semifinalist
HiPC 2009 Scholarships Awardee
Wells Fargo all-India FACT (Fuelling Assertive Campus Talent) Program Winner
NTSE -2003 Scholar (National Talent Search Examination, All India Rank- 398)

Prakhar Agrawal’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• career opportunities
• consulting offers
• new ventures
• expertise requests
• business deals
• reference requests
• getting back in touch