Shanmugapriya has a Bachelors' degree in Computer Science Engineering and a Masters' degree in Software Engineering, followed by more than a decade of experience in various positions in industry and academic Institutions. She is a university rank holder during her post-graduation from College of Engineering Guindy, Anna University. Leading the center’s operations, she is responsible for a wide array of crucial functions, all focused on ensuring the smooth execution and success of projects. At the core of her role is the meticulous maintenance and organization of all project-related records, fostering an environment of transparency and accountability. She serve as the primary point of contact for all stakeholders, involved in project coordination, facilitating effective communication and collaboration among internal teams and external outsourcing partners. Beyond internal stakeholders, she actively engage with external parties to explore collaboration opportunities that can enhance project outcomes.

Neeraj brings nearly 20 years of diverse experience in investment research, financial advisory, and project funding, specializing in small and mid-cap companies in India. His expertise spans financial modeling, capital budgeting, investment evaluation, and real estate advisory, with a strong track record in regulatory compliance and effective communication in multi-cultural settings. He has managed legal and regulatory compliance across sectors including real estate, renewable energy, and infrastructure. His experience also includes active fundraising and financial analytics for hospitals, real estate, and energy projects. He is adept at identifying investment opportunities for private equity and institutional investors, with a solid understanding of public markets and international experience. He has collaborated with prominent PE funds, venture capitalists, and banks, and has served as an independent consultant for GAJA Capital, Goldman Sachs, Deloitte, and others. Additionally, he engages with government bodies and research institutions on technology transfer for industry applications. He currently serves as a Senior Vice President at CREST, where he leverages his extensive experience to drive strategic growth and value creation.

Ramesh, a Ph.D. holder in Entrepreneurial Finance specializing in Venture Capital and Private Equity, brings extensive expertise to the table. He contributed significantly as a research team member for the influential India Venture Capital and Private Equity Reports in 2016 and 2017, and also served as a sub-editor for the 2018 Report. He played a pivotal role in the establishment of YNOS Venture Engine, a startup focused on supporting entrepreneurs, angel investors, incubators, and other ecosystem players. His research findings have been showcased at prestigious international conferences, including the ISDSI International Conference at IIM Trichy, India Finance Conference at IIM Kolkata, and 3rd Entrepreneurial Finance Conference in Milan, Italy. He has made noteworthy contributions to leading journals such as the Journal of Alternative Investments. Additionally, as a Scientist at CREST, he collaborates with faculty, research scholars, and visiting scholars, actively engaging in diverse research activities and programs.

Chaitanya is a Dual Degree graduate from the Electrical Engineering Department, IIT Madras and is part of the leadership team at YNOS Venture Engine, a startup building products for early-stage entrepreneurs, investors, innovators and other ecosystem players. He played a prominent role in architecting, developing & deploying the technology stack & the intelligence engine of YNOS and is one of the key contributors in building YNOS's scalable Machine Learning algorithms for semantic search, identifying right-investors, estimating valuation, discovering similar startups and so on. His skillset includes Natural Language Processing, Machine Learning, Web-development, Database & Server management, and Systems architecture. He is also an active open-source contributor, with some of his Python packages crossing 30k downloads in total. At CREST, he currently leads the technology team in developing the data repository on the Indian Start-Up and Venture Capital ecosystem.

Shailendra Gupta is a skilled professional with an Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) in Process Engineering, IIT Roorkee. With over two years of experience as a Software Engineer at SumTotal Systems, he specialised in implementing WCAG 2.0 for accessibility compliance and leading cross-platform gap identification initiatives. Currently serving as a Full Stack Engineer at YNOS Venture Engine, he excels in developing APIs, automating tasks, and enhancing security features, showcasing expertise in Full-Stack Development, Python programming, and various technical skills.

Krishna Kireeti, is a self taught designer with a special interest in UI/UX Design. His passion for design fortified during his days as a student at IIT Madras where he was part of multiple Institute design teams and Start-ups. He’s been helping teams grow with his expertise in design and user experience ever since. He also runs Typekiln, an Independent type studio in his spare time. His responsibilies in CREST include conceptualizing and creating compelling visuals for both print and digital mediums ensuring effective communication by the organization.

Manikandan holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Engineering from SRM Institute of Science and Technology. He is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Data Science and Engineering at BITS, Pilani. He worked at HPCE, Computer Center as a Project Technician, where he was responsible for maintaining the IIT Madras supercomputer. He assists CREST by developing and maintaining the website, ensuring it is up-to-date, functional, and user-friendly. His responsibilities include designing new features, troubleshooting technical issues, implementing security measures, and regularly updating the site's content.