Advisors
Rudrapriyo Ray - Advisor
Financial Advisor | Former President, Corporate Affairs, Integration & Sustainability, Axis Bank
“Education is the foundation of a nation’s future. It is vital that we work collectively to ensure every child has access to quality basic education—either by leading the effort or supporting those who do.”
Rudrapriyo Ray has an illustrious career spanning 40 years in the financial services industry. He has a cross-functional expertise including retail and corporate businesses, risk management, human resources, compliance and CSR/ESG in all of which, he has held leadership roles. He has also spearheaded large and complex projects thereby using his expertise in navigating complex business landscapes.
Rajeev Banduni - Advisor
Founder & CEO OpenI Partners
“Grateful for a childhood rooted in Pauri-Garhwal and joint family values, I’m inspired by Eduweave’s mission to make quality education accessible to every child in Bharat.”
A serial entrepreneur and global leader, Rajeev Banduni has 30+ years of experience in tech and innovation. He is the founder and CEO of OpenI Partners (www.OpenI.ai), a platform for startup innovation. Previously, he founded Ilantus Technologies and GrowthEnabler Global, showcasing his expertise in driving growth and enabling innovation.
Mentors
Dr. Usha Sharma – Professor, NCERT
Dr. Usha Sharma is a senior professor at NCERT with deep expertise in psycholinguistics, early literacy, ECCE, and audio-visual education. Over the years, she has led and contributed to several key research projects, including studies on functional school libraries, competency-based materials, and language acquisition among Urdu-speaking learners. She has played a pivotal role in developing educational resources for NCERT and SCERT, and has been actively involved in promoting multilingual learning. As the Executive Editor of the children’s magazine ‘Firkee Bachchon Ki’ since 2010, Dr. Sharma continues to shape the landscape of children’s literature and literacy. Her body of work includes numerous publications, research papers, and contributions to national efforts on language and education.
Dr. Monimalika Day – Associate Professor, Ambedkar University Delhi
Dr. Monimalika Day is an Associate Professor at the School of Education Studies, Ambedkar University Delhi. With a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, her work focuses on improving early childhood outcomes through preschool education, parenting programs, and inclusive practices. She has provided technical assistance across Indian states, led research on early stimulation and teacher preparation, and has worked extensively with diverse communities both in India and the U.S. Her early work includes setting up street-connected child programs in Kolkata and disability-inclusive initiatives. An award-winning educator and researcher, Dr. Day continues to shape the field of ECCE through her teaching, publications, and policy engagement.
Dr. Tapaswini Sahu – Academic Director, I Am A Teacher
Dr. Tapaswini Sahu is an educator and academic leader committed to transforming teacher development and classroom learning. With a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology (JNU) and an M.Phil from Cambridge, she brings global experience and deep pedagogical expertise.
As Academic Director at I Am A Teacher, she leads curriculum design and professional development rooted in collaborative learning, cognitive coaching, and demonstrative pedagogy. Tapaswini has contributed to several education reform initiatives, including Bhutan’s National Education Framework, and remains passionate about building empowered educators and joyful classrooms.
Dr. Deepti Bora – Doctoral Researcher, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
Dr. Deepti Bora’s research focuses on foundational literacy and numeracy, digital learning environments, and the dynamic relationship between parental skills, home learning environments, and children’s outcomes. She explores multilingual literacy development in low- and middle-income contexts, with expertise in phonics instruction and computer-assisted tools such as GraphoLearn .Over the past decade, Dr. Bora has also worked extensively as a school teacher and teacher educator. Her studies—using rigorous methods like randomized controlled trials—identify effective interventions to improve English literacy among non-native speakers in India .
Her research on parental engagement and home-based language support makes a direct link to early reading outcomes, while her digital-learning insights guide the digitization of foundational education practices.