BITS Pilani Alumnus Pankaj Patel Contributes US $1 Million

BITS Pilani has received a significant boost for its US $100 million Endowment Fund with a generous US $ 1 million contribution from distinguished alumnus Pankaj Patel (Batch of 1970-75), Founder and CEO of Nile, based in the Bay Area, USA. A seasoned technology leader and visionary entrepreneur, Patel has over 40 years of experience building and leading high-performance global engineering organizations, developing scalable products, and driving strategic innovation.

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Patel’s strategic leadership has positioned Nile as a disruptive force in networking, fundamentally reimagining secure and seamless network connectivity. Prior to founding Nile, he held key roles as a partner and Chief Strategy Officer at JC2 Ventures and as a senior advisor to March Capital. Notably, Patel served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer at Cisco Systems, Inc., overseeing the company’s extensive $38 billion product and solution portfolio and leading 180 strategic acquisitions.

Speaking on his motivation behind the contribution, Patel said, “BITS Pilani laid the foundation for my journey in technology and leadership. Giving back to this incredible institution is my way of nurturing the next generation of thinkers and innovators.”

Apart from leading Nile, Patel serves on the board of several technology startups, providing strategic guidance and expertise. His passion for simplifying complex networking solutions and fostering innovation has solidified his position as a visionary leader in Silicon Valley.

Vice Chancellor of BITS Pilani, Professor V. Ramgopal Rao, said, “This contribution highlights the unwavering commitment of our alumni to the institute’s growth and development. Pankaj Patel’s support will help us create transformative educational experiences for generations to come.”

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Professor Arya Kumar, Dean of Alumni Relations, said, “We are immensely proud of our alumni like Pankaj Patel, who continue to give back and strengthen the BITS Pilani legacy. His contribution will catalyze growth through academic excellence.”

This generous contribution marks a significant milestone in the institution’s journey towards becoming a global leader in education and innovation.