Hiranmayee (Hiran) Vedam
Business Fellow
Hiran Vedam joins Breakthrough Energy’s Business Fellows program from Chennai, India. Hiran is an entrepreneurial leader who is passionate about developing and creating value from advanced technologies. As a Business Fellow, Hiran is excited about collaborating with experts in different areas of business and climate technology on various aspects of the lab-to-market journey.
For over two decades, Hiran has worked at the intersection of technology, business, and intellectual property, helping startups in the energy, environment, water, chemical, construction, and electronics industries. As a Senior Advisor for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati, Hiran developed and taught courses around innovation, technology entrepreneurship, and product innovation. Using her expertise in technology and business development, startup financing, and IP strategy, she will support the progression of early-stage industry-transforming climate innovations towards global markets.
Hiran holds a Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. She earned a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master of Business Administration from INSEAD. Hiran attained a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University.
Q&A
Who has had the greatest impact on your career path?
Going to INSEAD has had the greatest impact on my career path. It is the first place I met several entrepreneurs among my fellow students. Interacting with them and taking courses in entrepreneurship with (late) Patrick Turner made entrepreneurship more real. This motivated me to take the entrepreneurial path after I finished my MBA.
What is your favorite word and why?
Dream – for it is the seed of possibility!
What beliefs drive you?
The path to a goal matters as much as the goal itself.