Ketan Mohitkar
Overview
Ketan Mohitkar is an Indian social entrepreneur, educationist, startup mentor, and change-maker recognized for his contributions to innovation ecosystems, technical education, and citizen-driven governance initiatives in India.
He is widely associated with building startup ecosystems in Central India, especially through initiatives such as Nagpur Startup Fest, Innovators Meet, Citizen Hackathon, and ICTRD Round Table Forums. His work focuses on integrating technology, entrepreneurship, and social development through a “sociotechnical” approach.
Early Life and Background
Ketan Mohitkar was born on 27 October 1984 in Yavatmal, Maharashtra. He grew up in a family engaged in public service and administration.
Father: Dr. Pandharinath Mohitkar (Class-I Government Officer) Mother: Alka Mohitkar (Homemaker) Spouse: Vidya Mohitkar (associated with National Academy of Defence Productions, Ministry of Defence, Government of India)
He is also the great-grandson of former Wani MLA Vitthalrao Gohokar (Nanasaheb Gohokar), and was exposed early to political and policy discussions involving senior leaders from Maharashtra.
Education
Mohitkar holds multidisciplinary qualifications across technology and management:
Doctorate in Information Technology & Socio-Technical Studies MBA (Master of Business Administration) MCA (Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University) BCS (RTM Nagpur University) Project Management Professional Program (IIM Indore) C-DAC Certification (Rajarambapu Institute of Technology) Career
Early Career & Entrepreneurship
He began his career in IT and entrepreneurship by founding India Active Software in Nagpur IT Park. His early work included software development, digital solutions, and IT ecosystem building.
He also played a key role in connecting startups, developers, and IT companies through collaborative networks in Central India.
Political & Digital Strategy Involvement
Mohitkar served as President of the BJP IT Cell in South-West Nagpur and later as City President of BJP IT Cell, Nagpur.
During this period, he worked on:
Digital campaign strategy Election communication systems Volunteer coordination Technology-driven outreach
He collaborated with senior political leaders including Devendra Fadnavis and Nitin Gadkari in digital and organizational initiatives.
Institutional Leadership
He currently serves as:
Member Secretary – Indian Council for Technical Research and Development (ICTRD) Director – Confederation of Indian Innovators and Incubators (CIII) Founder – India Active Software
Under his leadership, ICTRD expanded across India in:
Startup incubation Technical education Skill development Innovation policy engagement Citizen participation programs Major Initiatives Nagpur Startup Fest
==A flagship startup and innovation platform connecting entrepreneurs, investors, academia, and government bodies. It features:
Startup exhibitions Investor networking Mentorship sessions Industry panels Innovators Meet
==A platform enabling direct interaction between innovators and policymakers, including senior government leaders. It focuses on:
Policy dialogue Startup support Innovation adoption Citizen Hackathon
==A civic innovation initiative promoting solutions for:
Urban infrastructure Healthcare Governance Digital inclusion Transportation Social Media Fan Fest
==One of Central India’s early large-scale creator events featuring influencers, digital creators, and youth icons, focusing on:
Digital branding Content creation Youth engagement Viksit Bharat 2047 Round Tables
==Policy-focused forums addressing India’s long-term development vision with emphasis on:
Innovation-driven growth Tier-II city development Sustainable governance Entrepreneurship ecosystems Sociotechnical Philosophy
Mohitkar advocates a “Sociotechnical” development model, emphasizing the balance between technology and social welf
Ketan Mohitkar is based in Nagpur and continues to work in innovation, education, and public engagement initiatives across India.
Official Links
Website: Ketan Mohitkar Official Website
ICTRD: ICTRD Official Website
Instagram: @ketanmohitkarofficial
X (Twitter): @KetanMohitkar
LinkedIn: Ketan Mohitkar