Receiving recognition from one’s alma mater is always special. For Rishi Das, Co-founder of IndiQube, it was deeply personal.
Rishi Das was conferred with the Distinguished Alumnus Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence by the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, one of India’s most respected academic institutions. The award recognises alumni who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, entrepreneurial vision and long-term impact through their work.
For Rishi, the honour marked a full-circle moment. Standing once again on the campus that shaped his formative years, memories from the corridors, classrooms and conversations of the mid 1990s came rushing back. It was at IIT Roorkee that he first encountered the idea of entrepreneurship, long before it became a mainstream aspiration or even a commonly understood term.
During his time at IIT Roorkee, Rishi’s curiosity extended well beyond academics. While engineering laid the foundation for structured thinking, it was the campus environment that encouraged him to question, experiment and imagine possibilities beyond conventional career paths.
As a student, he co-founded a small horticulture venture with his uncle, gaining early exposure to the realities of building something from the ground up. He worked closely with mentors to advocate for entrepreneurship as a discipline, persuading Professor M P Jain to introduce an elective focused on entrepreneurial thinking at a time when such initiatives were rare in Indian engineering institutions.
Rishi also prepared a detailed business plan on spirulina algae, an unconventional idea for its time, and went on to serve as the founding student coordinator for STEP, the Science and Technology Entrepreneurs Park at IIT Roorkee. These experiences collectively planted the seeds for what would later become a lifelong entrepreneurial journey.
Reflecting on his years at IIT Roorkee, Rishi often emphasises that the institute taught him far more than technical knowledge. It instilled values that continue to guide his leadership philosophy today.
The culture of inquiry encouraged him to ask better questions rather than chase easy answers. The diversity of perspectives on campus helped him stay grounded. Most importantly, IIT Roorkee taught him to balance ambition with humility, a principle that has shaped every venture he has built since.
Rishi Das’s entrepreneurial journey spans decades and industries. From Careernet and HirePro to IndiQube, each venture has reflected a consistent belief in building institutions that create long-term value for people and businesses alike.
At IndiQube, Rishi co-founded the company with a clear vision of redefining how workspaces support growing enterprises. Under his leadership, IndiQube has evolved into a leading managed flexible workspace platform, enabling companies across stages to scale seamlessly with thoughtfully designed, tech-enabled and people-centric environments.
While milestones, scale and growth are often highlighted externally, Rishi believes the true measure of success lies in the people behind the journey. Mentors who showed the way, colleagues who believed in the vision, friends who offered support during uncertain moments and teams who executed with commitment and integrity.
At the heart of Rishi’s journey is unwavering support from his family. He remembers his late father, Mr Anant Das, with deep gratitude and acknowledges the constant encouragement of his mother, who stood by him through every phase.
He also credits his co-founders as pillars of strength throughout his entrepreneurial path. His brother, Anshuman Das, and his better half, Meghna Agarwal, Co-founder of IndiQube, have been steady sources of resilience, perspective and belief. Their partnership has been instrumental in navigating challenges, celebrating successes and building organisations rooted in trust and shared values.
As Rishi Das reflects on this milestone, he does so with humility and gratitude. The recognition reinforces his belief that entrepreneurship is not just about creating successful businesses, but about shaping ecosystems, nurturing talent and contributing meaningfully to society.
The values he absorbed at IIT Roorkee continue to guide his journey, influencing how he leads, builds and gives back. With a full heart and deep appreciation for the people and institutions that shaped him, Rishi views this honour not as a culmination, but as a reminder of the responsibility that comes with leadership.
For IndiQube, the recognition is also a moment of pride, reflecting the ethos of thoughtful entrepreneurship and purpose-driven growth that the company stands for. As Rishi Das continues to build for the future, the lessons from IIT Roorkee remain firmly at the core of his journey.
