National, 19th Feb, 2023: BITS Pilani is delighted to announce that alumnus Chaitanya Kalipatnapu has made a significant contribution to the establishment of the BITS Endowment Fund, committing over one million dollars to his alma mater. This pledge not only propels the initiative forward but also sets a precedent for alumni engagement and contribution.
Chaitanya is the co-founder of Eruditus group, which is a global leader in professional education. His career journey included roles at Sun Microsystems and INSEAD, where he also served as President of the Alumni Association’s India chapter. He is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence and visiting lecturer at INSEAD.His commitment to BITS Pilani is longstanding, evidenced by a INR 2 Crore donation to establish the Kalipatnapu AR-VR Lab, aimed at fostering innovation in augmented and virtual reality technologies.
Chaitanya has been honoured as an inaugural “Lifelong Learning Laureate” by the Haas School at the University of California, Berkeley. He actively supports educational and sport initiatives through the Kalipatnapu Foundation. In recognition of his contributions to entrepreneurship and philanthropy, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award 2023 from BITS Pilani in the category of Public Life/Entrepreneurship/Philanthropy.
Chaitanya stated “BITS Pilani played a pivotal role in my personal and professional growth. This small gesture would support the Institution in driving further impact through high-quality education and in creating a sustainable ecosystem of excellence”.
Prof. V Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor of BITS Pilani, expressed appreciation for Chaitanya’s pivotal role as one of the founders of the Endowment Fund, stating, “The remarkable progress achieved by BITS Pilani Alumni Relations in just over 5 years since its inception underscores the significance of this culture of giving back in the Institute’s history. We are delighted to welcome Chaitanya as a founder of the Endowment Fund and eagerly anticipate his active participation in the Institute’s activities and future growth endeavours.”
Prof. Arya Kumar, Dean of Alumni Relations and an esteemed alumnus himself remarked, “Chaitanya’s altruism will be remembered, and its impact will endure indefinitely. We are honoured to have a distinguished professional of his calibre who has brought name and fame to the institution by not only as an entrepreneur but also through his philanthropic initiatives to transform the society at large.”
BITS Pilani, with its illustrious alumni network, remains dedicated to nurturing a tradition of excellence with the continued support from its global alumni community.