Sarayu has a background in management consulting (McKinsey and Company), venture investing (Elevar Equity), program development and management (Gray Matters Capital), and academic research. She has a PhD in Political Science from King's College London, a Master's in Public Policy from the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University, and a arts and law degree from the National Law School of India University, Bangalore (NLSIU).

Astha has over a decade of public policy and strategy consulting experience, with a focus on the use of technology for welfare. At Aapti, Astha leads the Data Economy Lab, a vertical established to research and test new methods of data sharing, data stewardship and governance. Her recent work is focused on participative governance of data, and its use for building collaborative AI, through collective governance methods such as cooperatives. She serves on the advisory boards of the Data Trust Initiative (Cambridge University) and Indian Urban Data Exchange (IUDEX). Prior to Aapti, Astha worked with Future State, Azim Premji's Philanthropic Initiatives, Dalberg Global Development Advisors, the Planning Commission, the Government of India and the Self-Employed Women’s Association. She’s a visiting fellow at the Ostrom Workshop (Indiana University), a two-time TEDx speaker, and a Global Governance Futures Fellow 2018-19. Astha's writing has been published in the Mint, Hindu, and Deccan Herald among others.

Suha is invested in how the social value of data can be unlocked, redistributed and better governed by and for communities. She also explores how public-facing digital infrastructures can be designed to be inclusive, responsive and empowering - particularly for vulnerable & marginalised communities. To do so, she leads solution-oriented research that cuts across domains like mobility/smart cities, environmental conservation and sustainable development. As part of her role, she is also committed to building multi-stakeholder alliances and value-aligned communities of concern with global partners. Prior to Aapti, Suha has worked at Microsoft for Startups to support social enterprises to leverage technology to amplify their impact. Suha graduated from Maastricht University, with a degree in International Relations & Public Policy.

Kunal’s work at Aapti focuses on understanding and analysing digital systems through a gender inclusion and accessibility lens and has also worked on unpacking the implications of regulation in the telecommunications industry. He also works on various internal initiatives within Aapti. Kunal started his career in India with J. Walter Thompson. He then shifted to Sattva Media and Consulting, where he provided advisory, research, and management services to corporates, international and domestic foundations, multilateral organisations, civil society actors, and philanthropists across a variety of different sectors and themes. His work at Sattva around analysing women’s interactions with digital platforms fostered his interest in better understanding the space of technology and society. Kunal graduated from George Mason University, with a degree in Economics.

Soujanya Sridharan is a graduate of Development from Azim Premji University. Her interest in tech policy stems from her thesis research on labour unions within India’s IT industry. Previously, she has interned with organisations such as The Hindu and Tata Trusts. This was followed by a stint with IT for Change where she was involved in the gender and technology vertical. At Aapti, her research revolves around forging human-centric pathways to platform and data governance.

Vinay is a Manager at Aapti Institute and a co-lead of the Participatory Data programme with the Open Data Institute. Vinay’s current research interest centres around unpacking the layers in existing digital infrastructures with a view to better understanding the criticality of data, and the role of critical supporting digital tools to inform equitable governance frameworks. His previous research endeavours at Aapti have been focused on understanding the concomitant elements required to foster the growth of data stewardship initiatives and exploring the impacts of AI deployment on human rights. Vinay is a lawyer by training, and prior to joining Aapti, he worked at Khaitan & Co., a top-tier law firm in India, advising tech companies on corporate and tech policy matters.

With a background in philosophy and applied ethics, Amrita’s work on human-centric data governance and technology policy has focussed on pathways toward equity and agency in the data economy. At Aapti, she looks closely at how communities and individuals negotiate with digital ecosystems, the power dynamics entrenched across stakeholders, as well as instantiations of data stewardship models that serve to rebalance power, and what kinds of policy pathways are necessary to enable equitable governance. Her current research focuses on digital infrastructures, regulatory pathways and governance frameworks to unlock the societal value and criticality of data. Sectorally, she holds an interest in urban governance, environment and sustainability, human migrations and gender.

Ava is a Political Science graduate, with research experience in literature and music. Her interests are in dilemmas of digital access, social transformations through technology and digital forms of social representation. Before joining Aapti, Ava worked as a Teaching Fellow at Ashoka University, where she taught students political theory, helped create online-friendly curriculums and conducted writing workshops. She has conducted various research projects in the intersection of art, politics and digitisation in India. At Aapti, Ava seeks a greater understanding of digital ecosystems of trust, as well as culture-driven perspectives on technology.

Aishani is a Manager at Aapti Institute, with a background in law. Her work at Aapti revolves around mapping and mitigating harms stemming from tech with a focus on platforms and emerging technologies, including AI. Through her work, she seeks to unpack the role of participatory frameworks as a means to build inclusive and equitable tech, as well as govern tech responsibly. Additionally, she has explored the nuances of open digital ecosystems by uncovering the role of communities in building digital public goods.

Sakhi, a lawyer by training, began her career at CUTS International, exploring the intersection of technology, society, and economy. Focusing on the digital economy from a competition law perspective, she delved into the complexities of technology’s impact. Moving to IT for Change, Sakhi furthered her research, particularly on gendered impacts and workers’ data rights within the digital realm. At Aapti, her work revolves around empowering civil society to develop data governance capacities, exploring the future of work, and understanding how technology impacts our everyday lives. With curiosities abound, Sakhi hopes to continue exploring the technology policy space with a people-centric and inclusive lens.

Aditi is curious about the ways that technology can work for the rights and interests of communities. At Aapti, she studies women’s decision-making and experiences of building trust with digital platforms. Her previous work has focused on stakeholder expectations and data practices in the context of nutrition data value chains. In the past, Aditi worked as a data consultant at Central Square Foundation. She also contributed to the Internet Archive’s DWeb project, exploring the potential of decentralisation for building people-centric technologies. Aditi graduated from Ashoka University with a degree in political science.

Gautam holds a BA Hons in Communication and Media studies from Coventry University, UK and a Masters degree in Public Policy and Governance from Azim Premji University, India. Gautam's research area of interest is industry 4.0 tech and its impact on human lives, particularly policy advocacy at the intersection of tech and society. Gautam has interned with Sapient Razorfish, Gutenburg Llc and Group M London. His passions include travel and football, Gautam has represented football clubs in India and the UK.

Mousmi holds a BA.LLB degree from the University School of Law and Legal Studies, IP University in Delhi. Before joining Aapti, she primarily worked on legal research, which introduced her to the world of judicial data and sparked her interest in the intersection of Law, tech, and Justice. Mousmi started her journey in technology policy with Aapti in 2022. Since then, she has been part of various research projects ranging from themes such as citizenship and technology, telecommunication, digital identity, and e-filing. At Aapti, Mousmi seeks a greater understanding of the tech-policy sector and looks forward to exploring the various facets of the space of law, tech, and society.

Rohan is currently working as Research Associate at Aapti Institute. His interests lie in understanding the different approaches that are being deployed in governing technology, and imagining how the digital economy can be equitably scaled. His present work focuses mainly on uncovering the use of technology in human mobility and crisis scenarios, while also mapping data-related harms that impact various stakeholders. Additionally, he tracks the development of digital public infrastructure (DPI) and related initiatives, evaluating the potential of digital public goods and open data across multiple sectors.

Avani is a Research Analyst at Aapti Institute, where her current research interest centres around studying the non-technical layers to digital public infrastructures to arrive at model standards for their governance. Her previous research endeavours at Aapti have been focused on engaging with the developments in the data protection framework in India, while building literature on operationalising data stewardship in the health sector. With a background in law, Avani is committed to fostering equity alongside digital transformation across sectors. Prior to joining Aapti, she organised extensive programs towards building ground-level access to digital interfacing in the health sector, and advocated for digital rights via national and international forums. 

Sushmitha, a lawyer by training, began her career in the wildlife conservation space as a Law Officer at Wildlife Conservation Society - India. Alongside her research on the factors determining the success of wildlife crime cases, she worked on uncovering the ramifications of the intermediary liability regulations in India on online wildlife trade. Her research on data protection and privacy in the conservation space steered her towards tech policy. At Aapti, Sushmitha studies how bottom-up data structures can empower communities, especially in the context of the climate dialogue. Her work also involves exploring the conoturs of technology in justice delivery. She was also part of Aapti’s contribution to India’s G20 Presidency.

Lekha has over 20 years of experience in varying capacities with organisations such as VLCC, VMC Technology, and S.S.B International School. She has amassed expertise in overseeing Organisation Strategy, Stakeholder Management, and Revenue Generation during her previous stints. At Aapti, Lekha leads Office Operations and Administrative responsibilities. She has completed her B.A. in Home Science and Psychology and an M.B.A in Human Resources. An effective communicator possessing excellent interpersonal, leadership and negotiation skills coupled with strong analytical, problem-solving abilities.

Antara is an interdisciplinary researcher who uses a variety of methods to better understand lived experiences of technology. A designer by training, she is also interested in communicating information in more accessible ways. Antara was part of the Urban Fellows Programme at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements. Prior to the UFP, she co-founded upaai, a design strategy firm, where she worked on projects for Indian non-profits in the fields of education, health and skill development.

Ranjitha is a political economist by training - her work at Aapti focuses on equitable data and AI governance models and development of community data rights frameworks. Her interests delve into the political economy of infrastructure and digital capitalism, examining data flows within the digital value chain, translating to policy research on innovative and regulatory frameworks for a sustainable and digital economy in the Global South. Her current research at Aapti explores critically examining data sovereignty as response to Big Tech/AI, and means of enhancing South-South cooperation in the era data imperialism.

Priyam is an inter-disciplinary design researcher exploring the intersection of design, policy, community building and collective action. She is passionate about systems-thinking and participatory design shaping her approach towards problem-solving and innovation.

She plays the unique role of a facilitator and a co-creator in multidisciplinary collaborations and has experience working across different sectors such as environmental conservation, healthcare, education and employability. Prior to Aapti Institute, she worked at Dalberg Design and Quest Alliance and also collaborated independently as a design researcher on several projects in the development sector.

Priyam has a Bachelor in Product Design from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. She was also an Urban Fellow at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements, Bengaluru.

Manvi is a lawyer, with a keen interest in studying the connections between society and technology. She has been at Aapti since September 2023. She graduated from Gujarat National Law University with a dual bachelor’s degree in social work and law in 2018.

Vaishnavi is a social researcher with a passion for technology, climate and spatial justice. She wishes to leverage participatory methodologies to codesign research outputs. Her previous work has focused on sectors like forest governance, housing, tribal rights, healthcare accessibility, gender, and urban resilience. At Aapti, she envisions centering inclusivity and agency to embed responsibility in technological solutions. Her present work seeks to determine ways of downstreaming ethics into the AI value chain.

Akshobhya graduated from NALSAR in 2021, after which she was a law clerk in the Supreme Court. She was later working at a law chambers, focusing on privacy and data protection. She completed her LLM from NYU with a focus on tech law and data law. After graduated she a Fellow with the UNDP where she worked on projects leveraging data for development. After her time at the UNDP, she was working with the UN Envoy on Technology where she supported the work of the UN AI Advisory Body and the Global Digital Compact process. At Aapti, Akshobhya is working on identifying barriers to women’s digital trust.

Ritvik's training covers urban affairs, technology policy, psychology, and literary and culture studies. He is a 2022 undergraduate of FLAME University and a 2023 Urban Fellow from the Indian Institute for Human Settlements. At Aapti Institute, his work has focused on digital labour platforms (DLPs), data generation work, AI value chains, risks and governance considerations for generative artificial intelligence, governance mechanisms and social security for DLPs, and open networks and digital public infrastructure (DPI) in India.

Supratik is a researcher at Aapti Institute, focused on developing innovative policy frameworks and bias mitigation strategies to create fair, safe, and responsible AI systems. He holds a Master's degree in Public Policy and Governance from Azim Premji University, where his research spanned various dimensions of climate change policy. His work explored the lived experiences of climate change through mediums like music and art, as well as the biodiversity data rights of Indigenous communities in India, with a strong focus on climate justice. Prior to his work in AI, Supratik gained experience in implementing education and healthcare programs at the district level. His interest in ground-level narratives and their intersection with technology continues to shape his contributions at the nexus of AI, policy, and governance.

Vasudha works on communications, design and outreach at Aapti. She is focused on finding way to bridge the knowledge asymettry by finding on new creative ways to share research with the ecosystem. She handles the newsletter and social media. She has previously worked closely with gender, environment and envisioning alternatives where she took on campaigning, advocacy, netowrking and outreach to build solidarity praxis amongst grassrooted organisations, practitioners, unions and societies.

Rattanmeek is a Research Analyst at Aapti Institute and her area of focus is participatory data governance. She further seek to understand the role the relationships between people, technology and the State and build solutions which are just and equitable. She is a lawyer by training and prior to joining Aapti Institute she has worked at SFLC and CIS where she delved into the questions of free speech on digital platforms, content regulation and intermediary liability.

Poorvi graduated from the National University of Advanced Legal Studies with a degree in law. Her interest in technology and data protection began in college where she worked with law firms on various questions of data protection and consent.

She aims to understand how inclusive participation can enrich the quality of technology, fostering a sense of ownership and accessibility among communities. Poorvi’s focus is on enhancing governance and public systems through effective technology frameworks that prioritise inclusivity. At Aapti, she is dedicated to exploring how participatory methods can transform digital solutions, creating equitable access and fostering a sense of belonging among all stakeholders involved.

Sameer is a Research Analyst at Aapti Institute. He completed his undergraduate studies at Krea University where he majored in Political Science. He was then selected to be a part of the Urban Fellowship Programme run be the Indian Institute of Human Settlements where he explored themes of urban governance, platform-work, urban citizenship and housing through multi-method approaches. His writings on public memory and urban spaces have been published in The Wire.

Nandini has a background in law from Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad. Her journey into public policy has involved her venturing into diverse intersectionalities in understanding policy through lenses of gender, tech, disability, the environment, urban planning, among others. She has previously worked in different capacities with The Quantum Hub, YLAC, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, and Centre for Law and Policy Research. At Aapti, Nandini studies community participation in building tech and the gendered implications of AI development. Her other interests include IPR and media law, exploring new music, cultures, literature and walking barefeet on grass.

Shiv has completed his Master’s degree in Public Policy from Christ University, Bangalore. He is keen to explore how technology impacts the last mile and how it is perceived by communities. At Aapti, his work centers on making digital ID systems more gender inclusive and exploring the well-being of data workers within the AI value chain. He also enjoys following regional and national politics, with a interest in analyzing voter behavior and examining the dynamic relationship between politics and policies.

Sowmya is an Accountant at Aapti, where she manages financial reporting, payroll administration, regulatory compliance, and overall financial operations. With extensive expertise in Accounting, Income Tax, and GST compliance, she brings a high level of proficiency to her role. Her three years of experience at a Chartered Accountant firm provided a solid foundation in accounting principles and tax regulations, strengthening her commitment to accuracy and regulatory adherence.

Nagaraj T is the Office Caretaker at Aapti. He has 5 years of experience working as a caretaker, and has housekeeping experience in Haaretz. He plays a key role in maintaining the Aapti office ecosystem, ensuring that spaces are well kept and neat, and has very kind nature. He hails from Yadgiri, Karnataka and is the father one young child.