Director

Director — The Deep-Tech Foundry
Raghu University | Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh | Full-Time | On-Site
About Us
Raghu University is a newly formed Deemed to Be University in Visakhapatnam. Behind it is a founder who also built a 300-person enterprise SaaS company serving clients like McDonald's, Pepsi, and Metro Brands across 12 countries.
We're building The Deep-Tech Foundry — a facility inside the university where students build real products: AI models on NVIDIA hardware, hardware prototypes, and startup MVPs. Not a lab. Not a classroom. A place where things get made.
Visakhapatnam is becoming India's AI capital — Google ($15B AI datacenter), Reliance + Brookfield ($11B), and a new international airport opening in 2026. The Foundry sits at the centre of this transformation.
The Role
We're looking for the Foundry's first Director — someone who will build this from the ground up. You'll have full autonomy, a small sharp team, and direct access to the Chairman.
This is not an academic role. You will not teach, grade exams, attend faculty meetings, or report to any department. You report directly to the Dean and Chairman.
What You'll Do
• Build the Foundry's industry partnership pipeline — corporates, startups, and government bodies in Vizag, Hyderabad, and nationally
• Write and file grant applications — MeitY GENESIS, Startup India, DST, AICTE, MSME Innovation schemes
• Source real industry problems and bring them into the Foundry as student projects
• Run quarterly Demo Days — curate the lineup, invite industry judges, coordinate media, make it the flagship event
• Lead a team of 4 (technical mentors, GTM strategist, operations manager)
• Own the Foundry's KPIs: active project teams, daily users, grants won, partnerships signed, products launched
• Represent the Foundry to visiting companies, media, government officials, and prospective families
• Coordinate with the university's admissions and marketing teams to ensure the Foundry is showcased during campus visits
Who You Are
• You've built or run something before — a startup, an incubator programme, an innovation lab, an accelerator, or a corporate ventures function
• You understand both technology and business at a working level
• You can write a compelling grant narrative and also coach a 20-year-old through their first pitch
• You're comfortable presenting to government panels, corporate leaders, and journalists
• You're energised by young people building things — not drained by them
• 5–10 years of experience in startup ecosystems, innovation management, or a related field
Nice to Have
• Experience with Indian government innovation schemes (MeitY, DST, Startup India, Atal Innovation Mission)
• Network in the Hyderabad / Bangalore startup ecosystem
• Experience running hackathons, Demo Days, or pitch competitions
• Familiarity with deep tech (AI/ML, IoT, hardware) at a product level — you don't need to code, but you should understand what's possible
What You Won't Do
• Teach lectures or tutorials
• Set or grade examinations
• Attend academic committee meetings
• Write administrative reports
• Report to any HOD or academic department
What We Offer
• Full autonomy to build the Foundry's ecosystem your way
• A dedicated team of 4 working alongside you
• Direct access to the Chairman (founder of both the university and the SaaS company)
• Compensation commensurate with experience
• A chance to build something from scratch that no other Indian university has
• Visakhapatnam — a growing city with excellent quality of life, lower cost of living than Hyderabad/Bangalore, and an emerging AI ecosystem backed by $26B+ in investments
How to Apply
Send to ceo@akriviahcm.com
1. Your resume or LinkedIn profile
2. A short note (5–10 lines): what you've built or led, and why this role interests you
We'll respond within 5 working days.

Work arrangement
No