Dipankar Sarkar
Startup Consultant, Angel Investor & Strategic Studies Practitioner
Startup consultant and technology advisor with 18+ years of experience founding, advising, and investing in technology companies. Founded 5 startups including Kwippy (acquired) and Boom Labs. Westerwelle Foundation Fellow. Takshashila Institution alumnus (Strategic Studies, Inside Xi's China). Writes on the intersection of technology, strategy, and geopolitics.
My Story
I've spent the last 18+ years at the intersection of technology and entrepreneurship. Starting with Kwippy, one of India's first microblogging platforms (acquired), I went on to found four more startups spanning social TV, machine learning, logistics, and blockchain infrastructure.
Along the way, I've made angel investments in companies like Leena.ai (Y Combinator graduate), advised 16+ early-stage startups, and earned recognition as a Westerwelle Foundation Fellow.
Today, I work as a startup consultant and technology advisor, helping founders navigate the challenges of building and scaling technology companies. My advice comes from direct operational experience -- I've faced the same fundraising challenges, technical decisions, and growth problems that the founders I advise are dealing with now.
Timeline
Fellowships, awards, and recognitions along the way.
Westerwelle Young Founders Programme Fellow
Selected as Fellow for the prestigious Westerwelle Young Founders Programme in Berlin, connecting with global entrepreneurs and the Berlin startup ecosystem.
Financial Inclusion Lab Selection
Selected for the inaugural cohort of Financial Inclusion Lab by Bharat Inclusion Initiative, focusing on fintech innovation for underserved communities.
Takshashila Institution — Strategic Studies Graduate
Graduate of The Takshashila Institution's Strategic Studies programme and Special Credit Course on Inside Xi's China. Cogitatum Distinction for 'Bringing Back India's Most Wanted'.
Startup Leadership Program: Joint Program Leader & Fellow
Served as Joint Program Leader and Fellow in the Startup Leadership Program New Delhi, a selective global training program for startup founders and innovators.
Other places I write
This site holds my startup and investor work. The same author maintains four other sites, each focused on a distinct facet:
- dipankar.name — engineering leadership, AI/ML systems, Rust open source (canonical hub).
- dipankar.cc — research, federated learning, blockchain protocols, and 25+ filed patents.
- dipankar.co — fractional CTO and consulting case studies for clients like Lenskart, 99Acres, Momspresso.
- desinerd.com — personal blog since 2007 (AI agents, DevOps, self-hosting).
Let's Work Together
If you're a founder or investor looking for practical guidance grounded in real experience, I'd love to hear from you.