The Collaborative Platform Empowers Future Leaders and Innovators in Entrepreneurship.
New York City, 14 October 2024 – Harsha Ravindran, Co-Founder and CEO of Ascendance and Executive Director at NextGen Entrepreneurship Network (NGEN), spearheaded the Trailblazers Conference 2024, uniting over 120 student entrepreneurs from prestigious universities, including Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. Held at Lowenstein Sandler LLP, the event showcased the power of youth entrepreneurship and innovation.
Harsha, recognized by the Diana Award and listed in Prestige Malaysia’s 40 Under 40, co-founded NGEN with Jackson Lehner and William Borges to foster collaboration across the student entrepreneurship landscape. “This conference created a space for passionate individuals to exchange ideas, build connections, and inspire one another,” Harsha said, highlighting the importance of purpose-driven entrepreneurship.
A Platform for Growth and Collaboration
The event featured keynotes and panels with thought leaders from organizations such as Morgan Stanley, Mastercard, and Mercury. Attendees participated in mini-workshops and breakout sessions, providing practical insights from experienced tech innovators and business professionals. A mixer at the New York Marriott Marquis capped off the day, offering participants further opportunities to network.
Seema Hingorani, Managing Director at Morgan Stanley IM and Founder of Girls Who Invest, delivered an inspiring keynote. She encouraged students to explore new experiences and develop essential skills, saying, “Learn how to think, learn how to write, and most importantly, have fun. You can achieve whatever you want—just figure it out.”
Industry Experts Share Insights
The conference drew an impressive lineup of speakers, including:
- Chiro Aikat, Co-President (US) at Mastercard
- Kenan Saleh, Co-Founder of Halo (acquired by Lyft)
- Tiya Gordon, COO and Co-Founder at itselectric
- Max Rimpel, Partner at General Catalyst
- Eric Chen, Partner at OVO Fund
- Anand Deshpande, Strategic Partnerships at Mercury
These sessions provided students with diverse perspectives on entrepreneurship, investment, and tech innovation.
Empowering the Next Generation
Reflecting on the conference, Aryaditya Lankipalle from the University of Pennsylvania shared, “As an aspiring entrepreneur, it’s easy to feel isolated. Meeting students from different universities with fresh perspectives was an incredible experience.”
Harsha’s leadership at both NGEN and Ascendance—a leading youth-run organization in Southeast Asia—continues to inspire young entrepreneurs globally. The Trailblazers Conference underscores NGEN’s mission to cultivate a vibrant, impact-driven community that tackles global challenges through entrepreneurship.
The event’s success was made possible by sponsors such as OVO Fund, Mercury, Lowenstein Sandler, and ProtoPie, all committed to empowering young leaders.
For more details about NGEN and the Trailblazers Conference, visit www.ngennetwork.org.
