In a powerful example of alumni-led institution building, a group of prominent entrepreneurs and corporate leaders from IIT Kanpur’s Class of 2000 have pledged ₹100 crore to establish the Millennium School of Technology and Society (MSTAS) at their alma mater. The contribution marks the largest-ever donation by any graduating batch in IIT Kanpur’s history and signals a growing shift in how India’s top technical institutions are funding their future.
The initiative is being driven by some of India’s most recognisable startup founders, including Naveen Tewari, founder of InMobi and Glance; Amit Kumar Agarwal, founder of NoBroker; Amit Gupta, co-founder of Yulu; along with founders of startups such as Knowlarity and Card91. Together, they represent a generation of technologists who have built large, impactful businesses—and are now turning their attention to shaping the next generation of leaders.
Credits: Shiksha
Millennium Batch Sets a New Benchmark
The Class of 2000, popularly referred to as the Millennium Batch, occupies a unique place in IIT Kanpur’s history. Graduating at the turn of the century, the batch witnessed—and later helped shape—the explosive growth of India’s technology and startup ecosystem.
Beyond entrepreneurs, the batch includes senior leaders who today hold influential roles across global organisations such as Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, Intel, BCG, Morgan Stanley, and GIC. Their collective exposure to technology, policy, finance, and global markets has directly influenced the vision behind MSTAS.
Of the total ₹100 crore commitment, ₹30 crore has been pledged personally by Naveen Tewari, making it the single largest individual contribution. According to IIT Kanpur, the overall corpus is the highest amount ever committed by an alumni batch, underlining the scale of ambition behind the project.
A School Designed for a New World
The Millennium School of Technology and Society is being envisioned as a next-generation academic institution within IIT Kanpur—one that moves beyond traditional engineering education. MSTAS aims to operate at the intersection of technology, public policy, governance, and societal transformation, reflecting the complex challenges of the modern world.
As technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital platforms, electric mobility, and fintech increasingly influence public policy and everyday life, there is a growing need for leaders who can understand both technical systems and their social consequences. MSTAS intends to fill this gap by fostering interdisciplinary learning, encouraging students to think across domains rather than within silos.
The focus will be on developing critical thinking, ethical leadership, and a global perspective, equipping students to navigate the tensions between innovation, regulation, and social impact.
Bridging Academia, Industry, and Policy
One of the core ideas behind MSTAS is to create a bridge between academia, industry, and policymakers. Unlike conventional programmes that remain confined to classrooms and laboratories, the school is expected to engage closely with real-world problems.
By leveraging the alumni network—which spans startups, multinational corporations, investment firms, and public institutions—MSTAS could offer students exposure to live policy debates, industry challenges, and global best practices. This ecosystem-driven approach reflects lessons learned by the Millennium Batch through decades of building and scaling organisations in fast-changing regulatory and market environments.
Credits: Outlook Business
Alumni Giving Takes Centre Stage at IITs
The ₹100 crore pledge also highlights a broader transformation underway across India’s premier technical institutions. While government funding continues to play a foundational role, IITs—particularly the older ones—are increasingly relying on alumni contributions, endowments, and industry partnerships to accelerate growth.
Institutions such as IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, and IIT Madras have already built sizeable endowment funds, enabling investments in cutting-edge research, global collaborations, and new schools. IIT Kanpur, long known for its academic rigour and strong research culture, is now intensifying efforts to build similar momentum through structured alumni engagement.
The Millennium Batch’s contribution could act as a catalyst, encouraging other alumni cohorts to step forward with large-scale, long-term commitments.
