Who we are

Mahiti
In May last year, Panic, the publisher of Firewatch and Untitled Goose Game, announced the Playdate hand-cranked portable console, which is used to control games. According to the game portal hermitgamer, a year after the announcement, a developer named Nick Manier ported the original Doom of 1993 to the upcoming portable console, which was to happen sooner or later. The game does not look very good on a black-and-white screen, but the developer managed to use the very handle that the player can use to shoot from a minigun. So far, only developers can get Playdate, however Panic is still planning to start mass sales this year. At the same time, the company notes that each device will be a devkit, so any owner will be able to start developing games for the console.

'Mahiti' means ‘information’ in many Indian languages. Since 2002 Mahiti has been building Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools and solutions for the social sector to enhance programme quality and the impact on communities.

Known for solutions appropriate for realisation of MDGs (Millennium Development Goals), through Partners in Health, HIV and AIDS, Education, Gender Equality and Economic Security especially in Agriculture, Mahiti is committed to engaging with the newly formulated SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) where 169 Targets are listed under 17 Goals.

Mahiti’s solutions are backed by a multi-talented team of 50+ creative minds, innovative IT engineers and domain experts at its development centre in Bangalore.

As one of the few technology companies to focus on the social sector, Mahiti empowers governments, international development agencies, civil society organisations and disadvantaged communities in remote locations to effectively use technology. Mahiti has built and deployed multi-platform, multi-lingual and multi-media-enabled web/ intranet/ kiosk/ mobile applications across five continents.

What we do differently

Mahiti specializes in understanding the unique challenges of social development organizations and mentors them to generate, analyse and manage data to effect high quality performance. Mahiti's design and development philosophy is simple and straight-forward: create real, unique and compelling work. Mahiti's purpose lies in developing innovative technological solutions for the sector and continually striving to create new benchmarks in the way technology supports social change.

Why Mahiti?

Because Mahiti is characterised by its

  • Social Impact Focus;
  • Technology Leadership;
  • Global Reach; and,
  • 'Partner First' Approach;

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2030

The role of ICT as a key driver of sustainable development is clear. 3.2 billion people (43% of the world population) are online today, with 7.1 million mobile-cellular subscriptions and over 95% of  population covered by a mobile-cellular signal (UN Blog).

To quote the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, “We must do everything in our power to increase access to ICTs …, ... This will empower millions of people and enable us to meet our development goals.”  While Mahiti’s work aligns with several of the SDGs due to the universally accepted role of technology in development,  a few key SDGs either specifically mention or imply the importance of the application of IT and ICT tools as a  key non-negotiable to achieve certain targets - viz. SDG 02 on  food security,  nutrition and  sustainable agriculture whose targets almost entirely focus on sustainable agriculture, where technology is a critical catalyst;  SDG  03 on health and  well-being where Mahiti has developed innovative end-to-end solutions for Big Data Analysis; SDG 04 on inclusive and equitable quality education where Mahiti's cloud-based solutions have enabled the last-mile reach; SDG 5b that urges to 'Enhance the use of enabling technology' in particular information and communications technology, to promote the 'empowerment of women' and SDG  09 one of whose  listed targets is to 'Significantly increase access to information and communications technology .....by 2020'. Know more

It is imperative to mention here Mahiti has already been partnering with social development organisations in UN-prioritized  Low Income Countries like Afghanistan, Myanmar, Nepal, Kenya and Tanzania. Even within India and other Middle Income Countries,  Mahiti’s  partners work among the most excluded and vulnerable communities in both rural and urban locations.

Vision, Mission & Values

Vision - Globally one billion lives positively impacted by 2030 through effective use of technology;
Mission - To create and deploy technology to enhance Efficiency, Effectiveness and Scalability of social development programs;

Mahiti's passion is to:

  • Harness technology for Social Change;
  • Enable Changemakers to Scale Impact;
  • Build a team that is Empathetic, Diverse and Entrepreneurial;

Values

  • Customer focus;
  • Empathy;
  • Innovation;
  • Integrity;
  • Quality Assurance;
  • Transparency;

Meet Our Team

Directors
  • name
    Sreekanth S Rameshaiah
    Executive Director
    name
    Sreekanth S Rameshaiah
    Executive Director

    Sreekanth, an IT engineer from Bangalore University, began his career as a tech consultant to a major rural development agency in Karnataka. He then co-founded Mahiti in 2000. Sree is an Open Source advocate with special interest in building imaginative technology solutions to support social change.

  • name
    Chethan Elvis Das
    Director, Operations
    name
    Chethan Elvis Das
    Director, Operations

    Chethan graduated in Electronics and Communication Engineering and began a start-up with Vijay Rasquinha. In 2007 Chethan merged his start-up with Mahiti and joined as Director Project Delivery. He is well known for his clarity of direction in leading project teams to excel and fulfill their goals. 

  • name
    Vijay Rasquinha
    Director, Business Enablement
    name
    Vijay Rasquinha
    Director, Business Enablement

    Vijay Rasquinha graduated in Computer Science, began a start-up and merged with Mahiti in 2007 to become the Chief Technology Officer. Vijay’s strong foundation in technology gives us grounds to innovate and explore new ideas and concepts. 

  • name
    Ajay Setty
    Director, Technology
    name
    Ajay Setty
    Director, Technology

    Ajay Setty graduated from prestigious UVCE in Bangalore as Computer Major. In his career spanning two decades, he has worked at various positions in the industry and gained rich domain expertise. He started his career at Infosys Technologies and worked for 11 years in various client facing and delivery roles, both onsite and offshore. He then co-founded Zenopsys Technologies Pvt. Ltd and managed delivery and operations for over 8 years. Passion for innovative use of technology, process driven approach to problem solving and analytical skills are his key strengths.

Advisors
  • name
    Murray Culshaw
    Ex-Chairperson, Principal Advisor
    name
    Murray Culshaw
    Ex-Chairperson, Principal Advisor

    Murray is a development consultant; he ran his own company between 1995 to 2010 encouraging CSOs to communicate their work to the general public. Murray was responsible for Oxfam in India (1989-1994). He was Mahiti's Board Chairperson from 2002 to 2010.

  • name
    Rachel Haynes
    Advisor
    name
    Rachel Haynes
    Advisor

    Rachel has been working with International Development NGOs since 1994, and before that in Refugee Reception and Resettlement Programmes. She has a very broad range of sectoral and geographic experience in Africa, Asia & Europe, and specialises in funding, NGO management, and systems for M&E.  Now an independent consultant, Rachel has a particular interest and academic background in gender and development.

  • name
    Ben Aliwa
    Advisor
    name
    Ben Aliwa
    Advisor

    Ben Aliwa brings over 13 years’ experience in international development in  health and nutrition, human rights, education, humanitarian response,  peacebuilding and sustainable livelihoods in East and Southern Africa and Europe. Ben holds a Bachelor of Science degree, Master of Public Health (MPH) and  MBA in International Business. 

    Currently Ben  is Director – Regional and Multi Country Programme Unit for East and Southern Africa with Save the Children International,  prior to which he  was  their Regional Programme Manager, Southern Africa starting May 2013. Ben also worked in Geneva with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, held several leadership positions with Skillshare International  UK including as Programme Director for Africa Projects and was a grant specialist consultant with UNDP in New York.

  • name
    Sunil Abraham
    Advisor
    name
    Sunil Abraham
    Advisor

    Sunil (an Ashoka Fellow) is the executive director of the Centre for Internet and Society (CIS), Bangalore/New Delhi. CIS is a 8 year old policy and academic research organisation that focuses on accessibility, access to knowledge, internet governance and telecommunications. Sunil also serves on the advisory boards of OSF – Information Programme and Samvada.

  • name
    Atul Ramchandra
    Advisor
    name
    Atul Ramchandra
    Advisor

    Atul Ramchandra is an Innovator. His focus area include innovation in new product development, materials selection, sourcing and system optimisation, Technical problem solving with out-of-the box approaches. His past experience include 8 yrs in senior management of new media enterprise, over a decade in renewable energy. He specialized in Solar Energy in IIT-Delhi and Post-Graduate work at SIU-C. He provides strategic inputs on IoT and smart sensors.

Senior Team
  • name
    Padma
    Head - Finance
    name
    Padma
    Head - Finance

    Padma has 19 years experience as a Finance Consultant with skills in accounting and financial management systems. Clarity in budgetary planning for both the short and long term is her strength.
    She pays utmost attention to every single detail to ensure that financial practices are in line with all statutory legislation and regulations.

  • name
    Aysha Sreekanth
    Head - Client Relations
    name
    Aysha Sreekanth
    Head - Client Relations

    Aysha has a degree in Sociology from Bangalore University and ten years of experience in web and data management for CSOs. Aysha speaks five regional languages which is a great help in technology training with organisations across India.