Shrashtant Patara

Shrashtant Patara is an architect by training, currently pursuing an MPhil in Inclusive Innovation at the Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town. He has been with the Development Alternatives Group since 1988, providing research expertise, management capability and strategic direction to teams working in the areas of Entrepreneurship Support Systems, Habitat, Renewable Energy and Waste-to-Wealth initiatives.

His work is focused on co-creation of multi-stakeholder based service delivery models that promote sustainability through local economic development, regeneration of the environment and greater social equity. He is a Fellow of The Rockefeller Foundation’s Global Program on Social Innovation and has been a member of the Indo-German Expert Group on Green and Inclusive Economy; also serving as a jury member for the international SEED Awards for Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Development.

Patara has successfully completed a course in Innovative Finance offered by the University of Cape Town and a program on Leadership for System Change conducted by Harvard Kennedy School in conjunction with the Schwab Foundation. He has been instrumental in the establishment of several social businesses within the DA Group and currently leads the team that is incubating “TARAurja”, a renewable energy based micro-utility business and the Indian Micro Enterprises Development Foundation.