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{{Short description|Indian entrepreneur}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Prashanth Prakash
| image = Prashanth Prakash in 2025.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = Prakash in 2025
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| alma_mater = [[Bangalore University]]<br>[[University of Delaware]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-05-05 |title=Accel's Prashanth Prakash appointed CM's advisor |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/accels-prashanth-prakash-appointed-cms-advisor/articleshow/82391726.cms |access-date=2026-02-09 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref>
| occupation = [[Venture Capitalist]], [[entrepreneur]]
| spouse = Amitha Prashanth
| partner =
| children =
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| awards = [[Padma Shri]] ([[List of Padma Shri award recipients (2020–2029)|2025]])<ref>{{cite web |title=VC fund Accel's Prashanth Prakash awarded Padma Shri in trade and industry category |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/accels-prashanth-prakash-awarded-with-padma-shri-in-the-category-of-trade-and-industry/articleshow/117579930.cms |website=The Economic Times |date=26 January 2025}}</ref>
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}}
'''Prashanth Prakash''' is an Indian [[entrepreneur]] and [[venture capitalist]] based in [[Bangalore|Bengaluru]].<ref>{{cite web |title=From Nikhil Kamath to Prashanth Prakash: Key Highlights from EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2023 |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/corporate/story/from-nikhil-kamath-to-prashanth-prakash-key-highlights-from-edelgive-hurun-india-philanthropy-list-2023-404316-2023-11-02 |website=Business Today |language=en |date=2 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Invest in new ideas, not flavour of the season, says Accel's Prashanth Prakash |url=https://www.livemint.com/companies/people/invest-in-new-ideas-not-flavour-of-the-season-says-accels-prashant-prakash-11703763460440.html |website=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]] |date=28 December 2023 }}</ref> He is the founding partner of [[Accel (company)|Accel India]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Committee with stakeholders and officials will draw up a roadmap for the Bengaluru in six months: D.K. Shivakumar |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/committee-with-stakeholders-and-officials-to-create-a-roadmap-for-the-city-in-six-months-dk-shivakumar/article66980527.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=17 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=India has the potential to be a global lab for scalable longevity solutions: Accel's Prashanth Prakash {{!}} Today News |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/india-has-the-potential-to-be-a-global-lab-for-scalable-longevity-solutions-accel-s-prashanth-prakash-11753435048181.html |website=mint |language=en |date=25 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Prashanth Prakash: Master Mentor |url=https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/business-of-life/prashanth-prakash-accel-partners-vc-mint-business-lounge-profile-11715263874235.html |website=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]]|date=10 May 2024 |last1=Bagchi |first1=Shrabonti }}</ref> He received the [[Padma Shri]] in [[List of Padma Shri award recipients (2020–2029)|2025]] from the [[Government of India]] for his contribution to trade and industry.<ref name="MA" />

== Career ==
In 1995, Prashanth Prakash founded Visual Reality, one of India’s first animation companies. In 1997 he founded NetKraft, an offshore solutions company focusing on retail and healthcare.<ref>{{cite web |title=Prashanth Prakash: A Pioneering Venture Capitalist Transforming India's Startup Landscape |url=https://www.brutimes.com/news/business/prashanth-prakash-a-pioneering-venture-capitalist-transforming-indias-startup-landscape |website=Bru Times News |language=en}}</ref>

Since 2004, he has been a [[venture capitalist]] for Indian startups.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title='Team, practicality of business plan are what we look at, not spreadsheets' |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/variety/team-practicality-of-business-plan-are-what-we-look-at-not-spreadsheets/article20452136.ece |website=BusinessLine |language=en |date=10 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=GenAI, climate & fintech, hot bets for investors next year: Accel's Prakash |url=https://www.business-standard.com/industry/news/genai-climate-fintech-hot-bets-for-investors-next-year-accel-s-prakash-123112901414_1.html |website=Business Standard}}</ref> As a partner at Accel, Prakash has invested in Indian startups such as [[Flipkart]], [[Ola Cabs|Ola]], [[Freshworks]], [[Book My Show]], [[Swiggy]] and Bounce.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-12 |title=The Accel effect |url=https://www.fortuneindia.com/venture/the-accel-effect/101864 |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=www.fortuneindia.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Prakash |first=Prashanth |date=2023-12-31 |title=Innovation, sustainability to fuel transformative phase: Accel's Prashanth Prakash |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/innovation-sustainability-to-fuel-transformative-phase-accels-prashanth-prakash/articleshow/106425708.cms |access-date=2024-02-26 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-16 |title=Of 100 Indian unicorns, 25 will go IPO in the next 3-5 years: Accel's Prashanth Prakash |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/entrepreneurship/news/story/of-100-indian-unicorns-25-will-go-ipo-in-the-next-3-5-years-accels-prashanth-prakash-353057-2022-11-16 |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Business Today |language=en}}</ref>

In 2008, Prakash, along with Subrata Mitra and Mahendran Balachandran founded the Indian branch of the US [[venture capital]] firm [[Accel (company)|Accel]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Accel's India story |url=https://www.livemint.com/Companies/TfjVjtumb6mnTIAaVItX1H/Accels-India-story.html |website=Mint |date=9 December 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-10-12 |title=Manufacturing-focussed startups got $8 billion in investments over 7 years: Prashanth Prakash |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/manufacturing-focussed-startups-got-8-billion-in-investments-over-7-years-prashanth-prakash/articleshow/104377446.cms |access-date=2024-02-26 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref>

In 2021, he was appointed as an advisor to the [[Chief Minister of Karnataka]], [[B. S. Yediyurappa]]. Prakash is also part of the Vision Group for Startups for the [[Government of Karnataka]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Srikanth|first=Chandra R |date=4 May 2021 |title=Accel's Prashanth Prakash appointed advisor to Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddiyurappa |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/accels-prashanth-prakash-appointed-karnataka-cm-advisor-6855371.html |website=Moneycontrol}}</ref> He is also part of the National Startup Advisory Council.<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Startup Advisory Council reconstituted; non-official members nominated |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1987898 |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

In October 2024, Prakash became the joint owner of the Bengaluru franchise team in the second season of the Global e-Cricket Premier League (GEPL). [[Nikhil Kamath]] is one of the joint owners with him.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nikhil Kamath, Ankit Nagori and Prashanth Prakash now Bengaluru franchise owners of e-cricket league |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/nikhil-kamath-ankit-nagori-and-prashanth-prakash-now-bengaluru-franchise-owners-of-e-cricket-league/articleshow/114014349.cms |website=The Economic Times |date=21 October 2024}}</ref>

In August 2022, Prashanth Prakash partnered with the [[Indian Institute of Science]] to set up a [[geriatrics]] wing as part of IISc's upcoming Bagchi-Parthasarathy Hospital.<ref>{{Cite news |title=IISc signs agreement with Prashanth Prakash to set up geriatrics wing |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/iisc-signs-agreement-with-prashanth-prakash-to-set-up-geriatrics-wing-122081200479_1.html |work=Business Standard}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-08-11 |title=Venture capitalist Prashanth Prakash signs up with IISc, to fund geriatrics unit at Bagchi hospital |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/venture-capitalist-prashanth-prakash-signs-up-with-iisc-to-fund-geriatrics-unit-at-bagchi-hospital/articleshow/93503909.cms |work=The Economic Times}}</ref> He is also the founding patron of the Longevity India initiative in IISc<ref>{{cite web |title=IISc launches Longevity India Initiative to support ageing research in India |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/iisc-launches-longevity-india-initiative-to-support-ageing-research-in-india/article68080134.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=18 April 2024}}</ref> and the co-founder of the [[UnboxingBLR Foundation]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Das |first=Pooja |date=2024-11-26 |title=Thinking beyond the box |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2024/Nov/26/thinking-beyond-the-box |access-date=2026-02-16 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

== Philanthropy ==
Prashanth has helped [[Sikshana]], an organisation working to improve the education in schools, in expanding their work from 10 to 100 schools.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Philanthropy with Purpose: An Inspiring Vision for India's Future|url=https://thephilanthropist.org/article/philanthropy-with-purpose-an-inspiring-vision-for-india-s-future |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Thephilanthropist.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sikshana Foundation {{!}} Board Members |url=https://sikshana.org/Team/boardmembers |website=sikshana.org}}</ref>

In 2021, Prashanth Prakash, in collaboration with other venture capitalists, established a {{INRConvert|100|c|year=2021}} [[COVID-19]] fund<ref>{{cite web |title=Action Covid-19 Team eyes Rs 500 crore philanthropic fund |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/startups/action-covid-19-team-eyes-rs-500-crore-philanthropic-fund/articleshow/81332904.cms |website=The Economic Times |date=4 March 2021}}</ref> and created grants to encourage start-ups focused on developing products and services to tackle [[COVID-19 pandemic]]-related concerns. The investors did not take a stake in the sponsored ventures.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Accel's Prashanth Prakash: Building A Rs 100 Crore Covid-19 Relief Fund |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/2021-living-in-hope/accels-prashanth-prakash-building-a-rs-100-crore-covid19-relief-fund/65527/1 |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=Forbes India |language=en}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
Prashanth Prakash has co-authored a book titled ''Unboxing Bengaluru - The City of New Beginnings''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jasline |first=Cheryl |date=2023-12-02 |title='Bengaluru is a city that offers different types of Bengaluru, all coexisting' |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/bengaluru-is-a-city-that-offers-different-types-of-bengaluru-all-coexisting/article67599082.ece |access-date=2024-01-16 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN}}</ref> It was launched by the [[List of chief ministers of Karnataka|22nd Chief Minister of Karnataka]], Sri [[Siddaramaiah]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Karnataka announces 10-day Unboxing Bengaluru Habba festival to showcase best of state capital |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/karnataka-announces-10-day-unboxing-bengaluru-habba-festival-9029653/ |website=The Indian Express |language=en |date=16 November 2023}}</ref>

==Awards and honours==
[[File:The President, Smt. Droupadi Murmu presenting the Padma Shri Award to Shri Prashanth Prakash at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-II at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on May 27, 2025.jpg|thumb|The President, Smt. Droupadi Murmu presenting the Padma Shri Award to Shri Prashanth Prakash at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-II at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on May 27, 2025.]]
*[[Padma Shri]] (2025) for contributions in trade and industry.<ref>{{cite web |title=Padma Awards Winners 2025 Full List |url=https://www.brutimes.com/news/social/padma-awards-2025-arijit-singh-ajith-kumar-shekhar-kapur-and-late-pankaj-udhas-honored-for-excellence |website=Bru Times News |language=en}}</ref><ref name="MA">{{cite web |title=Padma Awards 2025 |url=https://www.padmaawards.gov.in/Document/pdf/notifications/PadmaAwards/2025.pdf |website=www.padmaawards.gov.in |publisher=MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS}}</ref>
*Social Impact Leader 2021 for his philanthropic work by ASSOCHAM.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-25 |title=ASSOCHAM honors Prashanth Prakash as Social Impact Leader 2021 - India CSR |url=https://indiacsr.in/assocham-honors-prashanth-prakash-as-social-impact-leader-2021/ |access-date=2024-02-26 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Trade & Industry}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prakash, Prashanth}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in trade and industry]]
[[Category:Indian business executives]]
[[Category:Indian venture capitalists]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian philanthropists]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Prashanth Prakash - Revision history

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