This Dean left the US to build IITM's entrepreneurial future | Prof Ashwin Mahalingam | BP2B S2E13

ℹ️ EPISODE INFO

Released

October 31, 2025

Duration

48m

Channel

Best Place To Build

Watch on YouTube

▶ Open ↗

📝 EPISODE DESCRIPTION

From Concrete to Culture: How IIT Madras Engineered India’s Strongest Innovation Ecosystem In this episode of The Best Place to Build podcast, we talk to Professor Ashwin Mahalingam, Dean of Alumni and Corporate Relations (ACR) and a Civil Engineering professor at IIT Madras. Prof Mahalingam shares his unique journey: from co-founding a successful equipment rental startup in the US to returning and becoming a driving force in transforming IIT Madras. Discover how he helped shape the institute into a dynamic hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. He also traces the evolution of Civil Engineering from "brick and mortar" to an interdisciplinary field blending technology, management, and social impact. Most importantly, find out how the Centre for Innovation (CFI) ignited an influential "building culture" on campus. One that now fuels hundreds of successful startups, from mobility pioneers like Ather Energy to cutting-edge ventures in AI and automation. Key topics: 01:00 Welcome to the Best Place to Build 01:25 Introducing Prof Ashwin Mahalingam 05:50 What is Civil Engineering? 12:20 What’s the scope of Civil Engineering? 13:13 The connection between AI & Civil Engineering 16:50 Prof Ashwin’s entrepreneurial journey & thoughts 25:45 The statistical reality of entrepreneurship at IITM 31:30 Is IITM really the Best Place to Build? 37:00 Why is the IIT Madras tag important? 41:00 Friend-raising, fund-raising & closing thoughts #IITMadras #BestPlaceToBuild #AshwinMahalingam #CivilEngineering #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #Sustainability #AlumniNetwork #CFI #BuildingCulture #Startups #Automation #ConstructionManagement

🎤 SPEAKERS

• Ashwin Mahalingam

  guest

🧾 EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Best Place To Build, featuring Ashwin Mahalingam, This Dean left the US to build IITM's entrepreneurial future | Prof Ashwin Mahalingam | BP2B S2E13 explores how IIT Madras built a barrier-free, alumni-powered entrepreneurship ecosystem Civil engineering has shifted from “steel and concrete” to an interdisciplinary profession integrating technology, finance, policy, and social dynamics to deliver complex infrastructure responsibly.

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