Rigved P. Joshi ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT - INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP 256.824.6058i2c@uah.edu Director - Invention to Innovation Center Rigved comes to UAH with 20+ years of collective experience in technology development, startup commercialization, venture capital/private equity, and business management, with a proven track record of successful leadership in delivering strategy and solutions with a positive impact on the bottom line. As the Assistant Vice President for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UAH, Rigved's multifaceted role involves cultivating partnerships and dialogue with external collaborators to drive research initiatives forward while also enhancing the impact of UAH's programs through innovative funding strategies. Working closely with the OVPR senior team, he provides strategic vision and entrepreneurial insights to promote the university's research capabilities, aiming to foster collaboration and growth within and beyond the campus community. His leadership extends to engaging with regional leaders to leverage UAH's assets for mutual benefit, contributing to the economic development and innovation ecosystem of North Alabama. Rigved also serves as Director at I²C, where he is responsible for overall strategy, programming, partnerships, and day-to-day operations at the center – all of which are focused on establishing I²C as a premier regional resource for emerging technology companies through leadership and the support of entrepreneurial initiatives throughout Northern Alabama and South Central Tennessee. Through his dynamic leadership, Rigved is instrumental in driving impactful research and innovation initiatives that benefit both UAH and the broader community. Previously, Rigved served as a Strategic Advisor to Disciplina – IRIS, a financial technology company commercializing IP licensed from Vanderbilt University and as a Managing Partner of Gateway India LP, an India-focused investment fund. Additionally, he managed New Ventures at Vanderbilt University, resulting in 22 startups raising over $7M in early-stage venture and research funding. Before Vanderbilt, he served as principal at an early-stage venture capital fund and emerging markets private equity fund and as Director of Venture Development at the Girvan Institute of Technology, a center for high-tech innovation and technology transfer, and a startup accelerator founded and funded by NASA Ames. Rigved received his MBA from the University of North Carolina in Charlotte, NC, and his bachelor’s degree in electronics and telecommunications engineering from Maharashtra Institute of Technology in Pune, India. Meet our Mentors