Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, June, 2026 — NSRCEL, the startup incubator of the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM Bangalore), has announced the appointment of Rasika Prashant as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). An accomplished entrepreneur, brand builder, and business leader, Rasika will spearhead NSRCEL’s mission of empowering startups through incubation, mentorship, access to capital, and strategic collaborations across academia, industry, government, and the investor ecosystem.
In her new role, Rasika will lead the incubator’s efforts to strengthen India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by supporting founders across diverse sectors and stages of growth. She will work closely with entrepreneurs, mentors, corporate partners, policymakers, and investors to further expand NSRCEL’s impact and reinforce its position as one of India’s leading startup incubation platforms.
Prior to joining NSRCEL, Rasika was engaged in advising and supporting founders and leadership teams through her independent growth and scaling practice, where she focused on helping consumer brands scale from product-market fit to sustainable growth. Her work centered on the intersection of brand building, growth strategy, innovation, and execution excellence.
Before this, she spent more than fourteen years building Tata Soulfull, one of India’s most recognized health-focused food brands. Most recently, she served as Chief Marketing Officer at Tata Consumer Soulfull, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s marketing strategy, brand positioning, innovation agenda, and digital transformation initiatives. Her leadership contributed significantly to the brand’s growth and successful integration into Tata Consumer Products, making it one of India’s notable entrepreneurial success stories.
Earlier, Rasika served as Director of Marketing at Tata Consumer Soulfull, helping establish the brand’s presence in the highly competitive packaged foods category while driving consumer engagement and business expansion. Prior to the Tata Consumer acquisition, she was Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Soulfull, where she was instrumental in building the company from its startup phase into a nationally recognized consumer brand.
Before embarking on her entrepreneurial journey, Rasika worked as a Digital Account Manager at ADDV EURO RSCG in the San Francisco Bay Area, gaining valuable experience in digital marketing and brand strategy. She also held leadership responsibilities at Ogilvy & Mather Advertising, where she served as Head of Department, managing brand communication and marketing initiatives for leading clients across sectors.
Rasika holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business. Over the course of her career, she has developed a strong reputation for combining entrepreneurial thinking with strategic execution, building consumer-centric brands, scaling businesses, and fostering innovation-led growth.
With her unique blend of entrepreneurial experience, brand-building expertise, startup leadership, and scaling capabilities, Rasika is expected to play a transformative role in shaping NSRCEL’s next phase of growth and deepening its contribution to India’s innovation and startup ecosystem.
About NSRCEL
NSRCEL, the startup incubator of Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM Bangalore), is one of India’s leading entrepreneurship and innovation platforms. It brings together startups, industry mentors, academicians, researchers, investors, corporates, and policymakers to create a vibrant ecosystem for entrepreneurial growth.
With more than 2,813 ventures incubated and over 5,370 ventures impacted through its programs, NSRCEL-supported startups have collectively generated nearly 35,800 jobs. The incubator operates specialized programs for startups, social ventures, student entrepreneurs, and women entrepreneurs, helping them access mentorship, capital, knowledge resources, and market opportunities.
NSRCEL collaborates with leading organizations including Goldman Sachs, ICICI Securities, Maruti Suzuki, and Capgemini, while also receiving support from NITI Aayog, the Department of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India. It is also recognized as India’s first incubator to launch a dedicated program for social entrepreneurs.
Read Also : When HR “Produces Nothing”: A Response to Jennifer Sey’s Anti-HR Vision
The Fine Balance: Navigating Work, Life, and Mental Wellbeing
Mind the Leadership Gap – From Learning to Real-World Impact
How the Adecco Group is empowering its employees for the future of work
