iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
In a landmark event for South Asian professionals, students, and business leaders, the University of Southern California (USC) hosted the first-ever IndiaCon, a conference dedicated to exploring the growing economic, technological, and cultural ties between India and the United States.
With over 250 attendees ranging from entrepreneurs, investors and policy experts to other professionals and students, IndiaCon emerged as a pivotal platform for thought-provoking discussions on India’s global rise, innovation, and diaspora-driven impact in the U.S.
A first for the West Coast
IndiaCon wasn’t just the first India-focused conference at USC — it was a pioneering platform on the West Coast that brought together diverse voices to explore the evolving India-U.S. corridor. The sessions covered a wide range of topics, offering fresh perspectives and actionable insights from distinguished speakers.
In “India’s Leap Forward”, Dr. Srikar Reddy and Gunjan Bagla explored opportunities for collaboration between the two nations.
This was followed by “Generics to Global Health” where Vik Thapar, Ray Mathoda, and Neil Badlani discussed what India and the US could learn from each other’s healthcare models. Mathoda suggested, “If the goal of health care is to keep people healthy and not treat and monetize those who are sick, then the U.S. probably has a lot to learn from Indian culture and traditional practices.”
The panel “Back Office to Innovation Hub” delved into India’s transformation into a global innovation powerhouse. Sumant Mandal and Kavitha Mariappan brought insights on high-growth Indian businesses, with Mandal sharing the cultural shifts driving entrepreneurship. “Not too long ago I had to convince the parents of one of my founders in India that their son’s marital prospects would not be hampered by embarking on this path,” Mandal said.
Other sessions brought humor and inspiration. In “Visa Hurdles to Career Triumphs”, Navneet Chugh, Kanchi Nayaka, and Anuj Nadadur shared their experiences navigating the visa system, with Chugh striking a lighthearted note. “Some of my wealthiest clients revoke their US citizenship for tax reasons. I pray that you all don’t need to run the rat race for a green card in the first place and leapfrog to that stage,” Chugh said.
The conference also ventured into entertainment and sports. In “South Asian Women in Entertainment”, industry insiders Bhavani Rao, Diya Heble, Sujata Murthy, Shireen Razack, and Patricia Isaac reflected on the challenges and opportunities for representation in Hollywood.
Meanwhile, in “Cricket’s American Innings”, Nisarg Patel and Ravi Timbawala explored the growing popularity of cricket in the U.S., with Patel stating, “For US cricket to become popular, we need to win titles. And the capability to do so comes when players can commit themselves to the sport and make a living through it. For now, we are very excited about the upcoming international matches and LA 28 Olympics!”
These discussions, from Hollywood to Cricket, from entrepreneurship to visa challenges, coupled with insights from panels on manufacturing and leadership in global health, blended serious discourse with optimism and humor, firmly establishing IndiaCon as a cornerstone for now and probably future India-US dialogue on the West Coast.
From vision to reality: A student-led initiative
The driving force behind IndiaCon was a passionate team of USC students who saw an opportunity to foster dialogue around India’s growing global influence. Tejaswa Gavankar, one of the conference founders, shared: “Since coming to the U.S., I’ve been fascinated by the immense success of the Indian diaspora, but I often felt that conversations about India’s future were happening in silos. I wanted to change that by creating a space where business, policy, and culture could intersect—and that’s how IndiaCon was born.”
The event required months of planning and execution, covering everything from setting the conference vision and building team culture to marketing, fundraising, and strategic partnerships. The team successfully secured sponsorships from USC, the Indian government, and local businesses, ensuring that the event was not just a one-off but the start of an ongoing dialogue.
Recognizing future change makers: The IndiaCon Scholarship
IndiaCon 2025 introduced the IndiaCon Scholarship to honor individuals dedicated to India’s progress with a clear vision for future impact. This initiative reinforces IndiaCon’s mission to bridge India and the U.S. by supporting change makers committed to this cause. As the program grows, it will continue to inspire and enable more individuals to contribute to the India-US corridor.
This year’s recipient, Nikhil Chaudhari, is a biomedical engineering PhD student. He earned his computer science degree from VIT University, India, and an MS from USC.
“As a USC PhD student, I combine my engineering background with neuroimaging research while actively supporting the South Asian community. I mentor Indian students through the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum and USC’s Graduate Mentorship Program. Beyond academics, I am an active manager at USC’s Hindu Student Organization,” Chaudhari said.
“My long-term goal is to become a professor and inspire more South Asian students to pursue research, strengthening India’s strategic independence. Specifically, I aim to collaborate with the Center for Brain Research at IISc, to study brain anatomy of Indians — an area overlooked by Western studies,” he added.
The future of IndiaCon
“Even though many of us have found success in the U.S., it’s important to recognize that India is growing at three times the pace of the U.S. Whether it’s your next business idea, career move, or investment opportunity, keeping an eye on India is not just prudent, it’s essential,” said Raghav Mahajan
Now with an overwhelmingly positive response from attendees and speakers, IndiaCon is poised to become an annual tradition at USC. Plans are already in motion for future editions, with organizers aiming to expand industry participation and create more networking opportunities for students and professionals.
“This was just the beginning,” added Tejaswa Gavankar. “The India-U.S. partnership is evolving rapidly, and we want IndiaCon to grow alongside it—becoming a key platform for leaders shaping the future.”