Anjan Goswami

Dr Anjan Goswami brings a distinctive blend of academic rigour and entrepreneurial depth, backed by over two decades of cross-sectoral experience across India and East Africa. He holds a doctorate in Operations Management and Entrepreneurship from the Indian School of Business and an MBA in Strategy & Finance from the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, combining strong theoretical grounding with extensive hands-on execution. His entrepreneurial journey spans agribusiness, vertically integrated value chain, Cluster integration, fintech, quick commerce, customer delivery platform, QSR, food production & processing, product development, and omnichannel D2C, where he has built and scaled ventures while fostering ecosystems and generating livelihoods at scale.
His doctoral research centres on execution governance in the domain of behavioural operations, with a specific focus on its application in emerging market contexts; his work is currently under review at a leading FT50 journal. In addition, he has contributed as visiting faculty at various B-Schools, conducting Management Development Programs for executives and entrepreneurs, with a focus on connecting academic concepts to practical business contexts. Backed by global exposure and executive training, his work sits at the intersection of strategy, behavioural operations, innovation, and impact, enabling him to shape future entrepreneurs through practical insights and transformative leadership.

• PhD in Operations Management & Entrepreneurship, Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad – (2020–2025)
  Doctoral Thesis: Operational Excellence in Smallholder farming- A study in Northeast India
• MBA – Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIMB)- (2017–2019)
  Specialisation: Strategy & Finance,
• Master’s in Pharmacology & Toxicology, West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Sciences- (2002- 2004)
• Bachelor of Veterinary Science – Assam Agricultural University-(1997-2002)
• Advanced Executive Education & Certifications:
  • Certificate in Rural Sociology under the program “Understanding Rural India” – Azim Premji University- (2016)
  • Executive General Management Program (EGMP) – IIM Bangalore- (2010-2011)
  • International Business Management Training – Capsim Management Simulation Inc., USA- (2011)
•  Global Academic Engagements & International Certifications
  •  “Driving Engines of Economic Growth in Emerging Countries”
    Koç University Graduate School of Business, Istanbul, Turkey |  2018
    Intensive international module exploring economic growth models, emerging market dynamics, and policy-driven entrepreneurship. 
  •  “Service Excellence in Tourism Industry: The Indonesian Way”
    University of Indonesia (University Exchange Program), Jakarta & Malang, Indonesia | 2018
    Cross-cultural immersion in service innovation, customer experience design, and emerging market service ecosystems

• Published in FT50 Journal (Under Editorial Review) – ‘Inform to Conform: Evidence from Smallholder Farming Experiments’, in “Manufacturing and Service Operations Management (MSOM)”
• Authored Harvard Business Review Case: ‘Beyond Yields: Utpan’s Journey to Operational Excellence in Agriculture’.
• Business Cases written: 4 Nos
  • “Operational Excellence in Cluster Farming: Executing a Win-Win-Win Strategy for Digital Transformation”
  • “Nudging Better Farming: A Behavioural Intervention in Farm Production”
  • “MyPetz: Pivoting from Pet Quick Commerce to an Omnichannel Hybrid Platform”
  • “Dunzo: Speed, Scale, and the Cost of Convenience”
• Industry level Bulletin Publications: 15 Nos

• Academic & Teaching Experience
  • Dr Anjan is currently an Associate Professor, Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI), Mahindra University.
• Dr Anjan’s Previous Academic & Teaching Engagements
  • Guest Lecturer, National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad
    Delivered specialized modules on Agri-Entrepreneurship, Rural Innovation, and Value Chain Development, effectively integrating academic frameworks with field-level applications.
  • Visiting Faculty, IPMT, National School of Business (NSB), Bangalore, and other leading regional B-Schools
    Conducted sessions on Strategy, Entrepreneurship, Startup Creation, Business Model Innovation, and Value Chain Development, with a strong emphasis on execution-oriented learning.
  • Management Development Program (MDP) Facilitator
    Regularly designed and delivered executive education and Management Development Programmes for leading B-Schools and institutions under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, focusing on entrepreneurial leadership, business strategy, and digital transformation in agriculture and allied sectors.
    Additionally, contributed to industry-oriented training programmes for bankersin collaboration with CPDO and TI, with a focus on industry-specific business models, credit understanding, and sectoral risk assessment.
  • Curriculum Designer
    Developed comprehensive academic curricula and modules in Entrepreneurship and Family-Owned Businesses, aligned with global pedagogical standards and experiential learning frameworks.
• Entrepreneurial Experience (Practitioner–Academic Integration)
• Dr Anjan’s entrepreneurial journey reflects a rare ability to build, scale, transform, and exit ventures across sectors, bringing deep execution-driven insights into the classroom and innovation ecosystem.
  • Utpan – Agri-Tech & Rural FinTech Platform (2021–2025)
    Early Investor, Co-Founder & Mentor
    Conceptualised and scaled a digital platform enabling market access, credit linkages, and cluster-based productivity models for smallholder farmers. The initiative has emerged as a scalable model for rural digital transformation with over 40000+ active users and has attracted institutional and policy-level interest.
  • MyPetz – Omnichannel Pet Healthcare Venture (2020–2024)
    Co-Founder & Strategic Growth Leader
    Built and scaled a digital-first pet healthcare venture into a full-stack omnichannel ecosystem by establishing integrated speciality hospitals combining clinical care, diagnostics, pharmacy, and digital engagement. Successfully led the venture to a strategic acquisition, demonstrating strong capabilities in venture scaling, execution, and exit strategy. The model is widely used in teaching lean startup, platform integration, and omnichannel strategy.
  • Khadkeshwara Farms & Foods Pvt Ltd. (2019–2023)
    Co-Founder & CEO
    Established and scaled a vertically integrated agribusiness enterprise spanning breeding, hatchery, feed, and contract farming operations. Led the company to grow beyond ₹200+ crore in revenue with a workforce of 100+ employees. Developed scalable farmer engagement models and rural livelihood programs, later adapted into academic case studies on supply chain integration and unit economics.
• Anny’s Food – Branded QSR Venture (2015–2017)
  Co-Founder
  Built and scaled a regional QSR brand from inception to 14 retail outlets across Northeast India, supported by a centralised supply chain and SOP-driven operations. Achieved a 5X valuation at exit, reflecting strong execution in brand building, retail expansion, and unit economics.
• Gold & Chiks Ltd., Tanzania (2012–2016)
  Director & Head of Business
  Led a cross-border M&A turnaround of a D2C Food processing enterprise, transforming it into one of Tanzania’s leading integrated packaged food D2C companies. Delivered 15%+ EBITDA improvement through strategic restructuring, capex optimization, and operational excellence.
• Khadkeshwara Hatcheries Ltd. (2008–2012)
  COO & Director
  Conceptualised, scaled, and managed pan-India operations for a ₹500+ crore vertically integrated enterprise in the Agri & Food sector, driving SOP-led execution, productivity improvements, and multi-state expansion. Co-founded a branded meat venture, achieving successful market traction and exit.
• C&M Farming Ltd. (2004–2008)
  Business Development Manager
  Led market expansion across India and Nepal, scaling adoption of poultry genetics and increasing market share from 5% to 30% through scientific selling and field-driven advisory models.

• Entrepreneurship & New Venture Creation in emerging markets
• Opportunity Evaluation and Operations Management
• Business Model Innovation & Scaling
• Startup Execution & Unit Economics
• Agri-business, Food Value Chains
• Agri-Tech Innovation and Rural Enterprise Systems
• Digital Platforms & Emerging Technologies
• Entrepreneurial Finance (Practitioner Perspective)
• Family-Owned Businesses