Santosh Kocherlakota

Santosh Kocherlakota

Assistant Professor
santosh.kocherlakota@mahindrauniversity.edu.in

Santosh Kocherlakota is a dynamic leader with over 10+ years of experience in design education, corporate alignment, and social innovation, adept at integrating academic rigor with industry needs to create impactful programs. He is the Co-founder of Earthen Tunes Designs, a pioneering start-up in sustainable footwear for farmers, incubated at IIT Madras and ISB Hyderabad. Santosh has been recognized for his thought leadership in product Design, entrepreneurship, and fostering strategic partnerships.

M.Des

  • M.Des in Transportation and automobile Design, IIT, NID Ahmedabad  India (2013-2017)

M.Des

  • M.Des in Industrial design , Brno University of Technology , Brno, Czech Republic (2014-2015) exchange semester

B.E(Hons)

  • B.E(Hons) in Electronics and Instrumentation , BITS-Pilani, Goa campus(2007-2011)

  • Assistant Professor , School of Design innovation, Mahindra University, India(May 2025- Present)
  • CEO and Co-Founder, Earthen Tunes Design Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad(August 2019-Present)
  • Assistant Dean-Corporate alignment , School of Arts and Design ,Woxsen  University (September  2023- April 2025)
  • Program Director, Industrial Design  School of Arts and Design ,Woxsen  University (March  2022- August 2023)
  • Product Head , Indent Designs, Mumbai  (2017-2019)
  • Automation head –Karnataka, Bharat Petroleum Corp. Limited (2011-2013)

Publications

  • Kocherlakota, S., & Team. (2023). Earthen Tunes: The Vision. Global InCH International Journal of Living Heritage, ISSN: 2581-9410.
  • Kocherlakota, S., & Co-Authors. (2024). Driving a Causal Change in Corporate Behaviour towards Enforcing a Culture of Sustainability. GENMGT102603.

Patents

  • WO2019/030778 A1 – Patent granted for an Electric Wheelchair Assembly adapted for maneuvering through undulated terrain.
  • Patent Application No. 202341056360 – Filed for an Agricultural Apparatus designed to enhance mechanized farming operations.
  • Patent Application No. 202441048002 – Filed for an Articulated Kondapalli Toy with Modern Joint Technology, integrating traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design improvements.

Invited Talks

  • TEDx Woxsen University 2025
  • Building Social Enterprises – FDDI Hyderabad
  • World Entrepreneurship Day- NID Ahmedabad
  • A Design thinking based approach to Entrepreneurship- IIT Hyderabad

Entrepreneurship-Earthen Tunes

  • ‘Co-Founder and CEO at Earthen Tunes, an IIT Madras Incubated startup designing and manufacturing shoes for farmers from Indian Woollen Blankets
  • Building Traceability for Indian Wool-a collaborative project between CFP, Earthen Tunes, Here we are and British Council. Project Funded by British Council
  • Grants raised for Earthen Tunes from IIT Madras Incubation Cell, NID Ahmedabad and Telangana Govt

Awards

  • Earthen Tunes- Lexus Design Award Finalists, Iprenuer Award
  • Faculty of the year 2023, multiple faculty of the month at Woxsen University