Raam Shankar, founder of Equitus Design Engineering and Innovations Limited, is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer. His knowledge lies in design, innovation and sustainability solutions with a people focused, and engineering driven approach. He has worked with some high-profile names such as UK Atomic Energy Authority, European Space Agency, UK Research and Innovation, Samsung, Pall Corporation, Babcock Group, Kawasaki, Magtec, Luxfer Gas Cylinders and Ventinova amongst others.

Raam is the current President of Tie UK North, part of TiE Global, one of the largest entrepreneurs’ organizations in the world. He is also a TEDx alumni, STEM Ambassador, presenter, panellist and keynote speaker at various events focusing on innovation, sustainability, design, and entrepreneurship. He is a steering group member in two regional committees in Greater Manchester and a Professional Review Interviewer, with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). He is also the Honorary Secretary of the Greater Manchester Area Chapter of the IMechE. He is a feature columnist with the Manufacturer magazine.

He is an advisor to companies in the UK, Silicon Valley, and India, advising on strategy, product, sustainability, innovation, and fundraising.

He frequently delivers talks and lectures on topics such as Innovation and Sustainability, Minimum Viable Products, Finding your Niche, Value Proposition and Delivery.

• Current President of TiE UK North, part of TiE Global
• Charter Member and Board Member with TiE UK North
• Board Member with Manchester India Partnership, a public-private partnership established to build and strengthen business, innovation, cultural and educational ties between India and Greater Manchester
• Entrepreneurial Advisor at Masood Enterprise Centre, part of the University of Manchester’s Alliance Manchester Business School
• Advisor to Hai, an agritech startup (Manchester, UK), a spinoff from University of Manchester, to conduct initial stage validation of product with BASF plc. Advising them on product development, strategy and route to market.
• Advisor to Praeferre Limited (London, UK) to a cyber-security and data protection start-up on product strategy, market access and key partnerships. Currently raising funds for them and advising on product strategy.
• Investor in and Advisor to, Edgeforce Solutions (Hyderabad, India) a defence startup based in India, delivering intelligent mission systems. Guiding their global expansion plans with securing them contracts in the UK security sector.
• Investor in and Advisor to, Phot1e Limited (Bangalore, India), an energy storage start-up. Guiding their globalisation ambitions by enabling them enter the UK market.
• Advisor to Pentone Family Limited (Manchester, UK) on manufacturing and business scale-up, and new market entry strategy to a specialist, low-calorie beverage manufacturer. Currently enabling them build valuable relationships in India.

• Current President of TiE UK North, part of TiE Global
• Charter Member and Board Member with TiE UK North
• Board Member with Manchester India Partnership, a public-private partnership established to build and strengthen business, innovation, cultural and educational ties between India and Greater Manchester
• Entrepreneurial Advisor at Masood Enterprise Centre, part of the University of Manchester’s Alliance Manchester Business School
• Advisor to Hai, an agritech startup (Manchester, UK), a spinoff from University of Manchester, to conduct initial stage validation of product with BASF plc. Advising them on product development, strategy and route to market.
• Advisor to Praeferre Limited (London, UK) to a cyber-security and data protection start-up on product strategy, market access and key partnerships. Currently raising funds for them and advising on product strategy.
• Investor in and Advisor to, Edgeforce Solutions (Hyderabad, India) a defence startup based in India, delivering intelligent mission systems. Guiding their global expansion plans with securing them contracts in the UK security sector.
• Investor in and Advisor to, Phot1e Limited (Bangalore, India), an energy storage start-up. Guiding their globalisation ambitions by enabling them enter the UK market.
• Advisor to Trackage Limtied (Cheshire, UK) a digital logistics company as an advisor focusing on market evaluation, product strategy and development of value stream.
• Advisor to Pentone Family Limited (Manchester, UK) on manufacturing and business scale-up, and new market entry strategy to a specialist, low-calorie beverage manufacturer. Currently enabling them build valuable relationships in India, for a smart launch by end of 2022.

Raam is a thinker and speaker in the areas of digitisation of product development, innovation delivery, sustainability led product design and development, enabling technologies for manufacturing, and application of engineering with a collaborative approach to solve the challenges humanity faces. He also speaks on these topics as a presenter and panellist at various events.

• Delivered a technical lecture for the Institution of Mechanical Engineers on the topic What is Innovation and How to Succeed at it
• Delivered a technical lecture for the Institution of Mechanical Engineers on the topic What is Minimum Viable Product and How to Succeed at it
• Speaker at Business Questions on the topic Crisis Response, Sustainability and Minimum Viable Products
• TEDx Alumni, spoke about ‘what’s complex isn’t complicated and how to navigate a complex world’ (2019)
• Speaker at the Seen Approached Employed Summit, guiding C-Suite Executives to recognise and respond to crisis, rediscover their capabilities beyond their titles, and realign themselves for the current climate
• Speaker at TEDx University of Strathclyde’s Professional Development Workshop on the topic Finding Your Niche, focusing on early-stage careers and alternative approaches to successful careers regardless of career field
• Speaker at the University of Leicester’s School of Engineering, addressing students of Engineering Management on career options, innovation and entrepreneurship
• Speaker at the Advdanced Manufacturing Virtual Internship, hosted by Win-Tech Inc, in Kennesaw GA, USA, on the topic The Purpose of Design
• Speaker at Annamalai University, Chidambaram, India, addressing students on careers including entrepreneurship in an emerging Indian start-up ecosystem