Indian-American tech entrepreneur Karl Mehta launches 'Code For India'

CFI to develop technologies through crowd-sourcing to improve public services

Karl Mehta, a Silicon Valley-based Indian-American technology entrepreneur and venture capitalist has launched 'Code For India’ (CFI), a global community of software engineers to build technology that can solve the problems of the developing world.

 

With India as the test-bed, CFI proposes to build tools that will help solve problems on the ground, and empower citizens to actively participate with local government to give communities the power to help themselves.

 

“As a firm believer in the power of crowd-sourced and open-sourced technology, we have created ‘Code For India’ to provide tools to fight day-to-day public service issues,” said Mehta.

 

“Code For India’s use of technology will promote transparency, participation and efficiency in the way local people can voice their concern and find solutions. The transformative power of technology will aid India and other developing countries facing similar problems,” he added.

 

Last year, Mehta was selected as one of the 18 'Presidential Innovation Fellows’ in the US to work on five 'high-impact' projects in Washington DC. The project aimed at supporting entrepreneurs, businesses and the economy apart from improving how the Federal Government serves the American people.

 

In a release issued today, Mehta said CFI has support from Indian-origin tech professionals around the world. Software engineers from Microsoft, Google, eBay, VISA and Facebook have volunteered in developing social awareness applications in the first phase. Organisations like TiE Silicon Valley, TiE Mumbai, TiE New Delhi and The Morpheus Fund have partnered with CFI to encourage their large network of tech community members to get involved in the project.

 

In addition, Professor Vijay Pande of Stanford University, T V Mohandas Pai, Chairman of Manipal Global Education and Vish Mishra, Venture Director at Clearstone and mentor to The Hive and The Fabric have joined the Advisory Board of CFI.

 

“Code for India is a unique and commendable initiative whereby the sharpest of computing minds can apply themselves to altruistic causes,” Deep Kalra, President of TiE-New Delhi who is also the founder CEO of travel portal MakeMyTrip said in a statement.