Arun Kumar

Managing Partner @CelestaCapital; Formerly: Chairman&CEO, @KPMGIndia; AsstSecretary forGlobal Markets&DirectorGeneral-US&Foreign Commercial Service, USDOC

[nasscom deeptech @nasscomdeeptech]

"Securing your supply chain and designing in a way that you have the security and continuous supply with partnerships is a very important which cannot be ignored, at least for the industry that we are focusing on." -- Richa Hukumchand, Founder and CEO, Pramatra Space

At #NasscomFutureForge2026, "The Factory After the Lab: Scaling India's Deep Tech Hardware" featured @richas83, Founder and CEO, Pramatra Space and Jaisimha Rao, Founder & CEO, @NiqoRobotics, chaired by @arunmku , Managing Partner, @CelestaCapital . They discussed the operational distance between a working hardware prototype and a product that can be manufactured at volume.

Discussion highlights:

→ Arun Kumar asked both founders on their manufacturing and supply chain strategy, including how much of production they choose to outsource.

→ Jaisimha Rao explained Niqo Robotics' decision to manufacture in the US while keeping the IP based in India, a call driven by where their customers and market demand actually sit.

→ Richa Hukumchand described Pramantra Space's fabless approach, building on European fabrication facilities today while working toward an Indian supply chain that can support 80% of production in a later cycle.

→ Both founders agreed that time spent upfront on design is what minimizes errors downstream and protects product quality once manufacturing scales.

The founders' shared lesson was that scaling Deeptech hardware is a manufacturing and supply chain decision as much as an engineering one, and getting it wrong at the design stage is expensive to fix later.

@nasscom @nasscomdeeptech @sangeetagupta29
@ShaliniDewan @shivamsareen91 @mayankkumar_1
@prashantvrm011 @pal_palash

#NasscomFutureForge2026 #NasscomDeeptech #DeeptechHardware

[Arun Kumar @arunmku]

Thank you CG @srikar_koppula for convening a very interesting group for an insightful exchange of views.

[India in San Francisco @CGISFO]

Consul General @srikar_koppula hosted an Executive Roundtable at India House, San Francisco, on June 26, with Rajesh Nambiar @RNamb, president, @Nasscom, and senior technology leaders. The discussion focused on the evolving India-US technology partnership, with particular emphasis on AI, deep-tech innovation, digital transformation, and the priorities shaping the next phase of collaboration.

The roundtable brought together Saurabh Tandon, president-elect, TiE Silicon Valley @tiesv; Arun Kumar @arunmku, managing partner, @CelestaCapital; Ram Reddy, co-founder & CEO, Evolve Silicon Valley Foundation @EvolveSVF; Muddu Sudhakar @smuddu, SVP & GM, @salesforce; Chandu Thota @ChanduThota, VP, @google (Gemini); and Anita Manwani, board member, TiE Silicon Valley @tiesv. The exchange reflected the depth of Indian American leadership across the Bay Area's innovation ecosystem and the growing momentum behind the India-US technology partnership.

@MEAIndia @IndianEmbassyUS @diaspora_india

[Arun Kumar @arunmku]

Such a pleasure to catch up with my friend Lt Gov @SandhuTaranjitS, diplomat, administrator and leader extraordinaire. He has been a steady hand in shaping the U.S.-India relationship for decades and will no doubt be a widely loved leader in his new role.

[Lok Niwas Delhi 🇮🇳 @LokNiwasDelhi]

Arun M. Kumar, former Chairman and CEO of KPMG and former US Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets, called on Hon’ble @LtGovDelhi, Sardar @SandhuTaranjitS, at @LokNiwasDelhi today.

[NYSE 🏛 @NYSE]

The NYSE welcomes @drreddys to celebrate its 25th anniversary of listing. $RDY https://t.co/LKKEOeHWt2

[Arun Kumar @arunmku]

https://t.co/uVRC835kd0

[CNBC-TV18 Prime @CNBCTV18PrimeIN]

#GlobalLens | @arunmku of @CelestaCapital says, 'India's $500 billion commitment to the USA is probably a more intent-driven statement.'

He tells @Parikshitl India's needs will increase in the next 5 years, the goal is ambitious but it can be achieved

#IndiaUSTradeDeal

[CNBC-TV18 Prime @CNBCTV18PrimeIN]

#GlobalLens | '#USA is pursuing targeted agreements alongside broader trade deals & the growing trust between #India & US will accelerate collaboration once the trade pact is finalised,' says @arunmku, Managing Partner at @CelestaCapital on #IndiaUSTradeDeal

@Parikshitl

[CNBC-TV18 Prime @CNBCTV18PrimeIN]

#GlobalLens | “India's reduced Russian oil purchases appear to have been a key trigger for the rollback of punitive US tariffs," says ex-US Asst Secy for Commerce @arunmku. Tells @Parikshitl India's shift towards American energy supplies is clearly on the cards. #IndiaUSTradeDeal

[India in San Francisco @CGISFO]

Moderated by M. R. Rangaswami, Founder of Indiaspora, the panel on “Investing in Responsible AI: Catalyzing Innovation, Inclusion, and Global Collaboration” featured a dynamic exchange of ideas from leading voices across the industry. Panelists included Neeraj Arora, Managing Director at General Catalyst; Sumir Chadha, Co-founder and Managing Partner at WestBridge Capital; Surya Ganguli, Senior Fellow at Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered AI; Arun Kumar, Managing Partner at Celesta Capital; and Abhishek Shukla, Managing Director at Prosperity7 Ventures.
#AIforGood #PeoplePlanetProgress #ResponsibleAI #GlobalCollaboration #DigitalIndia #IndiaAI

@MEAIndia
@IndianEmbassyUS
@AshwiniVaishnaw
@JitinPrasada
@SecretaryMEITY
@GoI_MeitY
@_DigitalIndia
@mygovindia
@PIB_India
@mrsandhill
@neerajarora
@ChadhaSumir
@SuryaGanguli
@arunmku
@IndiasporaForum
@generalcatalyst
@WestBridge_Cap
@StanfordHAI
@CelestaCapital
@p7ventures

4/n

[Arun Kumar @arunmku]

Excellent conversation on Andhra Pradesh plans in technology and education with the dynamic Minister @naralokesh. The quality of leadership matters for economic development; the Minister and AP Chief Minister @ncbn Chandrababu Naidu are fine examples.

[Lokesh Nara @naralokesh]

అంతర్జాతీయస్థాయి వెంచర్ క్యాపిటల్ సంస్థ సెలెస్టా విసి (Celesta VC) మేనేజింగ్ పార్టనర్ అరుణ్ కుమార్ తో అమెరికాలోని శాన్ ఫ్రాన్సిస్కోలో భేటీ అయ్యాను. ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్ లో ప్రస్తుతం పెట్టుబడులకు పూర్తి అనుకూల వాతావరణం నెలకొని ఉంది. విశాఖనగరం ఐటి, డేటా హబ్ గా శరవేగంగా అభివృద్ధి చెందుతోంది. ఏపీలో సెలెస్టా క్యాపిటల్ డీప్ టెక్ ఇన్నొవేషన్ హబ్ ఏ��్పాటుచేయాలని కోరాను. సెమీ కండక్టర్, ఏఐ, క్వాంటమ్ కంప్యూట��ంగ్ రంగాల్లో పెట్టుబడులు పెట్టాలని విజ్ఞప్తి చేశాను. ఏపీ ప్రభుత్వ ప్రతిపాదనలను పరిశీలిస్తామని అరుణ్ కుమార్ చెప్పారు.
@CelestaCapital
@arunmku
#investinap
#ChooseSpeedChooseAP

[Lokesh Nara @naralokesh]

అంతర్జాతీయస్థాయి వెంచర్ క్యాపిటల్ సంస్థ సెలెస్టా విసి (Celesta VC) మేనేజింగ్ పార్టనర్ అరుణ్ కుమార్ తో అమెరికాల��ని శాన్ ఫ్రాన్సిస్కోలో భేటీ అయ్యాను. ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్ లో ప్రస్తుతం పెట్టుబడులకు పూర్తి అనుకూల వాతావరణం నెలకొని ఉంది. విశాఖనగరం ఐటి, డేటా హబ్ గా శరవేగంగా అభివృద్ధి చెందుతోంది. ఏపీలో సెలెస్టా క్యాపిటల్ డీప్ టెక్ ఇన్నొవేషన్ హబ్ ఏర్పాటుచేయాలని కోరాను. సెమీ కండక్టర్, ఏఐ, క్వాంటమ్ కంప్యూటింగ్ రంగాల్లో పెట్టుబడులు పెట్టాలని విజ్ఞప్తి చేశాను. ఏపీ ప్రభుత్వ ప్రతిపాదనలను పరిశీలిస్తామని అర���ణ్ కుమార్ చెప్పారు.
@CelestaCapital
@arunmku
#investinap
#ChooseSpeedChooseAP

[Arun Kumar @arunmku]

A thought- provoking session on the people-to-people connection that is a cornerstone of the U.S.-India relationship.

[IIEP at GW @IIEPGW]

The conference concluded w/ a session on “Indian Americans,” chaired by @ArunmKu (@CelestaCapital). Meena Ahamed examined stories of prominent Indian Americans across fields & Devesh Kapur (@SSIDHopkins) shared reasons behind the Indian diaspora's success in the US. #GWIndia

[Shashi Tharoor @ShashiTharoor]

It was a very moving funeral yesterday. Admired the evident love and stoicism of his family.

For those friends and admirers of Ranjit Nair, who would like to attend his memorial service, but are not in Delhi, you can join in by Zoom (as I will have to myself) on Friday, 18th April, from 3:30 to 5:30 PM.
Link: https://t.co/PKEVjNofWv

#RanjitNair ॐ शांति

[Shashi Tharoor @ShashiTharoor]

A great loss to Indian science. Ranjit was an exceptional man, who fought the affliction of dystonia &continued to produce remarkable work. I have spoken with his widow, the poet Rukmini Bhaya Nair, to express my profound condolences. I will be among the mourners at his funeral

[Arun Kumar @arunmku]

@SheerPriya made a strong case for the support of basic research. Many innovations that we now take for granted have come about from discoveries made in basic research.

[Sanjoy K Roy @SanjoyRoyTWA]

Science is the only way for converting all the scientific evidence in the world out there in to fact. @SheerPriya closes @IndiasporaForum Forum For Good

[CNBC-TV18 @CNBCTV18News]

#StartupStreet | @CelestaCapital ropes in Anand Chandrasekaran

@ShrutiMishra_ speaks to Managing Partners Arun Kumar (@arunmku) & Anand Chandrasekaran (@anandc) about their 2025 investment strategy, outlook on Indian startups as well as what Anand brings to the table

[CNBC-TV18 @CNBCTV18News]

'Ratan Tata, you were an outstanding boss!'

This is how @KPMG's former CEO, @arunmku remembered Ratan Tata.

#RatanTataPassesAway #RatanTata #RatanTataSir

[CNBC-TV18 @CNBCTV18News]

#WATCH | In a conversation with the Former Chairman of #KPMG in India Arun Kumar, #RatanTata shared his ideology on running a #business & simultaneously making the #world a better place. Listen in!

#RememberingRatanTata #RatanTataPassesAway #RatanTataSir #cnbctv18digital

[CNBC-TV18 @CNBCTV18News]

In a conversation with the Former Chairman of #KPMG in India Arun Kumar, #RatanTata shared his views on the importance of building a team & the need to guide teams into uncharted territories.

The interaction is a must watch!

@KPMGIndia #RememberingRatanTata #cnbctv18digital

[Arun Kumar @arunmku]

Sharing my tribute to and a conversation with @RNTata2000 who was my first boss. An extraordinary human being, always curious and learning, caring and humble. His passing leaves a huge void. https://t.co/zBL3AsoSHA