Founding Team
Sukanya Upadhyaya
Founder
Sukanya is an artist and entrepreneur from Mumbai, India. She holds an M.S. Economics degree from Tufts University and B.A. double degrees in Economics and Studio Art with a minor in Mathematics from Beloit College.
Sukanya grew up in 5 countries enjoying both creative and quantitative disciplines with her (supremely inspiring!) twin sister Shambhavi. In her free time, Sukanya likes to build app ideas, write a crime-drama graphic novel, ideate banal inventions, paint in charcoal, and make music cover videos. Her love for innovation is inspired by a childhood of travel, excessive fiction reading, and dabbling with different hobbies.
Sukanya's umbrella project, The Gloo, is a collection of products seeking to break the barriers of innovation for a heartier, more equitable society. In addition to BanaGloo, The Gloo is also currently building OwlChest, a messaging app that fosters meaningful communication through users' touch of hand.
We are currently a community of volunteers leading creation sessions across Mumbai-based nonprofit organizations and residential societies. If you'd like to be part of a BanaGloo creation session as a volunteer, please reach out via Contact!
Meet Our Creators!
Founder's Story
My background in the industry has been in research and strategy for startups and economic consulting firms. I love numbers and I love smart solutions to sticky problems. I also love people! Because of my multifaceted upbringing and exposure to different cultures, I've grown up observing societal aspects and deeply valuing social impact in both my personal and professional worlds.
As a child I observed that the world was lived differently around the globe: the West enjoyed a relatively stable society, high level of material comfort, and middle class liberty. In South Asia— home to me and my family—income inequality ran deeper. Yet I observed that these shortcomings didn't define people's capabilities. India’s rapidly growing economy and literacy rate nurtured enterprising youth, rapid technological innovation, and a powerful sense of community.
Economic empowerment over time became a way for me to give to our community. I've always wanted to touch the lives of people around me! I’ve since volunteered at nonprofits like Magic Bus and St. Catherine’s School in India, teaching students how to paint murals, play sports and learn math. I hope that BanaGloo too can help society continue to remain engaged and impact lives positively.
BanaGloo has been mentored by top entrepreneurs in their fields, idea-validated at Tufts University and eHer (backed by VC GradCapital), and received positive reactions from 98% of 120 interviewees across shoppers and informal sector workers in India.
