Pravin Bhagwat

Pravin Bhagwat is the founder of 14 Trees Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to building sustainable, carbon-footprint-neutral ecosystems through reforestation.3 He is an accomplished entrepreneur, technologist, and academic with a diverse background in wireless networking and environmental conservation.4

Education and Early Career

Pravin Bhagwat holds a B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Kanpur (1990) and a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland College Park (1995).3 After completing his education, he worked as a lead researcher at AT&T Research and the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center in New York, where he contributed to several wireless technology innovation projects.3

Entrepreneurial Journey

Prior to founding 14 Trees Foundation, Bhagwat was the Founder and CTO of AirTight Networks (later renamed Mojo Networks), a wireless networking startup based in the US and India.3 He led the technology development and research at Mojo Networks until its acquisition by Arista Networks in 2018.1

14 Trees Foundation

In recent years, Bhagwat has focused on environmental conservation through the 14 Trees Foundation. The organization aims to convert barren lands into sustainable forests by working with various groups, including nature enthusiasts, tribal communities, villagers, and landowners.1 The foundation's approach involves:

1. Identifying suitable land for reforestation
2. Implementing water management techniques
3. Planting native species to restore biodiversity
4. Engaging with local communities for long-term sustainability

Achievements and Recognition

Pravin Bhagwat is recognized as a pioneer in wireless networking and has made significant contributions to the field. He is the inventor of TCP splicing, a technique for building fast application-layer proxies, and was the chief architect of BlueSky, an indoor wireless networking system for palmtop computers.3 In 2019, he received the prestigious IIT Kanpur Distinguished Alumnus Award for his accomplishments.3

Through 14 Trees Foundation, Bhagwat is now applying his expertise to address environmental challenges, demonstrating that barren lands can be transformed into thriving ecosystems while benefiting local communities and wildlife.2