BITS Pilani alumni pledges over $ 1 Million for Endowment Fund

He had also made a Rs 2 crore donation to establish the Kalipatnapu AR-VR Lab, aimed at fostering innovation in augmented and virtual reality technologies.
The Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS), Pilani alumnus Chaitanya Kalipatnapu has pledged over one million dollars donation to the BITS Endowment Fund.
Chaitanya is the co-founder of Eruditus group, which is a global leader in professional education. His career journey included roles at Sun Microsystems and INSEAD, where he also served as President of the Alumni Association’s India chapter. He is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence and visiting lecturer at INSEAD.
This is not the first time Kalipatnapu has donated to his alma mater. He had also made a Rs 2 crore donation to establish the Kalipatnapu AR-VR Lab, aimed at fostering innovation in augmented and virtual reality technologies.
Chaitanya has been honoured as an inaugural “Lifelong Learning Laureate” by the Haas School at the University of California, Berkeley. He actively supports educational and sport initiatives through the Kalipatnapu Foundation. In recognition of his contributions to entrepreneurship and philanthropy, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award 2023 from BITS Pilani in the category of Public Life/Entrepreneurship/Philanthropy.
“BITS Pilani played a pivotal role in my personal and professional growth. This small gesture would support the Institution in driving further impact through high-quality education and in creating a sustainable ecosystem of excellence,” Chaitanya said.
Prof. V Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor of BITS Pilani, expressed appreciation for Chaitanya’s pivotal role as one of the founders of the Endowment Fund, stating, “The remarkable progress achieved by BITS Pilani Alumni Relations in just over 5 years since its inception underscores the significance of this culture of giving back in the Institute’s history. We are delighted to welcome Chaitanya as a founder of the Endowment Fund and eagerly anticipate his active participation in the Institute’s activities and future growth endeavours.”