In a remarkable gesture of appreciation to their alma mater, Nakul Aggarwal and Ritesh Arora, co-founders of the international cloud testing platform BrowserStack, have pledged ₹100 crore to the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB). The donation, which was announced on Tuesday, will be used to improve hostel infrastructure and upgrade the on-campus residential experience for students.
Both graduates acquired B.Tech degrees in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Bombay in 2006. Their gift will fund two major infrastructure projects: the complete rebuild of Hostel 6 their former residence and Project Evergreen, an ambitious initiative to upgrade Hostels 7, 8, and 21.
These upgrades are part of the institute's overall vision to establish a contemporary, inclusive campus with the capacity to accommodate 14,000 students. The redevelopment seeks not just to enhance living standards but also to promote cohesive and innovative communities among students, as per the official statement from IITB.
Reflecting on the gift, Ritesh Arora, CEO of BrowserStack, emphasised the transformative role IITB played in their entrepreneurial journey. “Through this contribution, we’re not just rebuilding hostels but investing in environments where the next generation of tech leaders can collaborate, ideate, and push boundaries,” he said.
Nakul Aggarwal, the CTO of the company, added a personal touch: "My path from Hostel 6 to creating a global technology company taught me how much power the right setting has in fostering innovation. This is a very personal gift our way of paying back to the institution that taught us what can happen when talent meets opportunity."
