Best Entrepreneurship Programs: Rankings

Rajiv K Chawla is the Founder and Lead Mentor of GAPS, the Growth Accelerator Program for SMEs, built to give Indian MSME owners the structured support he wished he had earlier in his own career. He is Founder and Chairman of Jairaj Group and Founder and Chairman of I AM SME OF INDIA, and has served as a board member of NSIC as well as on government committees including SIPEC and RAMP. Drawing on decades of experience running, losing, and rebuilding businesses, Rajiv has personally mentored more than 800 business owners across India. His leadership of GAPS reflects a deep commitment to helping MSME owners navigate governance, growth, and succession challenges with clarity, structure, and access to trusted expert guidance throughout their entrepreneurial journey.

CS Dr. Ajay Garg serves as Corporate Governance Counsel at GAPS, bringing more than 35 years of experience in corporate governance, board structuring, and regulatory compliance. As a Company Secretary and doctorate holder, he has guided numerous owner-run businesses through the complexities of building sound governance frameworks and sustainable organizational structures. Within GAPS, Dr. Garg advises MSME owners on compliance requirements, holding entity structures, and board-level decision-making, helping businesses formalize their operations as they scale. His extensive background enables him to translate complex governance principles into practical, actionable guidance for Indian entrepreneurs. Dr. Garg is committed to helping business owners build resilient, well-governed companies that are prepared for growth, succession, and long-term sustainability across India's diverse MSME landscape.

CA Sangeet K Gupta is the Direct Tax and Financial Health Counsel at GAPS, with over 30 years of experience as a Chartered Accountant specializing in direct tax strategy and financial health assessment for owner-run businesses. He works closely with MSME owners to strengthen audit readiness, optimize tax positions, and build robust financial practices that support sustainable growth. His deep understanding of the financial challenges facing Indian small and medium businesses allows him to provide practical, tailored counsel rather than generic advice. Within the GAPS programme, Sangeet helps members assess the overall financial health of their enterprises and plan proactively for compliance and fiscal efficiency. He is dedicated to empowering business owners with the financial clarity and confidence needed to make sound strategic decisions.

CA Rajesh K Khandelwal serves as GST and Indirect Tax Counsel at GAPS, bringing a rare combination of credentials as a Fellow Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary, LLB holder, and CPA from Ireland. With more than 500 tax lectures delivered as GST faculty for NACIN, he is recognized as a leading voice on indirect taxation in India. Within the GAPS programme, Rajesh guides MSME owners through the complexities of GST compliance, indirect tax planning, and regulatory changes that directly impact their operations. His extensive teaching background allows him to simplify technical tax concepts into clear, actionable strategies for business owners. Rajesh is committed to helping Indian entrepreneurs stay compliant while optimizing their tax positions, ensuring their businesses are well-prepared for audits and regulatory scrutiny.

Nirmal Bansal is the Wealth Management Counsel at GAPS, bringing specialized training from UCLA to help Indian MSME owners build and manage personal wealth alongside their businesses. He focuses on a critical but often overlooked challenge for entrepreneurs: separating personal financial security from business risk. Within the GAPS programme, Nirmal works closely with business owners and their families to design wealth strategies that protect long-term financial stability regardless of business performance. His approach combines global best practices in wealth management with a practical understanding of the Indian business context. Nirmal is dedicated to ensuring that MSME owners not only grow successful companies but also achieve lasting personal financial security for themselves and future generations.

Lekhraj Sharma serves as Chief Nodal Officer at GAPS, bringing 30 years of experience in administrative systems to ensure the programme runs smoothly for every member. He is responsible for coordinating the 30 annual touchpoints, including online sessions and in-person events, that form the backbone of the GAPS experience. Lekhraj works behind the scenes to manage logistics, scheduling, and communication, ensuring MSME owners can focus on learning and growth without administrative friction. His decades of operational expertise make him instrumental in maintaining the structured, reliable delivery that defines the GAPS programme. Lekhraj is committed to providing every member with a seamless, well-organized experience throughout their year-long journey with GAPS.

Parminder Singh is the Chief Subsidy Officer at GAPS, bringing more than 30 years of experience working with central and state government schemes to support India's MSME owners. He specializes in helping businesses identify, apply for, and successfully claim grants and incentives that many owners are unaware they qualify for. His deep knowledge of subsidy programmes across various sectors allows him to guide GAPS members through often complex application processes with confidence. Parminder plays a vital role in unlocking financial support that can significantly impact a business's growth trajectory. He is committed to ensuring that Indian MSME owners fully leverage available government support, helping them access capital that strengthens their operations and competitive position.

Shubham Verma is a founding member and coordinator of GAPS, serving as Growth, GTM and Digital Counsel for the programme. A serial entrepreneur and Shark Tank India finalist, he brings firsthand founder experience to his advisory work with MSME owners on digital strategy, go-to-market planning, and AI adoption. Shubham helps businesses navigate new-market entry and modernize their operations through practical digital transformation. His entrepreneurial background gives him a unique understanding of the challenges facing growing businesses, allowing him to offer advice grounded in real-world experience rather than theory alone. As a founding member of GAPS, Shubham is deeply invested in the programme's mission and committed to helping fellow business owners accelerate their growth through smart digital strategy.

Adv. Rahul Gautam is the Legal Counsel, Supreme Court, at GAPS, bringing more than 10 years of experience practicing commercial law before the Supreme Court of India. He specializes in contracts, intellectual property matters, and commercial dispute resolution, providing GAPS members with reliable legal guidance for navigating business risks. Rahul helps MSME owners protect their interests through sound contractual practices and offers support when disputes arise, minimizing disruption to business operations. His experience at the highest levels of the Indian legal system ensures that GAPS members receive informed, credible counsel on critical legal matters. Rahul is dedicated to helping business owners understand and manage legal risk so they can focus confidently on growing their enterprises.

Sudiep Kumar serves as Placement and Recruitment Counsel at GAPS, specializing in building leadership teams for growing businesses. He helps MSME owners identify, attract, and recruit skilled business operators and operational talent needed to scale their organizations effectively. Recognizing that many growing companies struggle to find the right leadership and operational hires, Sudiep provides GAPS members with practical recruitment strategies and access to talent networks. His expertise addresses a critical gap for owner-run businesses transitioning from founder-dependent operations to professionally managed teams. Sudiep is committed to helping Indian entrepreneurs build strong, capable teams that can sustain growth and support long-term business success beyond the founder's direct involvement.