In-house Technical Mentor, SSN iFound
Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, SSN College of Engineering (SSNCE)
Dr. R. Seyezhai brings over 24 years of academic and research excellence to SSN iFound, with a specialized focus on Power Electronics and Renewable Energy Systems. As an in-house technical mentor, she plays a pivotal role in guiding early-stage startups through product development, technical feasibility, and innovation strategy. She is also actively involved in the evaluation and selection of startups for the SSN iFound incubation programs.
Dr. Seyezhai has mentored innovators to develop market-ready solutions including solar-powered innovations that have won national recognition. Her contribution extends to establishing cutting-edge labs such as the Renewable Energy Conversion Laboratory at SSNCE, and leading flagship initiatives like SSN-IIC, SSN Innovation Centre, and institutional rankings (NBA, ARIIA).
With a strong research portfolio that includes 300+ journal publications, 200+ conference papers, and five completed research projects, she is a distinguished academician and innovator. She has authored two books and is the recipient of multiple accolades including the Antia Memorial Prize by IEI (2021), Outstanding Faculty Award in Power Electronics, and several Best Teacher Awards.
Dr. Seyezhai is an IEEE Senior Member and was the Immediate Past Chairperson of IEEE-PELS Madras Chapter. Her involvement at SSN iFound bridges deep technical expertise with practical startup mentoring—empowering founders to engineer scalable, sustainable solutions.
In-house Technical Mentor, SSN iFound
Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, SSN College of Engineering (SSNCE)
Dr. Vimal mentors student-led innovation initiatives at SSN iFound, while also mentoring select startup teams in the area of product development. With over 13 years at SSN and a prior industry stint at Cognizant, Dr. Vimal brings a balanced perspective of academia and applied engineering to his mentees.
He specializes in Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), Composite Materials, Electromagnetic Product Design, and Sensor Integration—core areas that are vital for hardware and deep-tech startups. His technical mentoring focuses on translating ideas into functionally viable prototypes, ensuring that student and startup innovations are both robust and market-aligned.
As a certified Six Sigma Green Belt and ISTQB-certified IT professional, Dr. Vimal blends quality systems with engineering innovation. He has supervised funded research, delivered multiple technical papers, and serves as the Coordinator of Industry Institute Partnership Cell (IIPC) and National Service Scheme (NSS) at SSN.
He is deeply passionate about engineering design, automotive technology, and racing sports, often infusing real-world applications into student mentoring. With a University Gold Medal in post-graduation and a track record of success in national-level competitions, Dr. Vimal is committed to nurturing the next generation of innovators and startup leaders through hands-on mentoring and collaborative problem-solving.
