Neeraj Pokhariyal is a seasoned development finance and public policy professional with over 12 years of experience in driving inclusive growth across rural India. His work spans financial inclusion, women’s entrepreneurship, startup ecosystem development, and agri-value chain financing. He has collaborated with leading institutions such as NABARD, the World Bank, UNDP, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Currently, Neeraj leads a national pilot in partnership with the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) and BMGF, aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs through structured financial services and ecosystem development. His initiatives focus on formalizing women-led enterprises, enhancing Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and scaling startups using innovative financing models and digital tools. He has trained over 1,000 banking and government professionals in digital finance and co-designed a $10 million agri-finance initiative. Neeraj is recognized for his ability to align grassroots realities with strategic policy frameworks and for managing multi-stakeholder platforms that deliver scalable, sustainable impact. As a mentor and systems thinker, Neeraj continues to catalyze models that unlock productive capital, deepen rural financial systems, and foster entrepreneurial ecosystems in underserved communities.