Anita Anand

Indian tech entrepreneur who revolutionized healthcare access through telemedicine platforms.

Anita Anand is a visionary Indian entrepreneur and founder of Practo, a telemedicine platform that has transformed healthcare accessibility in India and beyond. Born in 1975, Anand grew up in a family of doctors, witnessing the challenges of rural healthcare disparities. After studying computer science at the Indian Institute of Technology, she moved to the U.S., where she worked at Microsoft and Google before returning to India in 2009.

In 2009, Anand co-founded Practo to bridge the gap between patients and healthcare providers. The platform's innovations include real-time doctor availability, online consultations, and electronic health records. By 2020, Practo had expanded to over 100,000 clinics and 15 countries, serving millions of patients. Anand's work addresses India's rural healthcare crisis, where 70% of the population lacks access to quality medical care.

Her leadership has made her a vocal advocate for women in tech. She launched the Practo Women in Tech Initiative, mentoring female engineers. Anand's contributions were recognized by Forbes as one of India's '30 Under 30' and 'Top 100 Women Leaders.' Her TEDx talk 'How Technology Can Save Lives' has been viewed over 2 million times.