Broadcasting from Earth

Akash Ranjan

Founder & Host · Of Course Ventures

 Akash Ranjan is building Of Course Ventures — a platform at the intersection of conversations, community, and capital to back the next wave of world changing companies from India. A former Stanford dropout who is now pursuing medicine in India, he’s creating the defining voice of Indian entrepreneurship by thinking from first principles breaking problems down to fundamentals and rebuilding without the usual assumptions..

Most founders default to America. Akash is building the road to Europe connecting Indian talent with a €15 trillion economy hungry for fresh ideas. He’s disrupting the old gatekept system by finding, funding, and connecting builders who won’t come from the obvious places. This is how the future gets built.

Amalia Oniga

Co-Founder &  PRESIDENT, OF COURSE VENTURES · Paris, France

Amalia Oniga is the co-founder who believed in Of Course Ventures when few others could see it. Romanian born and pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics with a complementary specialization in Data Science at Sorbonne Université, she combines a rare mix of sharp logic, bold creativity, and relentless drive that turns ideas into movements.

At 19, she has already launched two businesses from nothing, published a memoir on Amazon, competed internationally in robotics, mathematics, and astronomy, and served as an intern at the Romanian Embassy in Paris. She previously served as Media and Communications Director for the League of Romanian Students in France, and is also studying at the Music Institute in Paris. All of this after surviving a liver transplant at 15 an experience she channeled into a powerful story of resilience that continues to inspire..

As Co-Founder and President, Amalia is building the bridge between India and the world. Based in Paris, she connects talent, ideas, and ambition across continents, shaping a venture that thinks globally from day one. She doesn’t just join companies, she redefines what’s possible.

Vincent Yaldoo

Founder, Global Network · Early Investor

Vincent Yaldoo is the founder of Global Network — an invitation-only international platform connecting leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators across borders. Based between London and the US, Vincent brings a global perspective to Of Course Ventures.

With deep expertise in fintech and payments, Vincent is one of the earliest believers in Of Course Ventures and brings both capital and connections to the table.

Lauren Jones

Global Markets Advisor

Lauren Jones has built a career most people only read about venture capital, private equity, fashion, media, and emerging tech, across New Zealand, China, Paris, New York, Mexico, Colombia, and Australia. Five continents before most people find their lane.

She’s completing a Master’s in Global Security, International Affairs, and Crisis Management not because she needs the credential, but because she’s genuinely obsessed with how the world works. Her father built his career in investment. She grew up watching how capital actually moves.

At Of Course Ventures, Lauren connects founders to capital, cultures, and markets they couldn’t reach alone. Her focus, AI, frontier technology, and businesses built to matter long term. She doesn’t predict trends. She’s usually already there.

Melissa Tony Stires

Chief Impact Officer & AI Evangelist

Melissa Tony Stires doesn't just talk about the future — she builds it. As Founding Partner of Mia AI, a global school dedicated to upskilling one million women in artificial intelligence, Melissa has redefined what it means to lead with purpose.

An Amazon Best-Selling Author, speaker at Davos and Cannes Lions, and Certified Advanced International Protocol Officer across 35+ countries — she has advised royal families, Fortune 100 CEOs and foreign heads of state.

Deepak Badiyani

Senior Advisor · Kolkata

Deepak Badiyani is a Kolkata-based business powerhouse with over 16 years in corporate governance, currently active as Director and Managing Director across 13 companies spanning pharmaceuticals, real estate, construction, hotels, coke & coal, import & exports and electronics.

At Of Course Ventures, he brings the rare combination of ground-level business wisdom and high-level strategic thinking that only comes from decades of building in the real economy.

Esmerayah

Creative Director & Cultural Architect

Esmerayah sees the world differently — and that is exactly her superpower. The founder of Kaizen, a Sydney-based fashion label built on the philosophy of continuous improvement, Esmerayah brings an artist's eye and a philosopher's mind to everything she touches.

From her floristry work to her paintings, she moves through the world creating beauty with intention. At Of Course Ventures, she is the creative conscience — the person who ensures that everything we build has soul, style and meaning beyond the spreadsheet.

Lauren Gardner

Head of Culture & Global Expansion

Lauren Gardner is the founder of The Salon — an invite-only, roaming art experience with pop-ups in Paris, New York and London. Inspired by the legendary Parisian salons of Gertrude Stein and Natalie Barney, Lauren has reimagined this tradition for the modern world — bringing together founders, collectors, artists and thinkers in a space of radical authenticity.

At Of Course Ventures, Lauren is our bridge between worlds. Through her network and vision, we will connect Indian entrepreneurs to global art and culture — and bring The Salon experience to India for the first time.