In a significant act of philanthropy, BrowserStack co-founders Nakul Aggarwal and Ritesh Arora have donated ₹100 crore to their alma mater, IIT Bombay. This contribution stands as one of the largest individual alumni donations the institute has received in recent years.
## Enhancing Campus Infrastructure
The substantial donation is earmarked for the reconstruction of Hostel 6 and the modernization of Hostels 7, 8, and 21. These efforts are part of IIT Bombay’s “Project Evergreen,” an initiative aimed at upgrading the institute’s residential facilities to accommodate its growing student population. Both Aggarwal and Arora graduated from IIT Bombay’s Computer Science program in 2006.
Aggarwal expressed the personal significance of this contribution, stating, “This contribution is personal for us—we’re simply giving back to the institution that showed us what’s possible when talent meets opportunity.” Arora highlighted the foundational role IIT Bombay played in their entrepreneurial journey, noting, “Quality infrastructure plays a crucial role in nurturing well-rounded engineers who can solve tomorrow’s complex challenges.”
## IIT Bombay’s Acknowledgment
IIT Bombay announced the donation on X (formerly Twitter), expressing gratitude for the founders’ commitment to their alma mater. The institute emphasized the impact this contribution will have on enhancing the living and learning environment for its students.
## The Journey of BrowserStack
After their graduation, Aggarwal and Arora embarked on several ventures, including Quarkbase and Downcase, before launching BrowserStack in 2011. The company provides tools for web and mobile developers to test code across various devices, browsers, and operating systems. Built with a lean and profitable model in its early years, BrowserStack grew rapidly and raised external funding only after its sixth year.
In 2021, BrowserStack achieved unicorn status with a valuation of $4 billion, becoming India’s highest-valued SaaS startup at the time. Today, the company powers over 2 million tests daily across 19 data centers, serving more than 50,000 customers globally, including enterprises like Sainsbury’s, OLX, and Shell. The company is headquartered in San Francisco and Mumbai and continues to expand its product suite and global presence.
## A Trend of Alumni Giving Back
Aggarwal and Arora’s ₹100 crore commitment places them among a growing list of Indian entrepreneurs who are giving back to their academic roots. Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani has donated ₹400 crore to IIT Bombay to date. In 2023, an anonymous alumnus gave ₹160 crore, and the Motilal Oswal Foundation contributed ₹130 crore despite its founders not being alumni.
Other IITs have also benefited from such generosity. Rakesh Gangwal of IndiGo donated ₹100 crore to IIT Kanpur, while Happiest Minds founder Ashok Soota gave ₹20 crore to IIT Roorkee. At BITS Pilani, Rakesh Kapoor, former CEO of Reckitt Benckiser, donated ₹10 crore.
## Impact on IIT Bombay
Professor Shireesh Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, called the BrowserStack founders’ gift a reflection of the institute’s enduring legacy. “Their support will significantly enhance the living and learning environment for our students. We are immensely proud of their achievements and grateful for their unwavering commitment to IIT Bombay,” he said.
The donation comes at a time when the institute is scaling its residential facilities to support over 14,000 students. It also coincides with IIT Bombay’s rise to 28th in the QS World University Rankings 2025 for Engineering & Technology—its highest-ever global ranking.
## The Broader Implications
This act of giving back underscores a broader trend of successful entrepreneurs contributing to their educational institutions, recognizing the pivotal role these institutions played in their personal and professional development. Such contributions not only enhance the infrastructure and resources available to current and future students but also foster a culture of philanthropy and community engagement.
As IIT Bombay continues to grow and evolve, donations like these play a crucial role in maintaining and enhancing its status as a leading institution for engineering and technology education.
For more information about BrowserStack and its services, visit their official website.
