History

With a shared passion in both Indian and American culture, Anu Sethuram and Lakshmi Pratury set out to create a bridge of intellectual exchange between India and the U.S. in the form of a media firm, Ixoraa Media, in 2005.

From the pair’s first project, Lakshmi’s Lounge, the personal journeys of global doers were highlighted in interviews equal parts audience engagement and personal insight. The firm’s next project was the first of many conferences emphasizing culture and personal experience. In 2007 and 2008, the Aamra Grove conference brought together 50 of the world’s most influential Indian leaders through conversation that explored the Indo-U.S. corridor and re-imagined India’s international presence.

In 2009, Lakshmi Pratury, longtime TEDster, and Chris Anderson – Curator of TED Conference – hosted TEDIndia, a one-time conference that expanded TED’s reach to Asia. Nearly 1000 attendees from 46 nations traveled to Mysore, India to hear from a diverse group of accomplished speakers. This conference brought together accomplished artists, architects, technologists, business people, musicians, dancers, scientists and social entrepreneurs as well as one hundred young TEDIndia fellows. Riding the momentous energy and demand generated from TEDIndia, the inaugural INK (Innovation and Knowledge) conference in association with TED was held in December 2010 in Lavasa Hill City, India with the theme of Untold Stories. INK is proud to be TED's partner conference in India, where TED provides strategic advice and hosts popular talks from the INK conference on TED.com. 

The unique stories that inspire and create today’s leading thinkers take center stage at INK. As ink serves as an essential medium to express thoughts, INK strives to be an essential medium through which individuals voice ideas and exchange them between India and the world. INK strives for intellectual renewal and inspiration on a global scale.