Born in Nepal, Laxman Bhattarai grew up with a deep passion for football, representing his
school and going on to compete at the National Level in the U14 & U16 categories. He later
moved to Bengaluru to pursue Chartered Accountancy, where he met Shekar Rajan – and
together, they co-founded Kickstart FC in 2016, turning their shared dream into reality.
• International Coaching Education – UEFA Youth Certificate completed across
coaching projects in 8 countries; 10-day “Zidane’s of Tomorrow” program with the
French Football Federation (FFF) at Clairefontaine.
• Club Exposure – Trained with PSG (France), PSV & Ajax (Holland), AS Roma (Italy),
Frankfurt (Germany), Esjberg FB (Denmark); aims to bring European football
management to Kickstart
• Career Highlight – Selected to lead the team that analysed the Netherlands vs
Scotland international friendly
• Men’s Team Achievements – BDFA Super Division League Champions (2025) Puttaiah
Memorial Cup winner (2022); BDFA Super Division League runner-up (2019 & 2021)
• Women’s Team Achievements – Karnataka Women’s League Champion 7 times in a
row (2019 – 2026); Indian Women’s League runner-up (2023)
• Vision – To nurture India’s youth and guide them to the pinnacle of world football

With over 25 years of international experience in global IT implementations, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. His entrepreneurial ventures span the US, Europe, and India, showcasing a versatile and adaptive approach to business. He is also passionate about sports as a powerful enabler of personal and professional growth. Additionally, he serves as an angel investor, supporting multiple startups across various sectors, driven by a commitment to innovation and development.

A Tech Entrepreneur for the last 24 years with an overall experience of 29 years in the Information Technology Industry. Has worked extensively in the space of IT product Distribution, IT Consultancy, Information Security Services, Outsourced product Development Services and Bespoke Software Development. Srivatsa has deep expertise in Databases, Networks and Information Security remains his passion.

Haribabu Venkatraman is a seasoned business leader with 25 years of international experience. A versatile player in mergers and acquisitions on the global stage, he is an expert in strategy management and change management. With a proven track record of overseeing business operations and driving growth opportunities, he currently serves as the CEO of King Pharma in Abu Dhabi. A football enthusiast, Haribabu is also passionate about developing the sport.

A seasoned Learning & Development professional with an Industrial Engineering background
from Bangalore University, enriched by international certifications from the University of
Hull and ASTD USA. With 25 years of experience in OD consulting and management training, he has held senior L&D roles at the Manipal Group and ITC, and has delivered Leadership Training across India, the US, the UK, Singapore, and the Middle East.
• Academic & Professional Credentials – Industrial Engineering, Bangalore University;
international certifications from University of Hull and ASTD USA
• Senior L&D roles at Manipal Group and ITC; clients spanning IT/ITES, hospitality,
healthcare, manufacturing, and education
• Global Leadership Training delivered across India, USA, UK, Singapore, and the
Middle East
• Specialisations – Organisation Development Specialist, 360-degree behavioral
assessments, profiling & assessment, customer service transformation, and
leadership capability building
• Clientele includes Singapore Airlines, Ford, GM, Infosys, Wipro, Airtel, Coca-Cola, Taj
Group, Epson, Citibank, L&T, Oracle, and 50+ other global brands
• Social Impact – Mentored underprivileged young footballers on emotional, financial,
and educational needs; several went on to captain the Karnataka state team, laying
the groundwork for Kickstart FC

Born in Nepal, Laxman Bhattarai grew up with a deep passion for football, representing his
school and going on to compete at the National Level in the U14 & U16 categories. He later
moved to Bengaluru to pursue Chartered Accountancy, where he met Shekar Rajan – and
together, they co-founded Kickstart FC in 2016, turning their shared dream into reality.
• International Coaching Education – UEFA Youth Certificate completed across
coaching projects in 8 countries; 10-day “Zidane’s of Tomorrow” program with the
French Football Federation (FFF) at Clairefontaine.
• Club Exposure – Trained with PSG (France), PSV & Ajax (Holland), AS Roma (Italy),
Frankfurt (Germany), Esjberg FB (Denmark); aims to bring European football
management to Kickstart
• Career Highlight – Selected to lead the team that analysed the Netherlands vs
Scotland international friendly
• Men’s Team Achievements – BDFA Super Division League Champions (2025) Puttaiah
Memorial Cup winner (2022); BDFA Super Division League runner-up (2019 & 2021)
• Women’s Team Achievements – Karnataka Women’s League Champion 7 times in a
row (2019 – 2026); Indian Women’s League runner-up (2023)
• Vision – To nurture India’s youth and guide them to the pinnacle of world football