Nita Wadhwani
Nita Wadhwani is a community organizer, philanthropist and investor based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Nita co-founded the non-profit WISH Foundation in India in 2014. WISH transforms primary health systems in low-income communities using innovation and technology. WISH runs over 1,200 health clinics which have provided free healthcare to over 30 million patients, in partnership with government. WISH also provides strategic advisory and policy services to the National government and several state governments on how to strengthen large primary health systems.
In 2014 Nita, her husband Sunil and his brother Romesh, launched the non-profit Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence in India. The mission of Wadhwani AI is to accelerate social development in India and other developing countries. The Institute has developed and is deploying over 30 AI-based solutions in areas such as improving maternal and child health, eradicating tuberculosis, improving farmers’ incomes, and transforming education and skills training.
In 2020, just after Covid started and funding for startups was drying up globally, Nita and Sunil launched W Health Ventures, a venture fund to invest in promising healthcare startups in the US and India. W Health has made several investments in areas such as chronic care management, mental health, cancer care, and women’s reproductive health.
In late-2022, Nita and Sunil launched 2070 Health, India’s first venture studio, to create and build digital health companies in areas of unmet healthcare need. 2070 Health has launched four companies already this year, with the goal of creating 25 companies over the next five years, and improving healthcare for over 500 million people in the Global South.
Nita serves, or has served, on the Boards of several organizations including the Children’s Institute and Pittsburgh Cultural Trust (Programming Committee). She is an active community organizer and supports several causes including women’s education and refugee assistance.
Nita speaks seven languages fluently. She enjoys gardening and travel, and is in four book clubs!