Apna.co, a jobs and professional networking platform has appointed Preet Deep Singh, a former Ministry professional, as Head of Public Policy. With 15 years of experience, he will lead structured government partnerships and leverage AI-driven initiatives to advance employment, education, and upskilling.
A seasoned professional, Singh joins Apna.co from Invest India, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, where he served for six years in various leadership roles. At Invest India, he spearheaded several transformative initiatives, including the Startup India programme and the One District One Product (ODOP) programme, which grew from 68 lakhs to more than 5000 crore in government commitments under his leadership.
In his most recent role, he led AI adoption for the Government of India. Singh has been recognised globally for his expertise in AI, being named among the Top 100 in AI by Apolitical.
Prior to his government service, Singh built an impressive career in the private sector, leading the Startup Practice at EY India and working in Governance Risk and Compliance services at KPMG. He also demonstrated his entrepreneurial acumen by founding Aperio Management, a startup consulting firm, and WIMWISure, an innovative auto insurance platform utilising blockchain technology.
Having been a faculty member for AI and blockchain courses at renowned educational institutes such as IIT Kanpur and IIT Bombay and trained over 25,000 government officers in AI, Dr Singh brings invaluable expertise in skilling and education to Apna.co. He is also an IIMA PhD Gold Medalist and qualified Company Secretary who has made significant academic contributions, being rated in the top 5% of researchers on the Social Science Research Network (SSRN). His achievements include facilitating the resolution of Angel Tax issues, blockchain-based certificates for startups, and implementing automation for trade report generation to support FTA negotiations.
During his initial months at Apna.co, he has played a pivotal role in fostering associations with the Government of Chhattisgarh, the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Startup India, The Government of Madhya Pradesh, Advantage Vidarbha, and others.
Preet Deep Singh said, “I am excited to join Apna.co at this pivotal time in India’s digital transformation journey. With my background in National level programmes, technology and economic development, I look forward to working closely with the Apna.co team to create a meaningful impact in employment and skill development across India. Our focus will be on building strong relationships and enabling better talent matching through innovative approaches that go beyond traditional algorithms.”
Nirmit Parikh, Founder and CEO of Apna.co said, “We are pleased to welcome Dr. Singh onboard. His appointment perfectly aligns with our vision to revolutionise India’s employment landscape. Additionally, Dr Singh’s exceptional track record in leading national-level programmes, deep understanding of government dynamics, and expertise in artificial intelligence will be invaluable as we position Apna.co as a bigger thought leader in the employment space. His leadership will be crucial in scaling our impact and enabling more businesses and candidates to connect meaningfully.”
