Former child prodigy and chemical engineer whose inventions span defence, healthcare, consumer goods, sustainability, and materials science. Presidential Award recipient. Forbes Asia 30 Under 30. Now building AI-embedded microreactors at Centamil™ AI.
Receiving the Balshree Award from the President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
Praveen Kumar Gorakavi (b. 1989, Hyderabad) began inventing as a child and never stopped. His first invention was commercialized at the age of 12. At 13, Intel invited him to serve as a judge in biochemistry at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, and he delivered propellant technology to India's Defence Research and Development Organisation.
His inventions span an extraordinary breadth: from a 40,000-year perpetual calendar combining 34 calendar systems into one mathematical model, to ammunition technology for national defence. From the world's lowest-cost Braille typewriter that broke a six-decade monopoly, to fragrance and nutrient encapsulation systems deployed by leading multinational corporations across five continents.
As an independent inventor, he commercialized 28 technologies with global corporations, including 7 Fortune 100 companies, across sectors as varied as FMCG, healthcare, cosmetics, defence, nuclear security, food technology, and advanced materials. His products reach an estimated million-plus end users daily.
A chemical engineer (B.Tech, Osmania University, 2011) who pursued doctoral research at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology under the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Praveen serves as a distinguished reviewer for 13 international scientific journals and has authored 38 technical papers presented at over 30 international symposia.
He is the founding partner of ThePhiFactory® (Gorakavi Innovations Pvt Ltd) and is now building Centamil™ AI (Centamil Ltd) to develop AI-embedded microreactors for process industries.
"Technology is a birthright. No one should be deprived of it. When you are an innovator, you will meet failures. View failure as a scope for new opportunities."
At the blackboard — Hyderabad, late 1990s. The curiosity that would commercialize 28 technologies began here.
Representing Centamil™ AI at Forbes Under 30 Summit 2026, Phoenix, AZ
The ceremony — Dr. Kalam presenting the Balshree Award · 2004
At thirteen, Praveen stood in Rashtrapati Bhavan — the seat of India’s presidency — to receive the Balshree Award from President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. It is among the most prestigious national honours India bestows upon children of exceptional creative achievement.
Dr. Kalam was not just a head of state. He was a rocket scientist, a Bharat Ratna laureate, and the architect of India’s space and missile programmes — the nation’s most beloved scientist-president. Being recognised by him carried a weight that few awards in the world could match.
A life in science — from the beginning
Balshree Award — a moment etched in national history
The Chief Minister announces the Ugadi Puraskaram honour live on television
Judging biochemistry at Intel ISEF 2004 — among the youngest judges in the fair’s history
At the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair, Portland, 2004
State government felicitation for inventing the world’s lowest-cost artificial leg
With President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam — Rashtrapati Bhavan, 2004
Travelling alongside leading scientists to international events
The young inventor — curiosity before credentials
The artificial limb — open-sourced so anyone could build it
At the ASTAR research association — representing India
Best Invention Award from the Governor of Andhra Pradesh
Best Inventor at the National Children’s Science Congress
The Braille Calendar launched by the Governor of Andhra Pradesh
The Braille Calendar — 30,000 years of dates for the visually impaired
CV Raman Young Genius Award — honouring India’s brightest young minds
Chief Minister’s award for technologies that restored dignity to the differently-abled
Demonstrating VascaMode food preservator and activin antioxidant formulations to an expert panel
An impromptu design discussion on the artificial limb with President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
Explaining VascaMode food preservation technology to the evaluation jury
The Food Preservator — ionization-based domestic preservation, invented in a home lab
Gifting the 40,000-year perpetual calendar to the B.M. Birla Science Centre, Hyderabad
A spontaneous deep discussion with Dr. Kalam on propellant technology — unscripted, unrepeatable
Delivering a public lecture on Mars Watch Day — science for everyone
Science in action — a live experiment before an audience
Another live experiment — where invention meets demonstration
A live invention prototype — ideas made tangible
Live invention demonstration broadcast on Star TV
Presenting Planoster invention mockups to industry evaluators
The very first award — where a lifetime of recognition began
Science is cool — always has been, always will be
Deep scientific discussions with Prof. B.G. Sidharth — eminent theoretical physicist
Presenting research thesis before the expert evaluation panel
Ugadi Puraskaram — one of Andhra Pradesh’s highest civilian honours
Unveiling the 14,000-year calendar — millennia of civilisation, one equation
The 8,000-year calendar unveiled — combining the world’s great calendar systems
Explaining inventions to visiting student groups — inspiring the next generation
The Wireless Electron Transport System — functional prototype, a decade before CERN
Explaining inventions at a national science exhibition — a regular fixture from age twelve
At the Science Centre Singapore — representing India on the world stage
FAPCCI Outstanding Engineer/Scientist Award — youngest recipient in the award’s 98-year history
A curious experiment at home — the inventor’s natural habitat
An interview alongside a robotics prototype — even the machines had something to say
An early invention prototype taking shape — rough edges, big ideas
Placing a self-made projector over a self-made rocket — curiosity with no ceiling
Praveen’s first ever laboratory — assembled at home, one component at a time
The self-made telescope — exploring the universe from a Hyderabad rooftop
Wireless Electron Transport System presented at the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics
Inventions developed as an independent scientist-inventor and through ThePhiFactory®, transferred to leading global corporations. Company names withheld per confidentiality agreements.
Broke a 60-year monopoly in assistive technology. Reduced parts from 600+ to 26, bringing the cost from $800+ to under $100. Developed in collaboration with international foundations for the blind. Over 2,000 beneficiaries across Africa and India.
Social Innovation / Assistive TechnologyCombined 34 different calendar formats used across the world for over 3,000 years into a single unified mathematical model, underpinned by 27 equations. Exhibited at leading science centres internationally.
Mathematics / Exhibited GloballyDesigned the world's lowest-cost, lightweight above-knee prosthetic leg at age 15. Open-sourced the design in the greater interest of persons with disabilities. Shared with government rehabilitation agencies.
Social Innovation / HealthcareNovel encapsulate materials that extend fragrance retention in consumer products including detergents, sanitary products, and baby care lines. Transferred to a leading global FMCG corporation for worldwide deployment.
Chemical Engineering / FMCGDeveloped in support of the UN World Food Programme. An encapsulate that extends the shelf life of food while preserving nutrient value regardless of the delivery mechanism. Transferred to a major European life sciences corporation.
Food Science / HumanitarianWater purification at under 1 cent per litre, targeting high-flow fluoride removal. Prototyped for a leading consumer goods brand. Now serving 50,000+ litres per day in underserved communities.
Water Technology / Social ImpactLow-cost commercial-grade propellant technology developed at the age of 13 and transferred to a premier defence R&D laboratory under India's Ministry of Defence. Details classified.
Defence / ClassifiedA device that produces approximately 256 colours from a single pen. Proposed for nail paint, face foundation, and colour cosmetics. Transferred to leading French and Swedish beauty corporations.
Cosmetics / Consumer TechnologyA chemical composition to crosslink smaller paper fibres, making paper 21% lighter while maintaining structural strength. Enabled 350+ SMEs to supply to global corporations. A $150K investment yielded an approximately $7.5M exit.
Industrial Chemistry / 50x ReturnResearch on photopolymer-based holographic media for solar spectrum bifurcation and subsequent concentration. Developed spectral selective Bragg reflectors for advanced solar energy harvesting.
Solar Energy / OpticsDigitalized tamper-proof high-security seals developed for nuclear containments. A critical technology for nuclear safety and security compliance at the highest levels.
Nuclear Security / Materials ScienceDuring India's 2021 oxygen crisis, designed in-situ oxygen production methods using accessible chemistry. Coordinated with 20,000+ volunteers and the Indian Army to deploy solutions at high altitudes. Pro bono.
Crisis Response / Pro BonoAdditional innovations include: Wireless Electron Transport System (high-energy physics postulate predating the Nobel Prize-winning Boson particle discovery by a decade), Cellulosic Bio-Ethanol Catalyst, Bio Avgas Producing Catalyst, Depolymerizing Nano Particles, Nano-Fertilizers, Color Coder Technology, Water Recycling Technology (black water to grey water with bio-gas co-production), Holographic Ink for packaging recovery, Dual-Sided Self-Adhesive Paper, Compaq Braille Notetaker, Liquid Jetting Mechanism for oral care, Lightweight Composite Packaging, Food Preservator (VascaMode), Wrinkle-Free Composite Fabric, HypoCenter Location Principle for seismology, Sachet Manufacturing Process, Inbuilt Heat Exchanger for Tyres, Dosa Premix Formulation, Adjustable Dosing Cap, New Coffee Formulation, Orthopedic Catheter for Spinal Infusion, Elsiplasty (vertebral compression fractures implant), Minimal Invasive Internal Fixation using self-designed bio-material, and others.
One social innovation for every three commercial technology transfers
Praveen dedicates 25% of his output to pro bono work. For every three commercial technology transfers, he develops one innovation designed not for profit, but for human dignity.
The low-cost Braille typewriter for visually impaired students in Africa. The open-sourced artificial limb. The water purifier for communities without access to clean drinking water. The oxygen generation systems rushed to hospitals during the COVID-19 crisis.
This is not philanthropy added after success. It is the foundational operating model, built into every venture since the very first invention at age twelve.
Two decades of invention, enterprise, and recognition. Works on one side, accolades on the other.
7 international recognitions, 13 national awards, and over 60 state-level honours. Below are selected highlights from over 100 awards received.
From independent invention to building organisations that scale innovation across industries.
AI-embedded microreactors for process industries. Centamil™ AI represents the convergence of decades of chemical engineering expertise with artificial intelligence, aimed at transforming how the world manufactures chemicals, materials, and intermediates at scale.
Disruptive innovation and new product development for global corporations across FMCG, healthcare, IT, defence, and materials science. Serving 350+ SMEs across 18 states. Forbes 30 Under 30 recognised. First product acquired by a listed company.
From the science lab to the world stage.
On innovation philosophy, the fourth industrial revolution, and technology as a fundamental right.
On science, innovation, entrepreneurship, and the future of process manufacturing.
The 1:3 operating model that has defined my career: one social innovation for every three commercial transfers. Why it works, and why it matters.
How AI-embedded continuous flow reactors are positioned to make batch processing obsolete, and what Centamil™ AI is building to lead this transition.
The journey of a twelve-year-old inventor whose first commercial product set the course for 28 technologies across five continents and multiple scientific disciplines.
For collaborations, speaking engagements, consulting enquiries, and media features.