Ankesh Saxena is an Indian market research professional, entrepreneur, podcast host, and co-founder of Acutus AI Insights. He is known for his work in AI-driven consumer insights, digital-twin personas, and thought-leadership through The Collaborative Canvas Podcast. Saxena has contributed to several industry platforms and has been recognized for his influence in business, insights, and storytelling.
Early Life and Education
Ankesh Saxena was born and raised in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. In 2003, he moved to the Delhi National Capital Region, where he has been living since. Saxena completed his Bachelor of Commerce from Lucknow University and later earned an MBA from ICFAI. His early interest in curiosity, human behavior, and storytelling influenced his later work in consumer insights and research.
Career
Saxena began his professional journey as an interviewer at Gallup while studying at Lucknow University. He later worked with several global research and insights companies, including Greenfield Online (now Toluna), Survey Sampling International (now Dynata), and Lucid (now Cint). His career reflects a pattern of reinvention, strategic thinking, and adaptability across evolving landscapes in market research.
After spending several years in the industry, Saxena took a six-month sabbatical to reflect and evaluate new opportunities. Subsequently, he co-founded Acutus AI Insights, where he serves as Chief Business Officer. The company focuses on AI-enabled research solutions, data quality enhancement, fraud prevention, and digital-twin consumer persona modeling. Acutus AI’s platforms, including QMAPI and Zcoded, aim to improve decision-making for brands and researchers.
Alongside his entrepreneurial work, Saxena is the creator and host of The Collaborative Canvas Podcast (TCCP), a global conversation platform that features founders, CXOs, researchers, and thought leaders. The podcast has produced over seventy episodes covering themes such as artificial intelligence, consumer culture, entrepreneurship, and emerging global trends.
Personal Life
Saxena describes himself as a lifelong learner and storyteller. He values mentorship, exploration, and meaningful connections. His work across artificial intelligence, affiliate marketing, and podcasting reflects his belief that innovation should be used to expand human potential.
Achievements and Recognition
- Co-founder and Chief Business Officer of Acutus AI Insights
- Creator and host of The Collaborative Canvas Podcast
- Editorial Advisor to The Research Pulse Wire magazine
- Contributor to Asia Research Media and GMO Research, including notable articles such as Silver Generation: India’s Untapped Market and Synthetic Data: The Next Big Leap in Market Research
- Participant in global industry forums including MRMW and ESOMAR
- Fox Story 50 under 50 nominee for contributions to insights, business, and storytelling
External Links
The Collaborative Canvas (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-collaborative-canvas/
Instagram (Podcast): https://www.instagram.com/the_collaborative_canvas_pod/
Instagram (Personal): https://www.instagram.com/ankesh_saxena_tccp/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thecollaborativecanvas-podcast/videos
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wg9WGbUS9kGuOcWcyWxtB
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-collaborative-canvas-podcast/id1835394764
Website: http://www.thecollaborativecanvas.in
Acutus AI Insights: http://www.acutusai.com
