Founder Recognised at Oxford, Later Honoured at the United Nations HQ and Discussed Technology Ethics at the World Economic Forum

Arun Kar, an entrepreneur of Odisha origin and former Indian Army officer, took part in discussions on technology and ethics at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2026, after receiving an international award at the University of Oxford weeks earlier, and was subsequently honoured at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in February 2026 in recognition of his humanitarian initiatives aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Kar spoke during a CNBC-led session on responsible innovation during the World Economic Forum in Davos 2026, where policymakers, investors and business leaders examined the role of technology in addressing practical problems. He told the audience that innovation should begin with identifying problems and building trust, arguing that technology must serve society before financial valuation.

His participation formed part of a broader set of international appearances following recognition at the University of Oxford in December 2025. Kar received the UN Global Excellence Award 2025 from the United Nations Global Peace Council. During the event he addressed academics, scientists, doctors, policymakers and business figures, speaking about leadership after his transition from military service into business.

Kar began his career in the Indian Army, where he developed a leadership approach shaped by discipline and responsibility. A service-related injury left him with a lifelong disability assessed at 20 per cent and brought his military career to an end. He later moved into business and built companies across technology, infrastructure and sustainability sectors operating in several countries.

One of his ventures, Xpertnest, grew during the past decade without external equity funding. In July 2025 the company appeared among the United Kingdom's 500 fastest-growing firms after recording a 220 per cent growth rate in an index produced by analysts led by Robert Watts.

Earlier that year, in April 2025, an independent valuation placed the company above 100 million US dollars. The valuation was carried out by a SEBI-registered Category-I merchant banker and supported by analysis from UK valuation firm Plimsoll using discounted cash flow methodology under Indian valuation standards. The assessment was reported across financial platforms including the London Stock Exchange news service, Reuters and Financial Express.

The company later appeared among the United Kingdom's 200 fastest-growing firms in the UK Fast Growth Index, founded by Professor Dylan Jones-Evans.

Kar also led Earthnest, an initiative focused on biodegradable materials and circular-economy production aimed at reducing plastic waste. The project aligned with international environmental targets linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Away from business, Kar supported community projects connected with the Odia diaspora in the United Kingdom. One project funded sanitation facilities for 46 tribal girls at a government-run ashram school in Nabarangpur in the Indian state of Odisha.

Kar also took part in the Vitality Marathon in 2021 in support of UNICEF polio vaccination programmes, an effort that contributed to a Guinness World Record linked to the event.

Industry estimates placed Kar's personal wealth at about 145 million US dollars, drawn from technology businesses, environmental ventures and property assets. His work across international policy forums, business ventures and community projects placed him among a group of entrepreneurs whose activities extended beyond commercial growth into public initiatives.

He was honoured at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in February 2026 for his humanitarian initiatives aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The honour was presented by a Representative of the United Nations, acknowledging Kar's sustained efforts across initiatives spanning sanitation support for tribal girls, environmental sustainability through biodegradable solutions, community sports development within the UK , and broader advocacy for responsible innovation - all aimed at advancing initiatives that support health, dignity, sustainability and inclusive development.

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