Sekhar Paladugu serves as the Chief Executive Officer at MyFriendBen, a nonprofit technology organization building modern tools that help low-income families access and keep public benefits. Since launching in 2023, the platform has helped over 65,000 families secure more than $40 million in critical benefits like SNAP, WIC, and Medicaid. MyFriendBen works at the intersection of government, tech, and community organizations to streamline access to economic supports, with an emphasis on inclusive design, operational excellence, and modern infrastructure.

Sekhar is an entrepreneur and software engineer with a track record of scaling mission-driven organizations. He has built and grown companies across clean energy, home services, and other sectors, with experience spanning product, sales, and business operations. Most recently, he co-founded a pre-seed home electrification software startup. Over his career Sekhar has played key roles in scaling multiple ventures from early stage to exit.

Beyond his work in startups, Sekhar serves as a trustee at Next50, a large private foundation focused on aging, where he helps drive economic opportunity through grantmaking and social investments. After formative experiences as a younger caregiver, he has remained involved in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) advocacy, volunteering to support families navigating brain disease.