Milind Datar - Co-Founder, CaneBOT

Milind Datar

Co-Founder, CaneBOT

More about Milind Datar

Co-Founder @CaneBOT l BIRAC BIG Innovator l Shark Tank India Finalist l SINE IIT Bombay l Cornell Maha60 l Incubated with NSRCEL, IIMB, ‘AIM Catalysts’ with Atal Innovation Mission l TiE Nurture l Entrepreneur

Milind is the Co-Founder at CaneBOT®, a brand of Canectar Foods Pvt. Ltd. He and his wife, Kirty Datar quit their corporate jobs and embarked on their entrepreneurial journey in 2012. They started with a vision to revive the dying culture of drinking Sugarcane Juice in India. After having sold more than 30 lakh glasses of Fresh Sugarcane Juice, CaneBOT has now developed a Patented Food-Robotics Solution offering Fresh & Hygienic Sugarcane Juice. 

Our autonomous smart kiosk enables 24X7 availability of Freshly Crushed Sugarcane Juice at convenient locations. Our Contact-less and All-Digital Solution is poised for increased market adoption in the post-COVID world and is ready to scale to achieve its mission of making Sugarcane Juice a Lifestyle Beverage.

CaneBOT is a Frugal Innovation addressing one of the largest Sugarcane Juice drinking markets in the world. By leveraging Industry 4.0, CaneBOT has redefined the journey of Sugarcane from Farm-to-Glass, positively impacting the Social and Economic Fabric of Rural Farmers, Health of Urban Consumers and the Nation’s Economy at large. 

CaneBOT is currently incubated with NSRCEL, IIM-Bangalore, Atal Innovation Mission ‘AIM Catalysts’ under Niti Ayog, Venture Center and associated with SINE-IITBombay. They are also a part Cornell Maha60, India’s first Ivy League Business Accelerator Program. CaneBOT was one of Finalist at Shark Tank India - Season 1.

Milind and Kirty are fondly called by many as “THE SUGARCANE COUPLE”. 

He is a seasoned professional with over 14 years of experience in the Corporate World in various leadership roles and has been an Entrepreneur for the past 10 years. 
He has multiple Post Graduate Management Degrees in HR & Entrepreneurship Management. He is certified Behavioural Trainer, Psychotherapist & Counsellor. He is a Leadership Coach and a Motivational Speaker. He loves mentoring early-stage startups and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Signing up on our website is completely free! If you encounter any issues with profile or notice something unusual, please don't hesitate to report it to us. We're here to help ensure a smooth and secure experience.
Featured speaker at previous eChai events:
Founders who have made it to Shark Tank India: Pune edition
Founders and startup folks who joined past eChai startup events

The eChai Effect - In Their Words

“You don’t plan to build a company via eChai. You just keep showing up … and one day, you realize you did.” I’ve known Jatin since 2012, when I was still deciding what kind of second innings I wanted to play as an entrepreneur. Over the years, through events, chai breaks, intros, and seemingly small conversations, eChai helped shape not just Upsquare but also refined the lens through which we see collaboration. At Upsquare, we’ve hired talent, met partners, discovered co-investors, and built lifelong friendships. One of our joint ventures exists today only because a casual eChai memory sparked a deeper trust. Now, as we build House of Starts — our venture builder — eChai continues to fuel our mission: co-creating a shared future. eChai isn’t just a startup network. It’s a trust network. And for business builders like me, that makes all the difference."
Utpal Vaishnav - Founder @ Upsquare & House of Starts • Angel Investor + LP
Utpal Vaishnav
Founder @ Upsquare & House of Starts • Angel Investor + LP
"From late-night brainstorming over chai to early morning founder calls, eChai has been more than just a network for me; it’s been home base for ideas, impact, and inspiration. What started as a simple meetup years ago turned into a powerful movement, connecting founders, creators, and dreamers. I’ve had the privilege of seeing startups find product-market fit, marketers (like me) find unexpected collaborations, and most importantly, people finding their tribe. संगच्छध्वं संवदध्वं – Let us move together, speak together. It’s not just a verse from the Rigveda — it’s how Jatin and the entire eChai community truly operate. We don’t just network, we grow together. Forever grateful to be a part of the eChai Effect.
Jaydip Parikh - Chief Everything Officer at Tej SolPro
Jaydip Parikh
Chief Everything Officer at Tej SolPro
“eChai has been that turning point in my journey. It gave me a platform when I wasn’t looking for visibility but needed direction. Over the years, it became more than just a network. It became my tribe; a place where conversations sparked collaborations, and strangers became trusted sounding boards. What I value most is how effortlessly eChai brings people together - no airs, no filters, just genuine people with shared dreams. I owe a lot to this community and to Jatin, whose consistency and belief in people have shaped journeys like mine. Forever grateful to be part of something so real.”
Rushabh Shah - Managing Partner - STIR Advisors
Rushabh Shah
Managing Partner - STIR Advisors

eChai Partner Brands

eChai Ventures partners with select brands as their growth partner - working together to explore new ideas, open doors, and build momentum across the startup ecosystem.