More about Shivani Sonawane
I am an Entrepreneur, Architect, Event Planner and Experience Designer by profession. I spent most of my childhood and teenage years in Mumbai, after which I moved to Pune in 2013 to pursue Architecture.
I co-founded an experiential property called The Aryavart Escape in 2016 when I was only 21. I have always been keen on curating conscious Experiences, which led me to formally study about Event Management on 2019. I use a combination of my Architecture and Event Management Skills at The aryavart Escape
As an Architect, I co-founded a firm called Studio Akara in 2020 to design projects under the hospitality industry. We are a bunch of young Architects who’re working towards creating an awareness on using natural materials, working with the locals and using primitive methods of construction.
Today, there’s this outburst of energy to do everything that’s on my mind, to run from one property to the other and host these beautiful people, to design spaces I have always imagined, to curate experiences that I’d always wanted to be a part and so much more.
I co-founded an experiential property called The Aryavart Escape in 2016 when I was only 21. I have always been keen on curating conscious Experiences, which led me to formally study about Event Management on 2019. I use a combination of my Architecture and Event Management Skills at The aryavart Escape
As an Architect, I co-founded a firm called Studio Akara in 2020 to design projects under the hospitality industry. We are a bunch of young Architects who’re working towards creating an awareness on using natural materials, working with the locals and using primitive methods of construction.
Today, there’s this outburst of energy to do everything that’s on my mind, to run from one property to the other and host these beautiful people, to design spaces I have always imagined, to curate experiences that I’d always wanted to be a part and so much more.
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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 @ Polynxt (EightQor Capital, Upsquare, House of Starts) • Architect & Capital Allocator
"For me, eChai is a second home. I've been associated with it since the early days, when it was already setting a different tone for how startup communities could work. As a traditional business owner entering the new-age D2C space, eChai supported me in every direction. Over the years, it became my window to the startup world — and also gave me lifelong friends who continue to show up, for business and beyond."
Pankaj Bhimani
Founder, 58miles
"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
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.
