Shivani Sonawane - Co-Founder, The Aryavart Escape

Shivani Sonawane

Co-Founder, The Aryavart Escape

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.

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Featured speaker at previous eChai events:
CoRise Startup Circle in Pimpri-Chinchwad
Founders and startup folks who joined past eChai startup events

The eChai Effect - In Their Words

"If there’s one phrase that sums up my journey, it’s truly ‘The eChai Effect.’ Six years ago, I simply walked into my first eChai event, not knowing what to expect. The honest conversations, energy, and inspiration from founders and entrepreneurs struck a chord within me. That eChai spark became the catalyst for everything to follow. I proudly say: my entrepreneurship journey started—and keeps evolving—because of eChai. Redicine Medsol’s story is integrally linked to this community. I’ve gained so much, not just as a founder but as a forever volunteer and grateful member of the eChai family. With all my heart, thank you Jatin Bhai and everyone at eChai for shaping, guiding, and supporting my dreams. The eChai Effect will always be a part of my story."
Kush Prajapati - Founder, Redicine Medsol
Kush Prajapati
Founder, Redicine Medsol
“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
"I have evolved from role of Community Builder to Startup Consultant to Startup Ecosystem Enabler to Angel Investor and now launching a Venture Studio and eChai has been a catalyst in my overall journey as Startup Evangelist since 13 years."
Mehul Shah - Co-Founder at Counselvise & Ivy Growth
Mehul Shah
Co-Founder at Counselvise & Ivy Growth

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