Arsh Chavan / NOTEBOOK Let's collaborate
Entry Nº 001 Subject: Arsh Shrikant Chavan Founder · Educator · Mentor

Arsh Shrikant
Chavan

Building ventures.
Educating entrepreneurs.
Mentoring innovators.

Founder & Director of Biofound Biotech, entrepreneurship educator and startup mentor. I work where science, business and learning meet.

Let's collaborate Explore my work
Arsh Shrikant Chavan speaking at a talk on innovation strategy
on stage, talking ideas → impact FIG. 01
science IISER · INSERM · IIT-B · NCBS
venture Biofound Biotech
classroom Lectures · Workshops · Mentoring
§ 01 · In short

My work brings together three things: building a science-driven startup, teaching entrepreneurship, and helping new founders find their footing. At Biofound Biotech, I turn biotechnology research into solutions for real problems. In classrooms and workshops, I help people learn to spot problems, test ideas and create impact.

entrepreneurship is a way of thinking, not only a company.
§ 02 · Three roles, one practice

What I work on

each one feeds the others ↺
01 /

Founder & Innovator

Building Biofound Biotech: science-driven work in biotechnology, sustainable production and microbial innovation.

Explore Biofound → 02 /

Entrepreneurship Educator

Teaching entrepreneurship and innovation through courses, workshops, lectures and hands-on projects.

Education & workshops → 03 /

Startup Mentor & Innovation Catalyst

Helping aspiring founders shape ideas, test assumptions and take the next practical step.

Mentoring & collaboration →
§ 03 · Founder & Innovator

Building Biofound Biotech

I founded Biofound to take microbial science out of the lab and into agriculture, food and the environment. As Founder & Director, I work across research, product and partnerships, and the day-to-day problems of turning an experiment into a venture.

approach: start from a real problem, test small, let the data decide.
FIG. 02 · at the bench
Project AOngoing research

Microbial Formulations

Microbes for plant growth promotion and pollutant degradation, for use in agriculture and bioremediation.

AgricultureBioremediation
Project BOngoing research

Natural Vanillin

Converting agricultural waste into natural vanillin through microbial processes, with uses across food, beverage and cosmetics.

Food & beverageCosmetics
Arsh reviewing pollutant degradation experiment results on a laptop with a colleague
reading the data before making the call. FIG. 03 · results review
Results and claims are published only once validated Explore Biofound ↗
§ 04 · Entrepreneurship Educator

Making entrepreneurship practical and accessible

Arsh presenting 'Getting Your First Funding: From Idea to a Fundable Venture' to a room of students
in the classroom

I teach entrepreneurship by tying each concept to a real decision. As visiting faculty and a workshop facilitator, I help students spot opportunities, validate ideas and sketch their first business models, using examples from building my own startup.

Who I teach
School students College & university students BBA / MBA students Aspiring entrepreneurs Innovation program participants

Topics I can teach

pick any →
  1. 01Entrepreneurship fundamentals
  2. 02Idea generation & validation
  3. 03Business model development
  4. 04Startup basics
  5. 05Design thinking
  6. 06Innovation & problem-solving
  7. 07Science entrepreneurship
  8. 08Funding & grants
  9. 09Pitch decks & pitching
  10. 10The early-stage startup journey
Invite me for a workshop or lecture →
§ 05 · Startup Mentor & Innovation Catalyst

Supporting aspiring founders & innovators

Questions every early founder asks
  1. Q1Is the problem worth solving?
  2. Q2Who is the customer?
  3. Q3How should the idea be tested?
  4. Q4What should be done first?

Early ventures start with more questions than answers. I help founders work through them with structured thinking, quick validation and clear next steps, drawing on what I've learned building Biofound and teaching entrepreneurship.

Where I can help
Early-stage idea exploration Problem validation Business models Startup fundamentals Pitch deck feedback Grant & funding readiness Science & tech entrepreneurship Innovation programs Student projects
Discuss a mentoring opportunity → Mentoring is guidance from founder experience. It isn't legal, financial or other regulated advice, and it doesn't guarantee funding.
§ 06 · About

A scientist by training. A founder by practice. An educator by choice.

I trained as a scientist at IISER Pune and did research at IAME INSERM in Paris, IIT Bombay and NCBS Bangalore. Biofound grew out of wanting that research to reach real problems.

Teaching came next: showing students and early founders what building a venture actually involves. I work by experiment, try things small, and stay honest about uncertainty. That's what I try to teach, too.

  1. EducationBS-MS dual degree, IISER PuneFoundation in the sciences
  2. ResearchMaster's thesis, IAME INSERM ParisResearch abroad
  3. ResearchIIT Bombay & NCBS BangaloreResearch and internships
  4. VentureFounder & Director, Biofound BiotechMicrobial solutions for agriculture, food and environment
  5. TeachingVisiting Faculty, MIT-WPUEntrepreneurship for MBA & BBA students
  6. EcosystemMentor, speaker & jury memberStartup programs and innovation communities
§ 07 · Evidence

Experience, recognition & milestones

  • Founder & DirectorBiofound Biotech
    Role
  • Visiting FacultyMIT-WPU
    Role
  • NIDHI EIR FellowshipEntrepreneur-in-Residence
    Program
  • TiE BizQuoTiEntTiE Pune Chapter
    Award
  • TiE GlobalSemi-finalist
    Award
  • EarthON Climate ChampionsClimate innovation
    Award
  • Impact Quest ProgramVenture program
    Program
  • Benspark IdeathonRecognition
    Award
  • ClimateLaunchpad AfricaRegional Finals
    Jury
§ 08 · Collaborate

Let's build something meaningful

For

Founders & aspiring entrepreneurs

Early-stage guidance, idea validation, business model feedback and startup learning.

Explore mentoring →
For

Organizations & events

Talks, workshops, panels and innovation sessions focused on entrepreneurship.

Invite me to speak →

Let's talk.

Workshops, lectures, mentoring, jury roles or something new. Tell me what you have in mind.

Email[email protected] LinkedInin/arsh-chavan ↗ Biofoundcompany/biofound ↗

Collaboration enquiry

FORM 01
What would you like to discuss?