TeresaBrousseau at 00:51, 24 March 2026

2026-03-24T00:51:40Z

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{{orphan|date=May 2025}}
{{AI-generated|date=March 2026|reason=since v1 from 2025, user has made several AI edits around this time}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Varun Chawla
| image = VC in 2013.jpg
| caption = Chawla in 2013
| alt =

| birth_name = Varun Chawla
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|3|3}}
| birth_place = [[Hyderabad]], India
| education = [[Cornell University]] (B.S. in Applied Economics & Management)
| occupation = Entrepreneur
| years_active = 2004–present
| known_for = Co-founder of [[91springboard]]; Founder of build3
| notable_works = 91springboard, build3
| spouse = 
| children = 
| awards = 
| website = {{URL|https://build3.org}}
}}
'''Varun Chawla''' (born March 3, 1981) is an Indian entrepreneur and co-founder of [[91springboard]], a prominent co-working and startup community platform in [[India]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=91springboard: Work, Play, Spring |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/startups/91springboard-work-play-spring/52255/1 |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Forbes India |language=en}}</ref> He is also a co-founder of [[build3]], a Goa-based startup studio that collaborates with early-stage ventures focused on social and environmental impact.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wangchuk |first=Rinchen Norbu |date=2022-08-30 |title=3 Entrepreneurs in Goa are Helping Social Startups with Investments up to Rs 5 Cr |url=https://thebetterindia.com/296076/build3-startup-studio-in-goa-mentors-social-impact-companies-with-funding-and-guidance/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=The Better India |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Chawla was born in [[Hyderabad]], India, where his maternal grandparents lived, while his parents were residing in [[Saudi Arabia]] at the time. He spent his early childhood in Hyderabad and Saudi Arabia before moving to [[Delhi]] at the age of five, where he attended school.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Varun Chawla - For a Person to Be Successful At Work, It's a Combination of Knowledge, Ability, and Attitude (Co-Founder - build3 and 91Springboard) |url=https://www.eatmy.news/2021/06/varun-chawla-for-person-to-be.html |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Eat My News}}</ref> Chawla graduated from [[Cornell University]] in 2002 with a degree in Applied Economics and Management. He also studied philosophy and architecture during his time at Cornell.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhatia |first=Shubham |date=2016-12-23 |title=The man who cracked space-time |url=https://www.fortuneindia.com/venture/the-man-who-cracked-space-time/100246 |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Fortune India |language=en}}</ref>

== Career ==

=== Investment Banking ===
After completing his studies, Chawla worked at [[Goldman Sachs]] in New York and Bengaluru.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhatia |first=Shubham |date=2016-12-23 |title=The man who cracked space-time |url=https://www.fortuneindia.com/venture/the-man-who-cracked-space-time/100246 |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Fortune India |language=en}}</ref>

=== Entrepreneurial Ventures ===
Chawla founded [[MyGuestHouse]], a budget accommodation aggregator, in 2009. The company was acquired by [[MakeMyTrip]] in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mishra |first=Pankaj |date=2014-02-08 |title=India's MakeMyTrip Acquires EasyToBook In A Push To Grow Online Hotel Bookings |url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/02/08/indias-makemytrip-acquires-easytobook-in-a-push-to-grow-online-hotel-bookings/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== 91springboard ===
In 2012, Chawla co-founded 91springboard with Anand Vemuri and Pranay Gupta.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Varun |date=2020-07-23 |title={Varun & Anand, Co-founders of 91Springboard} Co-working & Remote-working will be the new normal |url=https://stars.substack.com/p/varun-and-anand-co-founders-of-91springboard |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Stars & Startups}}</ref> The company expanded to multiple Indian cities and supported a large number of startups and businesses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=91springboard: Work, Play, Spring |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/startups/91springboard-work-play-spring/52255/1 |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Forbes India |language=en}}</ref> Chawla stepped down from operational responsibilities at 91springboard in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-09 |title=91springboard founders Pranay Gupta, Varun Chawla move on from coworking startup |url=https://www.techcircle.in/2021/07/09/91springboard-founders-pranay-gupta-varun-chawla-move-on-from-coworking-startup |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Techcircle |language=en}}</ref>

=== build3 ===
After leaving 91springboard, Chawla co-founded [[build3]], a startup studio based in Goa that works with early-stage, impact-focused startups.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wangchuk |first=Rinchen Norbu |date=2022-08-30 |title=3 Entrepreneurs in Goa are Helping Social Startups with Investments up to Rs 5 Cr |url=https://thebetterindia.com/296076/build3-startup-studio-in-goa-mentors-social-impact-companies-with-funding-and-guidance/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=The Better India |language=en-US}}</ref> The studio provides funding, mentorship, and operational support to ventures in sectors such as health, sustainability, and community living.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-07-29 |title=Centre grants Rs 3cr fund to Goa startup |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/centre-grants-rs-3cr-fund-to-goa-startup/articleshow/112089099.cms |access-date=2025-05-21 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lalatendu Mishra |first=The Hindu |date=2024-09-10 |title=build3 looks to raise $5 million to scale up operation, impact |url=https://www.thehindu.com/business/build3-looks-to-raise-5-million-to-scale-up-operation-impact/article68627279.ece |access-date=2025-05-21 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Awards and recognition ==

*In 2015, 91springboard, co-founded by Chawla, was selected by Barclays as its partner for the Rise fintech innovation platform in Mumbai, marking Barclays' first such partnership in India.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barclays Launches Fintech Innovation Platform "Rise" In Mumbai In Partnership With 91springboard |url=https://inc42.com/flash-feed/rise-mumbai/ |date=2016-06-16 |access-date=2025-05-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=India - Barclays |url=https://home.barclays/archive-barclays/stories/around-the-world/india/ |date=2021-02-28 |access-date=2025-05-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=91springboard Partners With Barclays to Launch a FinTech Focused Co-working Space in Mumbai |url=https://www.bwdisrupt.com/article/91springboard-partners-with-barclays-to-launch-a-fintech-focused-co-working-space-in-mumbai-98834 |date=2016-06-06 |access-date=2025-05-27}}</ref>
*In 2016, 91springboard was recognized as one of six world-class incubators in India under NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Niti Aayog Selects 6 Startup Ecosystem Builders - Provides $1.4 Mn Each |url=https://inc42.com/buzz/niti-aayog-incubators-selected/ |date=2017-02-06 |access-date=2025-05-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NITI Aayog - 91Springboard |url=https://www.91springboard.com/niti-aayog/ |access-date=2025-05-27}}</ref>
*In 2018, 91springboard was chosen by Google as the only Indian partner for the Google for Entrepreneurs (GFE) program.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Google partners 91springboard to support tech entrepreneurs in India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/google-partners-91springboard-to-support-tech-entrepreneurs-in-india/articleshow/65325806.cms |date=2018-08-08 |access-date=2025-05-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Google, 91springboard to upskill female entrepreneurs in India |url=https://www.business-standard.com/amp/article/news-ians/google-91springboard-to-upskill-female-entrepreneurs-in-india-118080800908_1.html |date=2018-08-08 |access-date=2025-05-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Google, 91springboard to Empower Female Entrepreneurs in India |url=https://www.dqindia.com/google-91springboard-empower-female-entrepreneurs-india/ |date=2018-08-10 |access-date=2025-05-27}}</ref>
*He has been recognized as an ambassador for the World Startup Report, representing the Indian startup ecosystem on a global platform.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Varun Chawla - For a Person to Be Successful At Work, It's a Combination of Knowledge, Ability, and Attitude (Co-Founder - build3 and 91Springboard) |url=https://www.eatmy.news/2021/06/varun-chawla-for-person-to-be.html |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Eat My News}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{LinkedIn page|in/varunchawla1}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chawla, Varun}}
[[Category:1981 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian business executives]]
[[Category:Cornell University alumni]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian businesspeople]]

Varun Chawla - Revision history

TeresaBrousseau at 00:51, 24 March 2026