Hrishi Sathawane

Hrishi is a prominent advocate and activist for LGBTQ+ rights, particularly within the Indian community. His marriage to his Vietnamese partner, Vinh, in a traditional Hindu ceremony in Yavatmal, Maharashtra, garnered significant media attention as one of India's first gay marriages. He has served on the boards of Trikone (an LGBTQ support group for South Asians) and PFLAG (Parents Friends and Families of Lesbians and Gays), actively promoting acceptance and fighting against societal prejudices. buzzfeed+4

With a strong background in engineering and an MBA focusing on Sustainability and International Management, Hrishi has a deep interest and expertise in clean technology and electric vehicles. His roles at Lux Research as an Analyst for Electric Vehicles and his various consulting projects for companies like Viola Systems (smart grid) and BioVantage Resources (water purification) highlight his commitment to sustainable innovation. stonybrook

Hrishi is an active mentor and advisor in the startup ecosystem, particularly in Silicon Valley. He serves as a mentor at prominent accelerators like Techstars, Plug and Play Tech Center, and FalconX Accelerator, in addition to advisory roles at IIT Startups and Sarthy Venture Investment Partners. His tagline as a 'Fractional CGO' further underscores his involvement in guiding and growing new ventures. meetup