Biography of Dhruv Sawhney: Founder & CEO of RIZE and COO at nurture.farm- Indian Entrepreneur
Biography of Dhruv Sawhney:
Dhruv Sawhney is a seasoned entrepreneur and business leader
with over 25 years of experience across various sectors including Fin Tech,
E-commerce, Food Tech, and Agri Tech. As the Founder and CEO of RIZE and COO at
nurture.farm, Dhruv has demonstrated exceptional skill in leading and
innovating within these industries. His leadership has been pivotal in bridging
the gap between farm and fork through his ventures, particularly with
WOTU/HyperPure by Zomato.
A Leader in Sustainable Agriculture
Dhruv Sawhney serves as the Business Head and COO at
nurture.farm, an innovative digital platform dedicated to advancing sustainable
agriculture on a global scale. In this role, Dhruv is responsible for
overseeing the company’s business strategy and operations. With nearly 25 years
of experience across various sectors including IT, financial solutions,
e-commerce, and food tech, Dhruv brings a wealth of expertise to nurture.farm.
His career trajectory includes significant roles at Tata Consultancy Services
(TCS), Dell, PayPal, Zomato, and Gojek, showcasing his extensive background in
business and operations management.
Educational Background
Dhruv holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering
from D.Y. Patil College of Engineering, Pune. He furthered his education with a
Postgraduate Diploma in IT Management from the All India Management Association.
His educational background provides a solid foundation in both technical and
managerial aspects, supporting his diverse professional endeavors.
Early Career and Foundations
Dhruv's early career included foundational roles that shaped
his approach to business and technology. His experiences in these early roles
laid the groundwork for his later successes, contributing to his ability to
innovate and lead across multiple sectors. His career trajectory reflects a
commitment to continuous learning and adaptation in a rapidly evolving business
landscape.
Early Career and Technological Foundations
Dhruv Sawhney began his professional journey in the tech
industry, working at Tata Consultancy Services as a Business Relationship
Manager from 1997 to 2005. His role involved managing business relationships
and IT solutions, setting a solid foundation for his future endeavors. He then
moved to Dell Technologies, where he served as a Senior Technology Manager from
2005 to 2009, focusing on global IT solutions and enterprise tools.
Innovation and Leadership at PayPal
In 2009, Dhruv joined PayPal as the Global Director for
Operational Excellence and Product Management, driving innovation and strategic
change in the payments industry. His leadership in developing technology
roadmaps for various services was crucial in expanding PayPal's market
opportunities. Dhruv’s contributions continued as he took on roles such as
Director of Technology Global Centers of Excellence and Director of New
Business Initiatives, where he incubated and developed new business ideas to
enhance PayPal's growth.
Biography of Dhruv Sawhney: Founder & CEO of RIZE and COO at nurture.farm-Indian Entrepreneur/Startup/Success story of Dhruv Sawhney/Lide story Dhruv
Transformative Impact at Dell and PayPal
At Dell, Dhruv led major business transformation programs,
significantly impacting the company's sales and services. His tenure at PayPal
was marked by his leadership in establishing a new R&D operations center in
Dublin and heading global operations excellence. Additionally, he set up and
managed a new R&D facility in Bangalore, demonstrating his ability to drive
operational success across diverse locations and teams.
From Startup Founder to Acquisition by Zomato
In 2016, Dhruv ventured into the entrepreneurial space by
founding a food-tech startup. His innovative approach and strategic vision led
to the startup’s acquisition by Zomato in 2018. This achievement underscores
Dhruv’s capability to build and scale businesses successfully, aligning with
his broader goal of fostering sustainable practices in agriculture.
His venture caught the attention of Zomato, leading to the
acquisition of Wotu and the creation of HyperPure. At HyperPure, Dhruv aimed to
provide high-quality food ingredients to restaurant partners at affordable
prices. Following this, he became the Business Head for Go Shop & Go Mart
at Gojek in 2019, where he worked on enhancing hyperlocal delivery capabilities
across Southeast Asia.
Pioneering Sustainable Agriculture
Dhruv envisions nurture.farm as a leading Agritech platform
that addresses sustainability challenges in the food supply chain. His goal is
to make nurture.farm globally renowned by providing solutions that benefit both
growers and the overall ecosystem. This vision reflects Dhruv’s commitment to
integrating sustainability into modern agriculture practices and enhancing the
food supply chain.
Current Endeavors and Vision for the Future
In 2020, Dhruv joined nurture.farm as the Chief Operating
Officer, leading efforts to revolutionize the AgriTech sector by creating
innovative solutions for farmers. His role was pivotal in building platforms
that disrupt and enhance the agricultural ecosystem. Since May 2023, Dhruv has
been the Founder and CEO of Rize, a platform dedicated to transforming
agriculture value chains to combat climate change and ensure a sustainable food
supply. His work with Rize aims to create significant positive impacts on the
planet and the agricultural sector.
Transforming the Farm-to-Fork Model
Dhruv's notable contribution is his role as Founder and CEO
of WOTU/HyperPure, a B2B platform aimed at optimizing the farm-to-fork supply
chain. This platform significantly enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of
the food supply chain, leveraging technology to address key gaps and improve
connections between agricultural producers and food service providers.
Expertise in Scaling Businesses
With a track record of guiding ventures from inception to
substantial growth, Dhruv has successfully navigated several zero to one and X
to 10X journeys. His expertise in scaling businesses is evident in his ability
to drive significant growth and transformation across various domains. This
experience has equipped him with a deep understanding of how to foster and
sustain business expansion in competitive markets.
Focus on Food, Agri, and Sustainability
Currently, Dhruv is deeply focused on the intersection of
food, agriculture, and sustainability. His work in these areas reflects his
commitment to addressing critical challenges in food production and
consumption. By integrating sustainability into his business strategies, Dhruv
aims to create lasting positive impacts on the environment and communities.
Core Competencies and Areas of Expertise
Dhruv's core competencies include Business Strategy, Product
Development, Operational Excellence, and B2B Growth & Strategy. His
expertise also spans Innovation across Sustainability, Financial Solutions,
Supply Chain Management, and Technology. His comprehensive skill set positions
him as a leading figure in driving advancements and efficiencies in these
areas.
People and Organizational Culture
A strong advocate for putting people and organizational
culture at the forefront, Dhruv prioritizes creating a positive and productive
work environment. His leadership philosophy emphasizes the importance of
fostering a culture that supports innovation, collaboration, and employee
well-being, which he believes is crucial for achieving long-term success.
Empowering Teams and Embracing Change
Dhruv believes in treating every employee as an equal
stakeholder in the company’s journey. His leadership philosophy is rooted in
the idea that collective vision and passion drive business growth and progress.
Embracing the concept that “change is constant,” Dhruv advocates for thinking
big, taking risks, and continuously learning, which are core principles guiding
his approach to leadership.
A Passion for Cooking and Sports
Outside of his professional life, Dhruv is a foodie who
enjoys cooking and exploring classic vinyl records. He also follows sports
closely and is an active supporter of a cricket club he started in Ireland,
which remains a top performer in its league. These personal interests highlight
Dhruv’s diverse passions and commitment to pursuing excellence both in and out
of the workplace.
Future Outlook
Continued Growth and Innovation
Dhruv’s journey reflects a blend of deep professional
experience, entrepreneurial success, and a forward-thinking approach to
sustainability. As he leads nurture.farm toward its ambitious goals, his focus
on innovation, operational excellence, and team empowerment will likely
continue to drive the company’s impact and growth in the agritech sector.
Timeline for Dhruv’s story
1997-2005: Worked at Tata Consultancy Services as a Business
Relationship Manager.
2005-2009: Served as a Senior Technology Manager at Dell
Technologies.
2009-2016: Held various leadership roles at PayPal,
including Global Director for Operational Excellence.
2016: Founded a food-tech startup, which was later acquired
by Zomato in 2018.
2018: Joined Zomato to lead HyperPure, focusing on
high-quality food ingredient supply.
2019: Became Business Head for Go Shop & Go Mart at
Gojek, enhancing hyperlocal delivery.
2020: Joined nurture.farm as Chief Operating Officer,
focusing on sustainable agriculture.
May 2023: Founded RIZE, dedicated to transforming
agriculture value chains to combat climate change.
