Mr. Hrishikesh Sathawane - Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

Mr. Hrishikesh Sathawane

B.Tech., Engineering Physics, 1997

Mr. Hrishikesh Sathawane serves as a Fractional Chief Growth Officer (CGO) at various startups.

After his B.Tech. in Engineering Physics from IIT Bombay in 1997, Mr. Sathawane pursued an MS in Electrical Engineering at Iowa State University and an MBA from UCLA Anderson. He also holds a certification in “Leaders of Sustainability” from UCLA Anderson. Currently, in addition to his role as a Fractional CGO, he serves as an Advisor for Investor Relations at IITStartups.org and as an Advisor at Sarthy Ventures.

Mr. Sathawane has a strong history of activism and community leadership. He led Trikone, the South Asian LGBTQ+ organization in San Francisco founded by fellow alumnus Mr. Ashok Jethanandani. Although his early attempts to start a campus group in the 2000s were unsuccessful, he was deeply moved when students later launched Saathi, the first LGBTQ+ student group in India. Taking a leadership role with the IITBHF, particularly after Bay Area activities had ceased during COVID, became a key avenue for his engagement.

Hobbies: Travel, photography, and working to make social impact.

Motivation towards contribution to IIT Bombay

“My final years at IIT Bombay were a struggle with depression related to my sexuality. The unhelpful prescription/support from the on-campus doctor only intensified my isolation, highlighting the critical lack of support. It was only after finding positive resources at Iowa State University that I was able to heal, making me determined to foster that support for others. I became an activist, leading the South Asian LGBTQ+ organization Trikone (founded by IITB alumnus Ashok Jethanandani) in San Francisco. Though my own attempts to start a campus group in early 2000s failed, I was profoundly moved when students successfully launched Saathi, the first LGBTQ+ student group in India. Encouraged by IITBAA CEO Devesh, who served as a positive LGBTQ+ role model, and with further nudges from Vinay, Sridhar Kona, and my mentor Deep, I realized my opportunity lay with the IITBHF. Taking a leadership role, particularly as Bay Area activities had completely stopped during COVID, was a compelling way to channel my personal history and activist spirit into meaningful, institutional support for the next generation of IITians.”

Special Memories

“Second semester, and the Branch Change Hunger Games were on. My Achilles’ heel was Math, where the resident Math-Olympians found problems “trivial” Ouch…. I barely understood them and it shattered my leftover confidence!

My wing mate, Hemant and I shared library books and a dream - Branch change. To achieve the dream, I aced everything else—my Engineering Drawing skills were legendary! My in-sem score was so high, I was mathematically guaranteed to ace the class, regardless of the final. This gave one worried Math-Olympian genius a “perfect 10” panic attack.

In the end? Solid grades across the board, a glorious ‘DD’ in Math, and a branch change for both of us! That’s the true spirit of IIT: collaborate fiercely, but keep an eye on your classmates’ grades.”