VARUN JAYACHANDRAN
Coimbatore
Summary
Entrepreneurial and creative leader with a proven track record of transforming innovative ideas into thriving, sustainable businesses. Expertise in developing and launching D2C food brands, optimizing supply chains, and fostering strong customer relationships. Eager to leverage experience in the food and agriculture industries to drive impactful innovation within companies and contribute to the development of next-generation food solutions.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Founder
Quantaverde
12.2023 - Current
- Company Overview: Sustainable soil substrates solutions
- Founded Quantaverde, a first of its kind sustainable soil substrate company aimed at creating a paradigm shift in controlled agriculture, horticulture, indoor farming and paddy farming industries
- Partnered with scientists with over 10 years of horticulture experience to create a variety of products using green-agro waste, a completely sustainable low cost solution
- Developed sustainable clumping cat litter for the Asian Market, Industrial oil absorbents for manufacturing facilities as well as biofuel pellets
- Collaborated with various growers in Korea, Indonesia, China and the USA in creating tailor-made potting mix solutions for specific crops using sustainable media
- Continue to further research into substitute of sustainable soil substrate in grow media
Head of Business Development
Duinkop Enterprises Pte Ltd
08.2023 - Current
- Company Overview: Pioneer in manufacturing and exporting coco peat substrates and growbags for over 30 years
- In charge of procuring new clients and maintaining existing client relationships
- Managed a team of 15 people, and increased productivity in the manufacturing sector
- Increased client base by 10% adding multiple large companies as clients from the USA and China, and increased revenue by 500,000 usd
- Led expansion into the Asian market by acquiring new clientele in China, Indonesia and japan
- Drove marketing initiatives by exhibiting in tradeshows such as Growtech and Cultivate, Columbus Ohio
- Established sustainability initiatives such as increasing solar panel coverage, water conservation and new sustainable soil substrate development
Managing Partner/Co-founder
1000 Farms
09.2021 - Current
- Company Overview: Manufacturer and exporter of organic products
- Founded 1000 Farms, a manufacturer of organic products, with an emphasis on giving back to the farming communities worldwide
- Spearheading the brand launch in Japan to cater to the growing health conscious consumer base
- Opened a subsidiary company in Sri Lanka for sourcing and packaging of organic goods
- Increased production capacity by adding coconut milk and coconut water facility to match increasing demands
- Helped optimize manufacturing set up by sourcing the right machinery
- Established 1000 farms as one of the only BRC certified manufacturers of organic products in Tamil Nadu
- Procured 7 new clients and increased revenue by 400,000 USD
- Coordinated brand building and marketing efforts in India, japan and the USA
- Brought in multinational clients such as Marico and Reliance
- In charge of global marketing, trade show efforts and client relations
- Headed tradeshow team in Anuga Select and CMPL Mumbai, JFEX JAPAN forming synergetic partnerships with other organic brands
- Secured orders from large supermarket chains and distributors in Japan as clients
Laboratory Technician 1
Perfect Day
07.2022 - 07.2023
- Company Overview: Alternative protein company
- Accelerated development of new formulations and flavors of ice cream using dairy free whey protein
- Took charge of developing and analyzing alternative whey protein flavor formulations for the Urgent Company
- Developed dairy free yogurt formulations for the global market
- Evaluated and scrutinized various yogurt, whey protein and sour cream formulations
- Optimized lab management and quality testing responsibilities
- Coordinated with head technician on the operation of microthermics equipment
- Alternative protein company
Intern
Food Science Pilot Plant and Integrated Bioprocessing Lab
02.2021 - 05.2022
- Company Overview: State of the art food manufacturing pilot plant facility at the university of Illinois for various companies to run their products at scale
- Developed and produced wing sauce for UIUC dining halls
- Proficient in extruder screw configuration
- Operated the extruder in processing pea protein, texturized vegetable protein and corn puff
- Proficient at setting up production lines for processing tomatoes for marinara sauce for the entire college campus
- Helped produce a novel vegan artificial sweetener on a pilot plant scale
- Took part in making an experimental CBD infused drink for a cannabis company
- Assisted senior technician in producing whiskey from various types of corn grown in Illinois
- Worked under a senior technician in fermentation projects where alternative oils were extracted from microorganisms
- State of the art food manufacturing pilot plant facility at the university of Illinois for various companies to run their products at scale
Research Assistant
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
09.2018 - 05.2019
- Company Overview: Research assistant at the agriculture bioprocessing laboratory at UIUC
- Assisted Dr
- Keith Cadwallader in his research in flavor sciences
- Operated GCO apparatus in identifying compounds in various types of whiskey
- Learnt integral flavor science theory and lab equipment usage through experimentation on whiskey
- Research assistant at the agriculture bioprocessing laboratory at UIUC
Education
Bachelor's of Science - Food Science
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Urbana-Champaign, Illinois05.2022
Skills
- Negotiation
- Communication
- Staff management
- Team Work
- Project Management
- Sales
- Marketing
- Revenue development
- Entrepreneurial leadership
Timeline
Founder
Quantaverde
12.2023 - Current
Head of Business Development
Duinkop Enterprises Pte Ltd
08.2023 - Current
Laboratory Technician 1
Perfect Day
07.2022 - 07.2023
Managing Partner/Co-founder
1000 Farms
09.2021 - Current
Intern
Food Science Pilot Plant and Integrated Bioprocessing Lab
02.2021 - 05.2022
Research Assistant
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
09.2018 - 05.2019
Bachelor's of Science - Food Science
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
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