Shivam Chauhan (शिवम् चौहाण), Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Sarla Aviation, has been featured in the prestigious Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U30 List 2025, recognising young leaders shaping the future of Indian innovation and entrepreneurship. The recognition highlights Chauhan’s growing influence in India’s aerospace and advanced mobility landscape.

An alumnus of San Jose State University, Chauhan made the bold decision to leave a high-paying role in Silicon Valley to return to India, driven by a strong belief in Make in India and the potential of domestic innovation. In 2024, he co-founded Sarla Aviation, a Bengaluru-based aerospace startup focused on electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for urban air mobility.

Sarla Aviation’s flagship platform, Shunya, is a hybrid-electric air taxi configurable for passenger, cargo, and ambulance use. Designed for affordability, safety, and sustainability, Shunya offers ranges of up to 800 km and speeds of 250 km/h. The company plans a phased rollout, beginning with airport transfers and scaling to inter-city and nationwide connectivity by 2035.

Backed by Accel, supported by MoUs including with the Government of Goa, and strengthened by global aerospace talent, Sarla Aviation is targeting commercial operations by 2029, underscoring Chauhan’s role as a new-age leader shaping India’s mobility future.