Abhikalp Kaushik
Purpose-driven engineer turned entrepreneur with hands-on experience in operations, sustainability, and team leadership. Recognized for problem-solving excellence, strategic thinking, and innovative execution across diverse industries. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, optimize systems, and deliver measurable impact.
Work Experience:
11.7 Years
Industry:
Energy & Utilities | Manufacturing & Engineering | Technology
Function:
Engineering & Maintenance | Entrepreneurship | General Management | Project & Program Management
Earth-O-Wise (Startup aimed at transforming rice stubble into eco-friendly boards) | New Delhi
- Founder
- Spearheading a 10-member team to develop eco-friendly boards from rice stubble, showcasing strong leadership and end-to-end project execution.
 - Engineered an innovative, eco-friendly board at Earth-O-Wise using rice stubble and a custom-synthesized resin, pioneering a sustainable alternative to MDF and particle boards.
 - Optimized resin-to-straw ratio by 40%, resulting in a 36% reduction in overall production costs.
 - Negotiated a strategic partnership with a manufacturer to allocate assembly line capacity for prototype development on a non-profit basis.
 - Collaborated with over 10 particleboard manufacturers across states to streamline and finalize manufacturing workflows.
 - Engaged with farmers across three states to understand the stubble-burning crisis and mobilized them to supply rice stubble for sustainable board production.
 - Influenced 15 contract workers at a third-party manufacturing unit to adopt Personal Protective Equipment, promoting a culture of safety and compliance.
 - Liaised with senior government officials to secure necessary approvals and operational licenses.
 - Advanced to the third stage of Shark Tank India by clearing two highly competitive evaluation rounds.
 - Built and launched the company’s official website, enhancing digital presence and stakeholder communication.
 
 
shapeNcurve (Startup connecting gym enthusiasts with fitness centers across India) | Kota
- Co-Founder
- Forged strategic partnerships with 50+ fitness centers across 3 major cities, expanding the platform’s reach and service offerings.
 - Negotiated and secured partnership agreements that aligned with business objectives and delivered value to both the company and fitness center partners.
 - Designed and developed the website with an intuitive UI/UX, ensuring a smooth experience for users and streamlined onboarding for gym partners.
 - Steered the venture through COVID-19 disruptions by making decisive calls to wind down operations responsibly, minimizing impact on stakeholders and preserving relationships.
 
 
New Zealand Business Association (Non-profit organization that helps immigrant entrepreneurs in NZ) | Auckland
- Marketing Administrator
- Worked directly under the Association President of NZBA, contributing to high-impact community engagement initiatives.
 - Onboarded 30+ immigrant-led businesses within three months through proactive field outreach, earning commendation from the Association President.
 - Boosted website traffic by 2x in five months by strategically managing Google AdWords campaigns, enhancing the association’s digital visibility.
 - Strengthened brand presence and audience engagement through targeted social media campaigns, increasing community outreach and awareness.
 
 
Cairn (Oil and Gas) | Barmer
- Senior Engineer
- Led a team of 30 professionals to ensure continuous and efficient production operations.
 - Managed goal-setting, performance, and career development of my team.
 - Trained 50+ employees and contract workers on HSE fundamentals, H₂S hazard awareness, and safe operating practices, strengthening the site's safety culture.
 - Recognized with the Pat On Back award for boosting equipment uptime by 15% through streamlining of preventive maintenance schedules.
 - Utilized SAP’s Planning and Maintenance modules to streamline plant operations and improve maintenance efficiency.
 
 - Engineer
- Led a 21-member team to ensure uninterrupted operations in a critical production zone within the facility.
 - Awarded the CEO’s Going the Extra Mile (GEM) honor, becoming the youngest recipient, for eliminating crude oil leakage by redesigning and fabricating floating oil skimmer bases.
 - Chosen as the sole representative from the operations team to attend the Factory Acceptance Test of two mission-critical pumps (~$1M) at GE, Italy.
 - Received the Pat On Back award for diagnosing and resolving recurring booster pump failures through advanced process parameter analysis, saving $20,000.
 - Awarded the Pat On Back for preventing shaft damage of a critical pump.
 - Achieved zero Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) by leading safety initiatives as the Maintenance Team’s designated Safety Leader.
 - Improved mechanical system reliability by 10% through structured root cause analysis and implementation of preventive measures.
 - Delivered 80% time savings in strainer cleaning of critical pumps by proposing and executing an innovative maintenance solution.
 
 
- Felicitated with CEO’s award Going the Extra Mile (GEM) for reducing crude oil leakage to 0% in Cairn (Oil & Gas).
 - Awarded ‘Pat On Back’ thrice in Cairn (Oil & Gas).
 
- B.Tech. (Mechanical Engineering) – Malaviya National Institute of Technology (NIT Jaipur)
 
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt by KPMG.
 - Excel Skills for Business: Advanced by Macquarie University.
 - Product Management Essentials from University of Maryland.
 - System 1 Fundamentals by GE.
 - Machinery Diagnostics by GE.
 - Oil and Gas Fundamentals by Schlumberger.
 
- Organizer: Headed the Collateral and Materials Team to organize ROBOCON-22, Asia-Pacific Robot Contest.
 - Award: Honorable Mention in the International Photography Award 2017 and 2024, organized by the Lucie Foundation.
 - Drilling Awareness by ONGC.