Arjun Handa

Arjun S. Handa is a second-generation entrepreneur best known for leading Claris Lifesciences, the Ahmedabad-based specialty injectables pharmaceutical company. He was appointed a director of the company in February 2001, served as Chief Operating Officer through 2008, and became Managing Director & CEO on 26 September 2008. Taking the reins in 2007 of what was then a relatively small family business, he scaled it into a global specialty-injectables player valued at over a billion dollars — a journey that included a private-equity infusion, an IPO, three strategic deals (including a joint venture), and eventually the delisting of Claris.

He holds an MBA from Northeastern University, Boston, USA, and a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from H. L. College of Commerce, Ahmedabad (Gujarat University). Under his leadership Claris won the "Great Place to Work" award eight years in a row and appeared repeatedly in lists such as Fortune India's "The Next 500" and Business Standard's "BS 1000." He was personally recognized by The Economic Times as one of the "Promising Entrepreneurs of India" (2016) and received the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Award (2016).

Beyond pharma, Handa now focuses on Abellon Clean Energy, a waste-to-energy venture working in waste management, plastic recycling and circular-economy initiatives, and he actively invests in and mentors early-stage entrepreneurs through Claris Capital, the group's investment arm. A former national-level footballer, he is President of the Ahmedabad District Football Association and frequently credits team-building lessons from football for his management approach. He is a recurring keynote speaker at entrepreneurship forums including TiECON Ahmedabad and CII Young Indians events.

• Invests as an angel / early-stage backer through Claris Capital, the Claris Group's venture and angel investing arm supporting entrepreneurs and startups.
• Stated mission is to "invest and mentor entrepreneurs and startups to take India forward" — emphasis on India-focused, founder-led companies.
• Sector interests span his operating experience: pharma/healthcare, fintech, and clean-tech / circularity (reflected in his hands-on work building Abellon's waste-to-energy and recycling businesses).
• Brings an operator's lens — having personally executed a private-equity round, an IPO, JVs and a delisting — so he values founders who understand capital strategy and organization-building, not just product.