In India’s fast-paced startup landscape, ambition often comes at the cost of wellbeing. build3’s startup eco-ashram is reimagining that paradigm – creating a space where founders can eat, sleep, work, meditate, play and build in harmony with nature.
The startup eco-ashram was born from a deeply personal journey. Its founder, Varun Chawla – the mind behind build3 and co-founder of 91springboard – had spent years building successful ventures. But along the way, his health began to falter, and the balance between ambition and wellbeing slipped away.
Choosing to slow down, Varun turned inward. As his body and mind healed, a new vision began to take shape: what if founders could build without burning out? What if innovation could be rooted in balance, not exhaustion?
That seed grew into build3’s startup eco-ashram
6 Pillars of the eco-ashram
- Wellbeing through conscious living – nurturing mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health through meditation, yoga, natural healing, and mindful communication.
- Harmony with nature – building with natural materials, growing our own food, minimizing waste, and harnessing solar and wind energy to live sustainably.
- Dignity in honest work – everyone contributes meaningfully to the community, whether as farmers, entrepreneurs, or artists – eliminating the divide between labor and leadership.
- Equality and togetherness – a community without hierarchy, where all share resources, meals, celebrations, and collective responsibility.
- Creativity as a way of life – artists, musicians, and creators are vital to our ecosystem, bringing color, reflection, and joy while inspiring entrepreneurial and social pursuits.
- Entrepreneurship with purpose – building startups that serve humanity, balance profit with purpose, and become engines of positive change through innovation, and seva.
Construction has already begun, on a serene piece of land near GOX Airport, nestled in the Western Ghats, north of Goa, a major milestone in bringing the vision to life.
Membership & Visitors
- Current members: 10
- Open to new members
- Open to visitors
Build3’s startup eco-ashram aspires to become a model ecovillage in India, guided by the principles and spirit of the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN). The GEN framework - emphasizing regeneration, community resilience, balance between innovation and indigenous wisdom and harmony between people and the planet - serves as a compass for our design, governance, and way of life.
We are deeply grateful to have Amena Bal from GEN and Brijinder Kathuria TI Ecovillage as founding members supporting this mission, helping us bring this movement to life in India.
If you believe the future of innovation must be sustainable, soulful, and shared, the startup eco-ashram welcomes you to be part of this unfolding story.
Ways to Engage:
- Visit or participate in upcoming build3 residencies and retreats
- Mentor or co-create with founders building impact-driven startups
- Support through funding, expertise, or storytelling collaborations

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