SoundRise is a live music movement built around presence, discovery and community. What began as a small gathering between friends has grown into one of Mumbai’s most loved independent live music communities — creating experiences where music feels personal again.
About Us
SoundRise was created by a group of founders from different entrepreneurial and creative backgrounds who shared one thing in common: a deep love for live music and meaningful experiences. Over time, the gatherings became larger — but the feeling stayed the same.
People arriving early to sit on the grass.
Children dancing near the speakers.
Artists trying new material.
Strangers becoming regulars.
Communities forming around music.
Today, SoundRise continues to build experiences that feel open, human and emotionally real.
Our Story
Community Numbers
Meet the Founders
Shaan Khanna is a serial entrepreneur & founder who has spent over a decade building community-first spaces in the events world a journey that began at just 15.
She founded Networking Now India, a thriving ecosystem of 51,000+ members across industries who come together to support, empower, and grow with one another. True to the community’s spirit of “just ask,” NNI connects entrepreneurs and freelancers with the advice, referrals, and partnerships they need to move forward - built on collaboration, not competition.
Beyond Networking Now India, Shaan co-founded Spicy Sangria and SoundRise Live, bringing the same energy for connection into live music and experiential events.Shaan Khanna
Mohit has always found his way back to music. Growing up with Hindustani classical music, he later discovered jazz on the streets of New York, and found himself drawn to hip-hop, soul and everything in between.
After years of working across finance, strategy and building businesses, Mohit returned to that passion in 2021 when he co-founded SoundRise with a simple belief: that live music needs more spaces to thrive, and audiences need more opportunities to discover it.
For Mohit, SoundRise is about about creating moments of real connection through music, people and the city he calls home.Mohit Chhatrapati
Varun is an actor, singer, voice artist, host and communications coach, and one of the co-founders of SoundRise.
A lifelong performer, Varun has worked across theatre, film, television and live performance. His theatre credits include Jaya, My Fair Lady, Beauty and the Beast, Hidden Agendas, Gauhar and The Devil Wears Bataa. He has also appeared in films and OTT projects including Article 370, Gulmohar and Gehraiyaan. As a singer and voice artist, his baritone has featured in films, audiobooks, audio series and television commercials.
He also works as a communications and leadership coach, helping individuals and organisations find their voice and communicate with greater confidence and authenticity. Varun Narayan
Raoul Nanavati is a foundational AI entrepreneur, a technology venture builder, and a community builder. He is the co-founder of Navana.ai, where he builds voice AI models for India that let a person speak in whatever language they think in and be understood. He built the company with his brother Jai.
Music is the other constant. Raoul listens across genres, soul, funk, R&B, world fusion, and returns to Radiohead more often than is strictly reasonable.
Underneath both is the drive to be of value to his community, whether through technology that opens a door at scale, or moments of magic that remind us what it feels like to be human.Raoul Nanavati
Stay connected beyond the gigs
