Rehan Ali Pradhan : Rethinking Sustainability Through Entrepreneurial Vision
Rehan Ali Pradhan
Founder & CEO
IIT Roorkee’s alumni ecosystem reflects a rare convergence of technical depth, ethical inquiry, and long-term thinking, producing professionals who do not merely adapt to change but actively design it.
Within this tradition of intellectually grounded leadership stands Rehan Ali Pradhan, Founder and CEO of Matolutions, whose journey exemplifies how rigorous engineering education can evolve into purpose-driven entrepreneurship with real-world impact.
A polymer engineering graduate from IIT Roorkee’s 2015 batch and a Silver Medalist, Pradhan demonstrated academic distinction early in his career, alongside a growing fascination with materials and their role in shaping sustainable futures.
He subsequently pursued a Master of Science in Bioresource Technology at the University of Alberta, Canada, where his research centred on biopolymers and sustainable materials derived from agricultural resources.
Following his academic training, Pradhan transitioned into industry with Pakka, joining the Biopolymer Innovation team. There, he worked on developing functional and barrier coatings for paper based packaging, gaining critical insight into the practical constraints that determine whether sustainable materials succeed beyond the laboratory.
Considerations of cost, performance, scalability, and market adoption became central to his thinking, revealing the structural gaps between promising research and commercially viable deployment.
Motivated to bridge this divide, Pradhan founded Matolutions as a material innovation company dedicated to converting deep-tech research into affordable, performance-driven, and industry-ready alternatives to single use plastics.
The company’s science-first yet market aware approach has positioned it as a credible force in sustainable materials innovation, earning recognition such as the First Prize at the i5 Summit Get Funded competition at IIM Indore in 2025.
Known for his philosophy-driven outlook, Pradhan also draws inspiration from books on history, freedom, and human progress, influences that subtly inform his leadership style and long-term vision.
Looking back at your time at IIT Roorkee, which experiences or lessons proved most transformative in shaping the way you think, learn, and lead today?
My time at IIT Roorkee was deeply formative, as it helped me translate strong theoretical fundamentals into practical problem solving. Hands-on experiences at AMPRI Bhopal and later at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany shaped my interest in sustainable and interdisciplinary material research.
These projects strengthened my analytical rigor and application-oriented thinking. Equally impactful was the diverse peer ecosystem at IIT Roorkee, which broadened my perspective, fostered lasting professional relationships, and cultivated a culture of curiosity and excellence that continues to guide my work today.
In what ways did your time at the institute nurture your entrepreneurial mindset and help sharpen your under standing of business and value creation?
IIT Roorkee played a decisive role in shaping my entrepreneurial outlook and business thinking.
Several professors actively encouraged students to look beyond traditional career paths and view entrepreneurship as a powerful means of translating technology into real-world impact.
This mindset helped me become comfortable with risk and solution driven thinking. A faculty mentor later guided me toward incubation at TIDES IIT Roorkee, where early mentorship and a NIDHI PRAYAS grant of ₹10 lakh enabled Matolutions to move from research to a commercially relevant proof of concept.
How would you describe the accessibility and mentorship culture of the faculty during your years at IIT Roorkee?
One of the defining strengths of IIT Roorkee was the exceptional accessibility of its faculty. Professors were consistently approachable for academic guidance, career direction, and professional support, including recommendations for international internships and early opportunities.
Looking back at your time at IIT Roorkee, which experiences or lessons proved most transformative in shaping the way you think, learn, and lead today?
My time at IIT Roorkee was deeply formative, as it helped me translate strong theoretical fundamentals into practical problem solving. Hands-on experiences at AMPRI Bhopal and later at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany shaped my interest in sustainable and interdisciplinary material research.
These projects strengthened my analytical rigor and application-oriented thinking. Equally impactful was the diverse peer ecosystem at IIT Roorkee, which broadened my perspective, fostered lasting professional relationships, and cultivated a culture of curiosity and excellence that continues to guide my work today.
The IIT Roorkee alumni network has been a consistent pillar of support across my academic and profes-sional journey
In what ways did your time at the institute nurture your entrepreneurial mindset and help sharpen your under standing of business and value creation?
IIT Roorkee played a decisive role in shaping my entrepreneurial outlook and business thinking.
Several professors actively encouraged students to look beyond traditional career paths and view entrepreneurship as a powerful means of translating technology into real-world impact.
This mindset helped me become comfortable with risk and solution driven thinking. A faculty mentor later guided me toward incubation at TIDES IIT Roorkee, where early mentorship and a NIDHI PRAYAS grant of ₹10 lakh enabled Matolutions to move from research to a commercially relevant proof of concept.
How would you describe the accessibility and mentorship culture of the faculty during your years at IIT Roorkee?
One of the defining strengths of IIT Roorkee was the exceptional accessibility of its faculty. Professors were consistently approachable for academic guidance, career direction, and professional support, including recommendations for international internships and early opportunities.
Serving as Class Representative enabled close engagement with faculty on student concerns and built strong mutual trust. My role as a student club secretary further allowed informal interactions beyond academics, fostering mentorship, leadership insight, and long-term relationships that extended well beyond campus life.
How did you engage with the IIT Roorkee alumni network during your student years, and how has that network continued to support you after graduation?
The IIT Roorkee alumni network has been a consistent pillar of support across my academic and professional journey. As a student, mentorship from a senior alumnus helped me secure a research internship at KIT Germany, shaping my global research outlook.
After graduation, alumni have supported Matolutions through strategic inputs, pitch refinement, and early execution support. Several alumni are now exploring roles as angel or pre seed investors, while others are expected to assist in future fundraising, partnerships, and market access.
Which experience or moment from your years at IIT Roorkee remains the most memorable for you today?
One of my most cherished memories at IIT Roorkee is the spontaneous campus-wide celebration when India won the 2011 Men’s Cricket World Cup. Students across batches and disciplines came together as one community. That moment captured the true spirit of campus life and reinforced a lasting lesson that shared achievements carry far greater meaning.
What long-term vision or destination are you working toward as you look to the future?
My future focus is building Matolutions into a commercially viable, impact-driven materials company. We aim to validate pilots, secure early customers, expand the core team, and strengthen R&D, operations, and business development. Strategic investments will enable scaling, delivering measurable commercial value, and establishing a sustain able, long-term platform for material innovation.
Rehan Ali Pradhan, Founder & CEO, Matolutions
A materials innovator and entrepreneur, Rehan Ali Pradhan drives deep-tech solutions for sustainable materials, combining academic excellence, industry experience, and purpose-driven leadership to create scalable, impact-focused innovations.
How did you engage with the IIT Roorkee alumni network during your student years, and how has that network continued to support you after graduation?
The IIT Roorkee alumni network has been a consistent pillar of support across my academic and professional journey. As a student, mentorship from a senior alumnus helped me secure a research internship at KIT Germany, shaping my global research outlook.
After graduation, alumni have supported Matolutions through strategic inputs, pitch refinement, and early execution support. Several alumni are now exploring roles as angel or pre seed investors, while others are expected to assist in future fundraising, partnerships, and market access.
Which experience or moment from your years at IIT Roorkee remains the most memorable for you today?
One of my most cherished memories at IIT Roorkee is the spontaneous campus-wide celebration when India won the 2011 Men’s Cricket World Cup. Students across batches and disciplines came together as one community. That moment captured the true spirit of campus life and reinforced a lasting lesson that shared achievements carry far greater meaning.
What long-term vision or destination are you working toward as you look to the future?
My future focus is building Matolutions into a commercially viable, impact-driven materials company. We aim to validate pilots, secure early customers, expand the core team, and strengthen R&D, operations, and business development. Strategic investments will enable scaling, delivering measurable commercial value, and establishing a sustain able, long-term platform for material innovation.
Rehan Ali Pradhan, Founder & CEO, Matolutions
A materials innovator and entrepreneur, Rehan Ali Pradhan drives deep-tech solutions for sustainable materials, combining academic excellence, industry experience, and purpose-driven leadership to create scalable, impact-focused innovations.