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UBC Sauder BCom grad turns side project into a Canadian food-tech company

Shreyansh Mandchanda
Posted ─ 2025-09-04
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Shreyansh Manchanda came to UBC Sauder School of Business from India with a passion for entrepreneurship. What started as a student side project has grown into CaterDash, a catering startup serving companies like Microsoft, EY and Amazon. In this Q&A, he shares how UBC Sauder shaped his journey from student to founder.

Where are you from, and where are you currently based?

I’m originally from India and moved to Canada to attend the Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) at UBC Sauder. I’m currently based in Vancouver, where I lead my startup, CaterDash.
 

What are you passionate about?

I’m passionate about building scalable businesses that solve real-world problems, especially those that empower local communities. Outside of work, I love exploring new cities and discovering authentic food from different cultures. It’s one of my favorite ways to learn and get inspired.
 

Can you walk us through your career journey since graduating from UBC Sauder?

Currently, I am building CaterDash, a startup that helps companies and events in getting catering from the best restaurants in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary. We have delivered thousands of meals for over 250 companies like Microsoft, EY, BMO, Amazon, Workday, BDC, P&G, Arc’teryx, Toronto Tech Week, Vancouver Startup Week and more. We will be launching it in the US soon as well.

Before CaterDash, I founded NNECT, a group food ordering platform that helped local restaurants in getting group orders of the same dishes while enabling students to save over 50 per cent on food delivery when they ordered together with their friends. During the pandemic, I started NNECT as a side project while I was in UBC. I personally delivered over 35,000 meals and scaled it to three college campuses across British Columbia.  

In addition, I completed co-op terms at companies like American Express, Molson Coors, ChopValue and UBC Sauder, where I gained practical experience in strategy, operations and product development.


What is one highlight of your career that you’re especially proud of?

Scaling CaterDash from a simple Google Form-based Minimum Viable Product to a full-fledged platform that’s now powering 90 per cent of tech events in Vancouver, all while staying bootstrapped, profitable and lean. It’s also been incredibly rewarding to see both customers and restaurants benefit deeply from something I built from scratch.

 

Why did you choose UBC Sauder and your specific program? 

I chose UBC Sauder for its strong focus on entrepreneurship, hands-on learning and its location within one of the most vibrant innovation ecosystems in North America. I specialized in Business Technology Management because I was interested in solving problems at the intersection of business and technology.
 

How did your experience at UBC Sauder shape your career path or contribute to your growth?

UBC Sauder gave me the space to experiment, connect and build. From serving as Co-President of UBC eProjects to being a Student Venture Advisor for Creative Destruction Lab, I had access to a community of builders and mentors that pushed me to think bigger. The courses, case competitions and club leadership roles all sharpened my ability to communicate, manage teams and think strategically.

UBC Sauder gave me the foundation, network and confidence to launch and scale a startup that’s now transforming the restaurant industry across North America. It’s where my founder journey truly began.

Is there a standout memory or moment from your time at UBC Sauder that you often reflect on? 

One moment that stands out was pitching an early version of my first startup at a UBC Sauder entrepreneurship event. It was the first time I shared a startup idea in a public setting, and the positive feedback gave me the confidence to pursue it seriously. That moment kickstarted my journey as a founder of NNECT and now, Caterdash.


What advice would you give to someone considering a business education at UBC Sauder?

Make the most of the community.

UBC Sauder isn’t just about coursework — it’s about relationships, experiences and momentum. Join clubs, launch something, attend events and take advantage of every opportunity to build real-world skills. You’ll never know where it might lead.