Author: Vaibhav Chavan

Vaibhav Chavan

Short Bio

I'm Vaibhav, Founder and CEO of underDOGS. Over 17 years in the gaming industry, I've worn multiple hats — from Game Designer, Game Producer, and Game Director to founding and growing a sustainable gaming business. A computer engineer turned entrepreneur, my journey began with selling sports card photos to eventually founding underDOGS in 2011. I recently won the Sony PlayStation India Hero Project for my game Mukti to build for PlayStation 5 and PC. I've successfully delivered more than 250 games globally. With a passion for making games, mentoring businesses, and shaping the careers of thousands of students, I've managed to become a recognized figure in the gaming industry.

Extended Bio

I started my journey not in a boardroom or a design studio, but by selling sports card photos. That early hustle taught me something that has stayed with me through every phase of my career: if you want to build something, you start where you are, with what you have. I was a computer engineer by training, but my heart was always in gaming — the art of creating experiences that people remember, that make them feel something, that transport them to another world.In 2011, I founded underDOGS. The name was deliberate — I've always believed that the best stories come from the underdogs, the ones who have to fight for every win. Over the last 17 years, I've worn every hat in this industry: Game Designer, Game Producer, Game Director, and eventually, Founder and CEO. I've learned that making great games requires more than technical skill — it requires understanding people, managing chaos, and having the resilience to see a vision through to completion.One of the proudest moments of my career came when my game Mukti won the Sony PlayStation India Hero Project. This recognition means I get to build Mukti for PlayStation 5 and PC — a dream that every indie game developer carries. It validated something I've always believed: that Indian game developers can create world-class experiences that compete on the global stage.Beyond my own projects, I've delivered more than 250 games globally. But numbers only tell part of the story. What matters more to me is the impact I've had on the people I've worked with and mentored. I've had the privilege of shaping the careers of thousands of students who are now making their own mark in the gaming industry. I mentor businesses and individuals because I believe that the gaming industry in India is still in its early days, and the next generation of developers needs guidance, encouragement, and real-world insights to navigate this exciting but challenging field.As an author for ENTECH Magazine, I write for aspiring game developers wondering how to break into the industry, for students building their first portfolio, for entrepreneurs trying to sustain a gaming business, and for anyone who believes that games are not just entertainment — they are one of the most powerful mediums for storytelling, creativity, and human connection.

Primary Beats

• Game Design, Production & Direction — Lessons from 17 Years in the Industry: Wearing multiple hats — designer, producer, director — and what each role teaches you; the craft of creating experiences that resonate with players; managing the chaos of game development while staying true to your vision; the difference between making a game and shipping a game.
• Building a Sustainable Gaming Business — The underDOGS Story: Founding and growing underDOGS from 2011 to today; the entrepreneurial journey from selling sports card photos to leading a game studio; sustaining a gaming business in India; lessons in resilience, team building, and long-term thinking.
• Winning Sony PlayStation India Hero Project — Mukti on PS5 & PC: The journey of Mukti from concept to Sony recognition; what it takes to win a platform holder's hero project; developing for PlayStation 5 and PC as an indie studio; the significance of this milestone for Indian game development.
• Mentoring the Next Generation — Shaping Careers in Gaming: Why mentorship matters in the gaming industry; helping thousands of students find their path; what aspiring game developers need to know about breaking in; building a community that supports Indian gaming talent.