September 01 2026
Shivraj Sharma: From Purdue to building Wholeleaf around evidence-based pain management
(Sep 1, 2026) A Purdue University graduate from a third-generation New Delhi business family, Shivraj Sharma moved from textiles and global business into healthcare after a personal search for better pain-management options led him to found Wholeleaf, focused on evidence-based natural therapeutics.
When a close family member was diagnosed with a serious medical condition, Shivraj started looking for ways to better manage the side effects and improve overall quality of life. That search introduced him to the potential of evidence-based natural phytochemical extracts as complementary therapeutic options. This was how his journey into healthcare began.
Seeing the potential these approaches could have in improving quality of life led him to explore the science in greater depth. It ultimately inspired him to establish Wholeleaf, a healthcare company focused on developing evidence-based natural and cannabinoid-based therapeutics for pain management. As its Founder and CEO, Shivraj Sharma has since focused on pain management, particularly chronic and neuropathic pain, while collaborating with clinicians, scientific researchers and product formulators globally.
View this post on Instagram
From a New Delhi business family to global outlook
Shivraj comes from a third-generation business family in New Delhi and completed his schooling at St Columba’s School before pursuing undergraduate studies in Business Administration and Management at Purdue University.
“After returning to India, I spent nearly a decade in the textile and garment industry, working across manufacturing, supply chain management, exports, and business development. Those years gave me a strong foundation in building and scaling businesses. Today, my focus is on building clinically informed, evidence-based natural pain therapeutics that can complement conventional medicine and provide patients with safer, more holistic treatment options,” he shares with The Global Indian.
Working across both domestic and international markets has given him a valuable perspective on how business is shaped by culture, regulation and consumer behaviour.
While the fundamentals of building trust and delivering quality remain universal, I learned that innovation is adopted differently across markets, and the most successful businesses are those that adapt global learnings to local needs.
Shivraj Sharma
One observation that stayed with him was how advances in healthcare often gain wider acceptance once they are supported by robust scientific evidence and adopted across multiple markets. It is this thinking that has shaped the way he has built Wholeleaf. Rather than choosing between traditional knowledge and modern medicine, the focus is on integrating the two responsibly.
“By leveraging clinically studied natural phytochemical extracts, including cannabinoids where appropriate, we aim to develop safer, evidence-based pain therapeutics that can complement conventional care and improve the quality of life for millions of people living with chronic pain,” he explains.
Finding an unmet need in chronic pain
Shivraj’s professional journey has always been driven by solving real problems. When he started Wholeleaf, he knew he wanted to build evidence-based natural therapeutics, but he hadn’t yet narrowed down where he could create the greatest impact.
As we spent time with doctors, patients and healthcare professionals, one thing became very clear: chronic pain was one of the largest unmet needs. Patients were actively looking for safer, more effective options, and doctors were equally looking for therapies that could complement conventional treatment. That insight led us to make a conscious decision to specialise in natural pain therapeutics, and it has shaped the company ever since.
Shivraj Sharma
One of his biggest learnings was that patients don’t wake up looking for cannabinoids. They wake up looking for relief from pain. “We never set out to build a cannabis company. We set out to solve chronic pain, and cannabinoids are one of several scientifically studied phytochemical extracts that we use to build better natural pain therapeutics,” he says.
Putting science and collaboration at the centre
For Shivraj, the opportunity itself was never the biggest challenge. Another important learning was around communication and understanding what patients actually seek from healthcare.
“We realised that people don’t choose treatments based on ingredients—they choose them based on outcomes. Instead of leading with individual phytochemical extracts, we focused on educating people about evidence-based pain management, responsible formulations, and better patient outcomes. Entrepreneurship has taught me that success comes from staying close to your customers, listening to the market, and having the discipline to focus on solving one problem exceptionally well,” he says.
His approach to healthcare innovation has also been shaped by interdisciplinary collaboration. He has spent considerable time working with clinicians, scientific researchers and product formulators across markets, bringing together different perspectives on science, formulation, patient needs and business.
For Shivraj, this synergy of ideas and expertise has been crucial to shaping Wholeleaf’s approach to pain management. His mission extends beyond offering an alternative to conventional pain management. He wants to develop scientifically validated, high-quality and effective natural and cannabinoid-based solutions that can help people living with chronic pain.
Taking India’s strengths to the world
Working across domestic and international markets taught him that while every market has its own nuances, the fundamentals of building a successful business remain the same: integrity, execution, innovation and a relentless focus on the customer.
“It also reinforced an important belief: some of the best businesses are built by combining global scientific advancements with local strengths.”
India has an extraordinary heritage of natural medicine, and when that knowledge is supported by modern research, clinical validation, and responsible product development, it has the potential to create healthcare solutions with global relevance.
Shivraj Sharma
Hence, his goal as a leader is to build an organisation that is respected not only for its commercial success but also for the quality of its science, the trust it earns and the positive impact it creates for patients.
Advice for the next generation of entrepreneurs
He has clear advice for young people who want to be entrepreneurs. “Start with a real problem, not just an exciting idea. The strongest businesses are built by solving problems that affect millions of people and by creating genuine value for customers. Stay curious, stay resilient and don’t become emotionally attached to your first solution. Listen to your customers, let data guide your decisions and be willing to evolve as you learn. Most importantly, build for the long term. Sustainable businesses are created through consistency, discipline, and trust—not shortcuts,” he avers.
Beyond the boardroom
Outside work, Shivraj enjoys strength training and fitness, which he sees as an important part of maintaining discipline and balance. He also spends considerable time reading about healthcare innovation, entrepreneurship and emerging scientific research.
“I believe one of the most meaningful ways I can give back is by helping improve awareness around evidence-based natural healthcare,” he says.
Building the future of natural pain management
His next vision is to build Wholeleaf into one of India’s most trusted natural pain therapeutics companies by combining the country’s rich heritage of plant-based medicine with modern scientific research and clinical validation.
“Over the coming years, we will continue investing in product innovation, clinical evidence, healthcare partnerships and expanding access to evidence-based natural pain management solutions. I believe India can become a global leader in integrative healthcare, and I hope Wholeleaf can play a meaningful role in that journey. Personally, my ambition is to build an enduring healthcare company that creates lasting value for patients, healthcare professionals and the broader ecosystem,” he concludes.
ALSO READ: How a return home after 15 years abroad led Santosh Kumar to build a wellness startup
Share with
Written By: Vikram Sharma
