Dr Shafali Gupta is a molecular biologist on a mission to eradicate plastic pollution. As Co-founder and Co-CEO of sustainable packaging startup Uuvipak, Dr Gupta created the world's first packaging solution designed from upcycled food waste. Dr Gupta leapt into the world of entrepreneurship after spending seven years as a Doctoral and Post-Doctoral research fellow working in the field of molecular biosciences at the University of Queensland. She came to Australia on an international PhD scholarship and is using her skills and talent as a scientist solving one of the greatest global challenges of our time.

Dr Gupta grew up in a small town in India with limited opportunities and no female role models in science or business visible to her in her community. Yet with great determination and focus, she succeeded in her education and completed a Masters in Biotechnology in Mumbai before receiving a Junior Research Scholarship from India’s Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. Focusing on Smart Lanthano proteins for Phospholipid sensing Dr. Gupta rose to Senior Research Fellow with the institute. Then in 2015, she was awarded an international Ph.D. scholarship at the University of Queensland Institute of Molecular Biosciences, bringing her to Australia. As a Doctoral fellow, Dr. Gupta attended the Gordon Research Seminar’s international scientific conference in the USA. Yet despite her success in academia, she was drawn to entrepreneurship by her desire to see ideas she conceptualised move into industrial applications. Her passion for the environment was the final motivation for her to take the leap and start her own venture.

Uuvipak's solutions were 100% sustainable and green, and developed to reduce food waste and eradicate plastic pollution from single use packaging. Uuvipak was part of the Techstars Farm 2 Fork 2023 program in Minneapolis, the Venture for Climate Tech accelerator in New York State, as well as the Ocean Impact Organisation and iLab programs in Australia.