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Let’s Begin
This is the inspiring journey of turning waste into ₹220 Cr. worth of business. It all began with a game-changing idea. Instead of seeing waste as a problem, two IIIT friends saw it as an opportunity. By tackling this challenge, they built a ₹220 Cr. company, focused on creating a sustainable future through innovative waste management and eco-friendly practices. Their innovative approach not only improved waste management but also turned a big environmental issue into a successful business.
The early life of co-founders:
Meet Abhishek Gupta and Abinav Shekhar Vashitha, two IIITian friends tackling one of the biggest waste problems. Coming from middle-class backgrounds, they met while studying at the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Management, Jabalpur.
Abhishek Gupta, who is the CEO and co-founder of Wevois, originally comes from Agra and moved to Jaipur after completing school. With support from his two elder sisters and parents, he graduated from IIITDM Jabalpur and later completed his post-graduation at IIM Ahmedabad.
Abhinav Shekhar Vashitha has always been passionate about technology and innovation. He met Abhishek at IIITDM Jabalpur, and their friendship led them to their entrepreneurial venture aiming for a cleaner India. Forbes 30 Under 30 also featured him.
They both began their entrepreneurial journey with the goal of creating a more sustainable future.
The Inspiration Behind Their Startup:
One day, Abhishek Gupta observed that a person was urinating on a wall, despite the toilet being available there. He was surprised after observing this, that many people were still unaware of proper cleanliness and sanitation facilities. Abhishek’s observation and his curious behavior led him towards in-depth research on this issue. During this time, Abhishek discussed this issue with his college friend, Abhinav Shekhar.
Did you know that India generates 62 million tons of waste annually, of which only 70% is collected and only 12 million tons are treated? Meanwhile, 31 million tons end up in landfills.
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Furthermore, their in-depth research in this sector concluded that it not only affects the environment but also poses health risks. Hence, instead of ignoring this issue, they saw it as an opportunity and were determined to come up with an idea to resolve the waste management problem.
WeVOIS Labs Pvt Ltd: A solution
The entrepreneurial spirit of the boys led them to deeply research about the waste management problem, and by August 2017, they had developed an app for finding toilets and dustbins. Furthermore, they started collecting data and learning more about waste management by visiting and discussing with different municipal corporations.
During this period, they faced many rejections from municipal offices because they weren’t sure that the municipal department was the only one that handled all waste collection issues. With advice from elders, they visited a municipal office 120 km away from Jaipur.
After facing numerous rejections, they finally secured a partnership in April 2019 but faced issues like a worker strike on their first day of waste collection. However, their efforts paid off and they started a new chapter by launching their startup WeVOIS Labs Pvt. Ltd. with 10,000 households, a team of five developers, eight operations staff, and twenty-five sanitation workers who used municipal vehicles. This was the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey.
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What WeVOIS Labs does?
In 2018, IIITian friends launched WeVOIS Labs Pvt. Ltd, a waste management company. This Jaipur-based company focuses on waste management and uses an IoT-based app for door-to-door waste collection. The app helps sanitation workers with optimized routes, informs residents about collection times, and allows them to track the vehicles live.
This company, a leader in solid waste management, has been transforming waste management practices in India for over 6 years. With a team of 300+ solid waste experts and more than 1500 sanitation partners, they are contributing in the cleanliness and sustainability of urban areas. Their IoT-based solutions have enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of waste collection and management, serving over 3 million people across 15+ cities, including Jaipur, Dehradun, Pali, Sikar, and others.
WeVois serves around 15 cities in India with a collection efficiency of 90-95%. They started by collecting 15-18 tons of waste daily, now managing 1,200 tons. The company produces compost from over 5,000 tons of wet waste, improving sanitation and workers' lives. They plan to expand into Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, aiming to cover 250-300 cities in the next five years.
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The Jaipur-based waste management startup's revenue increased from ₹3.16 crore in FY-20 to ₹30 crore in FY-24, with projected growth reaching ₹60-70 crore in FY-25.
These college friends saw the waste problem as an opportunity and turned it into a ₹220 Cr. worth of business. Duo IIITians are truly inspiring entrepreneurs!
