30 Under 30 2025: A 29-Year-Old’s Journey to Creating a Scalable and Profitable Waste Management Business
The Visionaries Behind WeVois: Transforming Waste Management in India
Introduction
In recent years, waste management has become a pressing issue, especially in rapidly urbanizing countries like India. Amidst this challenge, two innovators, Abhinav Shekhar Vashistha and Abhishek Gupta, have taken significant steps toward creating sustainable solutions for waste collection and management. They co-founded WeVois Labs Pvt Ltd in 2018. Their journey from college projects to running a successful waste management company is not just inspiring but reflects a commitment to improving the environment through technology and smart practices.
Early Beginnings
The story of WeVois began back in 2016 when Abhinav and Abhishek were still in college. Their enthusiasm for sustainability fueled their efforts to organize zero-waste college festivals. They also took innovative steps by creating an app to map public toilets and waste bins in Balmer, Rajasthan. The duo’s dedication to waste management was clear from the start, as they focused on practical solutions that could make a real difference.
Transition to a Business Model
What started as college projects gradually evolved into a more serious commitment. By concentrating on building a scalable, sustainable, and profitable business model, WeVois aimed to tackle waste management challenges more effectively. Their focus shifted from small-scale projects to developing a comprehensive service that caters to urban areas, where traditional waste collection methods often fail.
Innovative Technology in Waste Management
WeVois offers an Internet-of-Things (IoT) enabled door-to-door smart waste collection service. The goal is to ensure that every household receives proper waste collection services, minimizing open dumping and burning, which are common problems today.
How It Works
- Optimized Collection Routes: The company’s app surveys an area to create the most efficient collection routes. This includes identifying various waste producers like households, hotels, and hospitals.
- Real-time Monitoring: Drivers receive optimized routes on their smartphones with estimated completion times based on traffic and speed calculations.
- Enhanced Tracking: Every property using WeVois’s services is tagged with a Radio-frequency identification (RFID) system, allowing workers to check each collection point efficiently. This system not only tracks collections but also calculates employee performance and incentives.
Current Operations
WeVois currently serves around 20 municipalities in Rajasthan and is running pilot programs in Dehradun and Jammu & Kashmir. The company’s workforce comprises 1,000 direct employees, offering them essential social benefits like health insurance for the first time in their careers. Additionally, 500 other workers are registered on the app through various partner companies that utilize WeVois’s technology for waste collection.
Beyond Collection: A Comprehensive Approach
WeVois doesn’t stop at just collecting waste; the company is also focused on recycling and processing. Vashistha emphasizes that many waste processing plants sit idle due to unreliable or contaminated waste. WeVois not only collects waste but also segregates it and runs its processing facilities, ensuring that recyclable materials actually get recycled.
Financial Growth and Future Vision
From 2018 to 2021, WeVois was bootstrapped, relying on their own resources to grow. In 2022, with a ₹20 lakh grant from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and later raising ₹4.4 crore in seed funding, the company began to expand its operations significantly. By 2025, they successfully raised ₹36 crore in Series A funding, showcasing strong investor confidence.
Financial Success
The core principle behind WeVois’s success lies in running the venture like a business rather than solely a social enterprise. The company reported a revenue of ₹33 crore in the fiscal year 2024, with a profit after tax (PAT) of ₹2.91 crore. Looking ahead to fiscal year 2025, they expect revenues to reach ₹50 crore, with a projected PAT of around 10%.
Ambitious Goals for the Future
Vashistha has set ambitious goals for WeVois, aiming to establish 100 zero-waste cities across India in the next decade. He believes that solving India’s waste problem is feasible but acknowledges the challenges ahead, particularly regarding user behavior and the economic viability of waste management in densely populated areas.
Recognition and Endorsement
The visionary approach of WeVois and its founders has not gone unnoticed. Members of the Forbes India Under 30 jury have praised their goals to expand into over 500 cities and empower an additional 20,000 workers, recognizing the immense potential of their plans.
Conclusion
Abhinav Shekhar Vashistha and Abhishek Gupta’s journey with WeVois exemplifies how dedicated efforts, innovative technology, and a strong business model can tackle major societal issues like waste management. Through their work, they are setting a benchmark for others in the industry and paving the way for a cleaner and more sustainable future for India. Their continued growth and determination signal a promising path towards solving the complexities of waste management in urban areas, benefitting both people and the planet alike.
