Jaipur startup WeVOIS makes waste collection smart, efficient

Who knew garbage collection would one day reach such a height, where technology would play an important role? But now it’s for anyone to see. Jaipur-headquartered WeVOIS Labs Pvt Ltd, a trailblazing solid waste management company, for instance, is reshaping the industry landscape since its founding in 2018 by IIM Ahmedabad graduate Abhishek Gupta and LIF & Acumen member Abhinav Shekhar Vashistha.

Inspired by the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, WeVOIS embarked on a mission to revolutionize waste management and significantly improve the living conditions of sanitation workers. They introduced an integrated approach that includes a cutting-edge navigation app, comprehensive training sessions, and better wages for sanitation staff. This robust strategy boosted waste collection efficiency dramatically from 40 per cent to an impressive 95 per cent. It was no mean an achievement!

Moreover, WeVOIS leverages advanced IoT technology to offer real-time tracking of waste vehicle fleets, ensuring seamless coordination between municipal authorities and residents for timely and efficient waste disposal. Their commitment to a circular economy drives them to provide eco-friendly waste management solutions, aiming to enhance urban cleanliness and environmental sustainability.

Speaking to Bizz Buzz exclusively, Abhishek Gupta, Founder, WeVOIS Labs Pvt Ltd, narrates their mission-driven journey to revolutionise waste management and significantly improve their living conditions of sanitation workers and spells out the journey forward

What made you get into solid waste management? How grave is the situation when it comes to solid waste management in India?

Poor waste management in India is a critical problem that leads to environmental contamination and poses a threat to human health. Each year, the nation produces approximately 62 million metric tonne of waste, yet only 40 million metric tonne (or 70 per cent) are actually gathered. The lack of proper waste management has a significant influence on both the population and the environment. When we realised that the situation was so grave and there was an urgent need to do something about it, we decided to get into this. So there was a social cause and there was a huge gap and there was scope to make a business or revenue model out of this gap.

So what was the initial objective and purpose with which you founded this company nearly six years ago, in 2018?

In order to directly address this challenge, WeVOIS was founded in 2018 by Abhishek Gupta, a graduate of IIM Ahmedabad, and Abhinav Shekhar Vashistha, a member of LIF & Acumen. Driven by the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, our objective was unambiguous: to lead a revolutionary shift in the waste management sector and improve the living conditions of sanitation workers. An integrated solution was introduced by us, consisting of a navigation app, training sessions, and enhanced wages for workers. Implementing this comprehensive strategy resulted in a significant increase in the efficiency of waste collection, rising from 40 per cent to an astonishing 95 per cent. In addition, the technology, which we developed, promises to provide real-time tracking for waste vehicle fleets, enabling smooth coordination between municipal authorities and citizens for rubbish disposal with scheduled pickups.

What does WeVOIS Labs do now with this objective?

We at WeVOIS offer you with IoT enabled door to door waste collection services on primarily catering to municipal bodies responsible for managing waste. We believe in dealing with the problems of waste from its core and have developed domestic waste collection services to provide ease and convenience to our customers. With our Smart Home Card placed outside your humble abode we make sure that our helpers reach your doorstep in a timely manner and make your experience with us neat and satisfying. Majority of waste collected generally is dumped into the landfill sites thereby causing emission of harmful gases and thereby polluting the environment. To avoid the dumping of waste at landfill sites we at WeVOIS with the help of municipal bodies piloted a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) that receives, separates and prepares recyclable materials and provides efficient segregation in Sikar, Rajasthan. We have designed a route manager software that decides the optimum route for our helpers to reach your doorstep and provide on time service. A mobile app with a well-defined alert management system enables you to get notified every time before the scheduled pickup.

Under SBM 2016 rule, every user has to pay user charges for door to door waste collection to municipal bodies and we help them to collect the user charges which helps us in providing sustainable operations and also in efficient service.

What are the most significant impacts that your technology has had on the society and otherwise, since the inception of the company? And how did it meet the basic objectives with which the company was founded?

The WeVOIS platform has had a significant impact and has the potential for widespread expansion in cities throughout India. WeVOIS has had a beneficial effect on the environment for more than 2.5 million people in 18 cities, including Jaipur, Dehradun, Sikar, Gwalior, and Jaisalmer. WeVOIS has shown an impressive 250 per cent increase in growth compared to the previous year, as well as a significant 60 per cent increase in acquiring new customers in the last six months. This demonstrates WeVOIS's strong dedication to making a difference. Notably, WeVOIS sets itself apart in a sector where companies are spending a lot of money by becoming profitable from the very beginning of its activities. This highlights the company's commitment to both promoting social change and creating a business model that can be expanded, a philosophy strongly supported by us--its founders.

How did you mobilise funds to translate your dream project into reality? How much did you raise? And who all have invested in your company?

WeVOIS has successfully secured $4 million in fundraising during its pre-Series A round, resulting in a valuation of $10 million. The fundraising round was spearheaded by Innovana Thinklabs Ltd, Upaya Social Ventures, RecurClub, and prominent angels including Sunil Kumar Singhvi and Rajendra Lora from Freshokartz. We are confident that the injection of fresh funds will strengthen recruitment efforts in crucial sectors, accelerate technological advancements, support diversification plans, and enable extensive expansion throughout India. And that’s what it has been doing.

Now that you have travelled this far, what and how will be the journey forward? What lies ahead? What is the future outlook like?

If you ask me about the future outlook, I would say that with a demonstrated history of making a significant and lasting impact, WeVOIS is well-positioned to continue its mission of driving positive transformation in waste management practices across the country. WeVOIS is dedicated to achieving its goal of creating a more environmentally friendly India for future generations by utilizing creative ideas and forming strategic alliances.