Abhinav Shekhar Vashistha clean energy vision reflects a practical approach to climate action in Indian cities. At 29, Abhinav Shekhar Vashistha is the co-founder and chief technology officer of WeVOIS Labs Pvt Ltd, a company that runs a profitable waste management system for urban and semi-urban India. The focus is simple. Collect waste on time. Stop open dumping. Reduce burning. Treat waste as a resource.

India produces more than 150,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste each day. A large share never reaches processing plants. Missed collections force households to dump or burn waste. This raises air pollution and health risks. WeVOIS aims to close this gap using technology, structured operations, and stable jobs.

From College Projects to a Full-Scale Company

WeVOIS began as an idea during college. In 2016, Abhinav Shekhar Vashistha and Abhishek Gupta, now the company’s CEO, worked on waste-related projects on campus. They ran zero-waste college festivals. They built apps to map public toilets and dustbins in Balmer, Rajasthan. They also tested smart dustbins.

These early efforts showed them a clear pattern. Cities had waste plants. Cities had workers. What they lacked was reliable collection and clean segregation.

In 2018, they incorporated WeVOIS Labs Pvt Ltd. The goal shifted from short-term projects to building a long-term business that cities could depend on.

How WeVOIS Works

WeVOIS provides door-to-door waste collection using an Internet-of-Things-based system. The company surveys each service area. It maps homes, hostels, hotels, hospitals, and other waste sources. It then uses software to design collection routes.

Each driver receives a route plan on a mobile app. The plan shows distance, time, and expected speed. This cuts fuel use and missed stops. Traditional systems often skip 30 to 40 percent of households. WeVOIS aims to cover all registered properties.

Each property has an RFID tag. Waste collectors scan the tag at each stop. This records attendance and confirms collection. The same data helps calculate salaries and rewards. The system also improves worker safety by tracking routes and timings.

Formal Jobs in an Informal Sector

Waste collection in India often runs on informal labour. Workers lack job security and health cover. WeVOIS chose a different model.

The company employs 1,000 workers directly. Another 500 use its app through partner firms. Workers receive health insurance and social benefits. For many, this is their first formal job.

Performance-linked rewards encourage regular collection and segregation. The company says this system reduces absenteeism and improves service quality.

Beyond Collection: Making Recycling Work

Collection alone does not solve the waste problem. Many cities have processing plants that sit idle. The issue is not capacity. It is quality of waste.

WeVOIS works as a steady waste supplier for recyclers. It ensures waste arrives sorted and uncontaminated. The company also runs its own processing units in some locations.

Vashistha explains that reliable input keeps plants running. This reduces landfill use and lowers emissions linked to waste burning.

Where WeVOIS Operates

WeVOIS currently works with 20 municipalities in Rajasthan. It also runs pilot projects in Dehradun and Jammu and Kashmir. The company plans to expand into more states over the next few years.

The firm bootstrapped operations from 2018 to 2021. In 2022, it received a ₹20 lakh grant from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The same year, it raised ₹4.4 crore in seed funding from Innovana ThinkLabs and Upaya Social Ventures.

In 2025, WeVOIS raised ₹36 crore in Series A funding. Investors include Negen Capital, Vyom Ventures, Marshot, SN Capital, and several high net-worth individuals.

Profitable From Day One

Unlike many climate-focused startups, WeVOIS runs as a commercial business. Vashistha says the company turned profitable in its first month. All funds raised go into expansion, pilots, and research.

In FY24, the company reported revenue of ₹33 crore with a profit after tax of ₹2.91 crore. For FY25, it expects revenue of ₹50 crore with a margin close to 10 percent.

This business-first approach helps the company scale without relying on subsidies.

Climate Impact at City Scale

Waste burning is a major source of urban air pollution. Regular collection cuts this risk. Segregation improves recycling rates. Together, these steps lower greenhouse gas emissions.

WeVOIS aims to help build 100 zero-waste cities in India over the next decade. The target is ambitious. Vashistha notes that behaviour change remains the hardest part. Dense cities also raise costs. Still, he believes scale can make systems efficient.

Environmental advocate Swami Prem Parivartan, also known as Peepal Baba, has praised the company’s growth plans. He points to its goal of operating in 500 cities and supporting 20,000 workers as a sign of long-term impact.

A Business Approach to Climate Action

WeVOIS shows how clean energy and climate work can function within market systems. It does not rely on awareness campaigns alone. It builds infrastructure. It tracks data. It pays workers.

Abhinav Shekhar Vashistha’s role sits at the centre of this system. As CTO, he focuses on making technology fit local conditions. The aim is not complex tools but reliable ones.

As India looks for scalable climate solutions, waste management remains one of the fastest ways to cut emissions in cities. WeVOIS offers a model that combines technology, jobs, and profit without losing sight of public health.

FAQs

Q1. Who is Abhinav Shekhar Vashistha?
Abhinav Shekhar Vashistha is a 29-year-old clean energy entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and CTO of WeVOIS Labs Pvt Ltd.

Q2. What does WeVOIS do?
WeVOIS provides IoT-enabled door-to-door waste collection services for cities and towns. It also supports waste segregation and recycling.

Q3. How many people does WeVOIS employ?
The company employs 1,000 workers directly and supports around 500 more through partner firms.

Q4. Is WeVOIS a profitable company?
Yes. WeVOIS has been profitable since its early operations. In FY24, it reported ₹33 crore in revenue with a positive profit after tax.