Founded in 2021 by Karan Bansal and Tanya Goyal, KARBAN Envirotech is a consumer electronics brand that specialises in IoT-enabled, energy-efficient climate control solutions for modern homes.
The adoption of smart home technology in India is steadily increasing, fueled by advancements in technology, heightened consumer awareness, and rising disposable incomes. With more households seeking the convenience and efficiency of smart devices, the Indian smart home market is projected to grow into a $9.2 Bn industry by 2028, expanding at a CAGR of 9.14%.
Key players driving this growth include brands like Haier, Samsung, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals, and Havells Group. The sector has also drawn significant attention from investors, evidenced by smart home automation startup Keus Smart Home raising INR 100 Cr ($12 Mn) earlier this year in a round led by OAKS Asset Management. Similarly, Aliste Technologies secured $1 Mn in December 2023 for its smart home solutions.
Additionally, major telecom player Reliance Jio launched its Jio Smart Home Services in August 2023, offering users seamless control over home appliances. Innovations such as bladeless fans, robotic vacuum cleaners, and smart air purifiers are also gaining momentum in this rapidly evolving market. Within this space, some companies are pushing the boundaries of technology to transform the smart home industry completely.
One such company is Jaipur-based KARBAN Envirotech, which has developed a multi-functional product that combines a bladeless fan, air purifier, and chandelier into a single unit. According to cofounder Bansal, the startup identified a gap in the market, where no major players were offering integrated solutions of this kind. While air purifiers and bladeless fans were available, no one had combined them with a chandelier to create a multi-utility product, prompting KARBAN to patent its invention.
Currently, KARBAN sells its products through its website and Amazon, which accounts for the majority of its sales. The company also operates a selective offline dealership network with 10 dealers across cities such as Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Coimbatore, and Jaipur.
This was the first time Bansal realised the need to do something unique with CFD solutions. Therefore, he quit his job to focus on this technology.
KARBAN’s product lineup includes six SKUs, featuring two prototypes of the 3-in-1 product: the Airzone and a compact version, the Airzone Lite. In FY24, the startup sold over 1,000 units, generating net sales of more than INR 1 Cr. To date, the company has raised INR 9.3 Cr from investors such as All in Capital, Titan Capital, Rainmatter, Urban Company, and the JK family office.
The Genesis Of KARBAN
KARBAN’s journey began with cofounder Bansal’s fascination with mechanical engineering, which started in school and grew as he pursued a degree in mechanical engineering at IIT Guwahati. His interest in aerodynamics and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) led him to pursue a Master’s in aerospace engineering at Purdue University. After completing his education, Bansal worked as a CFD research engineer in the US with Convergent Science, where he spent six years (2015-2021) working on projects such as compressors, rocket components, and battery cooling systems.
During his career, Bansal noticed several gaps in the consumer appliances market and decided to apply his expertise to develop a bladeless fan. By 2021, he began working on a prototype but soon realized it could be more than just a fan. He aimed to create a product that combined multiple functionalities, optimized space efficiency, and reduced costs, eliminating the need for separate devices.
This led him to create a product that combined a fan, air purifier, and chandelier into one unit, a feature that was relatively rare in the market.
In November 2022, Bansal completed the first prototype of the Airzone and spent several months refining the design before launching it on Amazon in June 2023. By January 2024, the startup had also introduced the Airzone Lite, a smaller version of the Airzone. Although KARBAN was officially registered in December 2021, it only began full-scale operations in January 2023.
KARBAN’s Technology
KARBAN employs advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and aerospace engineering to enhance air circulation. CFD is a computer-based method used to simulate and analyze fluid flow, providing detailed insights into fluid behavior. It is widely used in fields like aerospace engineering for optimizing aerodynamics and weather forecasting for predicting conditions.
By leveraging CFD, KARBAN can simulate and analyze the performance of prototypes, including airflow and purification, before moving into physical production. This approach enables precise adjustments to the final designs. Additionally, the bladeless design emphasizes safety, while the Forever Pure Technology stabilizes AQI levels, ensuring continuous high-quality air with minimal energy use.
Challenges & Future Plans
Despite initial challenges, KARBAN has made significant strides. From managing limited production to setting up a manufacturing unit, the cofounder describes each step as a major hurdle. However, the company’s hard work paid off, with revenue steadily increasing—from INR 3 Lakh in the first month to INR 20 Lakh by the fourth month of operations.
To keep costs low, KARBAN’s initial products were made of wood, as using plastic would have required a significant upfront investment. Finding suitable vendors also proved challenging, as many were hesitant to work with small players, leading to high rates and resistance. However, with persistence, the startup secured partnerships.
Recently, KARBAN raised $1.07 Mn in seed funding, co-led by All in Capital, Titan Capital, and Rainmatter. The startup is now preparing to launch its next product version within the next four months. This new iteration will focus on sustainability, offering two versions: one made from recycled plastic and another using 50% less plastic than current products.
The main essence of the product will remain the same. But it will be an upgrade. A major upgrade on the current product. It will be made out of plastic,” said Bansal.
In the short term, KARBAN plans to expand its offline presence by partnering with distributors across India. Over the medium term, the startup aims to scale production by 30 to 40 times. While KARBAN is on the right track, it will need to stay innovative in the ever-changing consumer electronics space to maintain its competitive edge, especially as the smart home market continues to evolve.
