The adoption of smart home technology in India is increasing, driven by factors such as technological advancements, enhanced consumer awareness, and a rise in disposable income and discretionary spending of individuals, just to count a few.
As more households embrace the convenience and efficiency of these devices, the Indian smart home market is expected to grow into a $9.2 Bn market opportunity by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 9.14%.
Leading the charge in this space are players like Haier, Samsung, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals, and Havells Group, among others.
Not only this, the sector has also attracted significant investor interest. For instance, earlier this year, smart home automation startup Keus Smart Home raised INR 100 Cr ($12 Mn) in a round led by OAKS Asset Management. Similarly, Aliste Technologies, another startup specialising in smart home solutions, secured $1 Mn in December last year.
Notably, Reliance Jio launched its Jio Smart Home Services in August 2023 to offer users the luxury of having seamless control over their home appliances.
However, if we were to delve deeper into this segment, we would observe innovations such as bladeless fans, robotic vacuum cleaners, and smart air purifiers, which have started to gain significant traction. Notably, in this highly attractive market, there are players that have pushed the boundaries of innovation to completely transform the face of the smart home industry.
One such example is Jaipur-based KARBAN Envirotech, which has developed a versatile product that integrates a bladeless fan, air purifier, and chandelier into a single unit.
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.
“We couldn’t find any major players offering integrated solutions, like ours, in this space. There were many air purifier companies and a few manufacturers of bladeless fans. Recessed ceiling fans, often called caged fans, exist but have inadequate airflow and are less appealing. No one was combining a fan, air purifier, and chandelier into a single multi-utility product. Noticing this gap, we patented our product,” Bansal said.
Currently, the consumer electronics brand sells its products via its website and on Amazon, which accounts for a majority of its sales. It also has a selective offline dealership process, with around 10 dealers in Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Coimbatore, and Jaipur.
The startup currently offers six SKUs, including two prototypes of its 3-in-1 product: the Airzone and a more compact version, the Airzone Lite.
According to the cofounders, the company sold over 1,000 products and achieved net sales of INR 1 Cr+ in FY24. So far, the startup has raised INR 9.3 Cr from All in Capital, Titan Capital, Rainmatter, Urban Company, and the JK family office.
The Genesis Of KARBAN
KARBAN’s story began with cofounder Bansal’s early fascination with mechanical engineering during his school time. Later, while studying mechanical engineering at IIT Guwahati, he developed a keen interest in aerodynamics and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). This led him to pursue his Master’s in aerospace engineering from Purdue University.
After completing his education, he worked as a CFD research engineer in the US with Convergent Science, where he spent about six years (from 2015 to 2021). During this time, the cofounder worked on various advanced projects, including new compressors, rocket components, and battery cooling technologies.
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.
However, along the way, witnessing several gaps in the consumer appliances market, he decided to use his expertise in aerospace, which led him to develop a bladeless fan.
In 2021, Bansal began working on the first prototype of a bladeless fan. However, as he designed it, he realised it could be more than just a fan. He thought that instead of focussing on a single product, he should combine multiple functions into one device.
With this one device, he also aspired to achieve maximum space efficiency, reduce costs, and eliminate 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.
By November 2022, Bansal completed the first prototype, the Airzone. He spent the next 3-4 months refining the design to make it market-ready. The product was officially launched on Amazon in June 2023. In January 2024, they introduced the Airzone Lite, a smaller version of the Airzone.
Notably, while Bansal started KARBAN’s journey in 2021 and officially registered the startup in December 2021, he commenced operations only in January 2023.
“Before January 2023, the focus was on laying the groundwork, and the startup was not yet fully operational,” said the cofounder.
KARBAN’s Tech At Play
The startup leverages Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and aerospace engineering to optimise air circulation within a room. For context, CFD is a computer-based method for simulating and analysing fluid flow, including liquids, gases, and plasmas.
It uses complex mathematical equations to provide detailed insights into fluid behaviour. CFD is used in fields like aerospace engineering to optimise aerodynamics, weather forecasting to predict conditions, and visual effects to create realistic fluid simulations.
By using CFD, the KARBAN team creates detailed computer models of prototypes to simulate performance, airflow, and purification before physical production. This approach allows for rapid adjustments and precise final designs.
Moving on, the startup’s Airzone, installed on the ceiling, expands air inflow and boosts efficiency, serving as an alternative to traditional air purifiers and ceiling fans.
Its bladeless design prioritises safety by reducing the risk of accidental injuries, while Forever Pure Technology stabilises AQI levels, providing continuous, high-quality air with minimal energy consumption.
The Road Ahead For KARBAN
Everything said and done, Bansal’s journey to KARBAN has not been easy. From building the hardware product to managing limited production and setting up a manufacturing unit, each step posed a significant challenge, the cofounder said.
However, the hard work paid off, and in the first month of its operations, the startup generated around INR 3 Lakh in revenue, followed by INR 6 Lakh in the second month, INR 10 Lakh in the third, and INR 20 Lakh in the fourth month of operations.
“Our growth has been limited by production capacity. Due to the handcrafted nature of our products, we are unable to make more than 100 units a month. This is also the reason why our products are also priced higher than the ones that are mass-produced,” the founders said.
The initial product line was made of wood because using plastic would have required an upfront investment of at least INR 3 to 4 Cr, which the startup didn’t have. “Figuring out how to manufacture with wood was a game-changer,” Bansal said.
Another significant challenge was finding the right vendors. With small minimum order quantities (MOQs), the team faced high rates and resistance from vendors hesitant to work with smaller players. “It took a lot of convincing to get people on board,” Bansal said.
Despite these hurdles, the startup recently secured $1.07 Mn in seed funding, co-led by All in Capital, Titan Capital, and Rainmatter.
Besides, the cofounder is working on the next version of their product, which is expected to launch within the next four months.
“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.
The product, as per the founders, will be launched aligned with the startup’s sustainability goals. It will be available in two versions: one made entirely from recycled plastic for environmentally conscious consumers and another using 50% less plastic than existing products.
Additionally, in the short term, they plan to partner with distributors and dealers across India for offline expansion. In the medium term, the cofounders aim to scale production by 30 to 40 times.
While the startup is currently on the right path, it will have to constantly evolve to introduce a new range of innovative products in the market. This becomes even more imperative as trends related to consumer electronics keep on changing every few years. Plus, the era of smart homes has just started, and to stay ahead in the race, a strong appetite for innovation will be the key to long-term survival.
[Edited by Shishir Parasher]
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