I co-founded Erbe, a hydroponics startup, during the COVID-19 pandemic with my dad and uncle. The company designs and prototypes smart, self-sustaining hydroponic systems for home use, allowing people to utilize excess space on terraces, balconies, and in homes to grow clean, nutrient-dense produce. Over the past four years, Erbe has generated ₹8.2 million in revenue, providing an alternative to market-bought vegetables for health-conscious customers. Currently, as the Chief Prototyping Officer, I am overseeing the implementation of our new factory in Karjat.

We developed custom-made, smart hydroponic systems that are self-watering and require minimal maintenance due to water recycling features. Using my sister's and my CAD skills and expertise, we created a working prototype within six months without significant capital investment. To address the issue of excess produce from our prototypes, we expanded our business model to sell this surplus, tapping into a niche market with little competition. We marketed directly to health-conscious individuals and athletes who value precise nutrient control, leveraging the advantages of hydroponics in water and space efficiency, and year-round production without the risks of pests or weather conditions.

Initially, customers faced challenges in monitoring the acidity and salinity levels of the water in their hydroponic systems, leading to maintenance issues. This necessitated hiring our first employee to provide on-site assistance, and I often stepped in to help. As the pandemic subsided, we exhausted our initial clientele since the high cost and space requirements limited our market to affluent individuals. Additionally, our limited production capacity from home-based systems restricted the variety and quantity of produce we could offer. Recognizing these limitations, we sought to overcome the scalability issue and broaden our market reach by expanding our operations to a larger, more sustainable facility.