New Delhi | April 2025
For every student who’s ever missed a class or exam, waiting for their laundry, this story hits home. What began as a simple student grievance has now been honored on India’s biggest startup stage. Dhobi G, a tech-driven, fully managed institutional laundry company, has won the B2B category of the Startup Maharathi Challenge 2025, hosted by the Government of India and Startup India.
The award was presented at the grand Startup Mahakumbh 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, in the presence of Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry. From among over 2,400 startups, Dhobi G stood out for tackling a basic but deeply entrenched issue, student laundry, with innovation, empathy, and scale.
From Struggle to Solution
Dhobi G was founded by Ravi Ranjan (CEO), Ankur Gupta (COO), and Daksh Sabharwal (CMO), three friends who were once roommates in a Chennai hostel. Frustrated by the inefficiencies and unreliability of their laundry service, they decided to build a solution. One that would not only serve students like themselves but would also transform the way laundry is managed across institutions.
The team behind this new venture brings together real-world experience and simple, clear thinking. Each of them focuses on a different part of the problem: tech, systems, and design.
Ravi, starting from age 13, he already helped small shops and local businesses in Tier-3 towns get online through his company, R&R Soft. Later, during an internship at Jio, he spoke to over 100 small business owners to understand their problems. This startup, he says, is something he always wanted to build: practical, useful, and made for people who are often left out.
Ankur, who enjoys working on systems and operations, has led national college events and mentored more than 1,000 students across the country. He’s now using those skills to set up smooth, reliable processes that help the team work better.
Daksh brings in the design and user side of things. He has worked big brands on theri marketing design, but more than ads and billboards, he cares about how people feel when they use something. His goal is to make every part of the experience, whether it’s an app, a post, or a message, simple, clear, and easy to connect with.
Together, they’re fixing everyday problems in college life, and building tools that students actually find helpful.
What began as a prototype in one college has grown into India’s first tech-enabled institutional laundry company, processing 6,000+ garments daily across campuses nationwide with an average 24-hour turnaround. More than a service, Dhobi G is now a movement toward dignity, digitization, and environmental sustainability in a traditionally unorganized sector.
> “Laundry was overlooked. We showed it could be reimagined. This isn’t just a win. It’s an approval for the whole industry,” said Ravi Ranjan, Co-founder & CEO.
More Than Just Clean Clothes
Dhobi G’s operations are powered by IoT-based smart laundry systems and student-facing dashboards, delivering near-zero complaint rates and a high degree of operational transparency. But the startup’s greatest strength lies in its ability to make laundry meaningful.
They launched the historic, “Valarchi Paathai” (The Path to Glory in Tamil), India’s FIRST Training and Certification Program in the laundry industry, launched in partnership with the Tamil Nadu Government and TNSKILL.
Their impact-first model focuses heavily on skilling. To date, the program has certified 80+ laundry professionals, many of whom have gone on to become “laundropreneurs” or team leads in Dhobi G’s own operations.
> “To all our partners, we see you, we hear you, and now the whole nation hears you. Welcome to the era of laundry-tech,” said Ankur Gupta, Co-founder & COO.
> “We began by building a solution to our own problem, and today, it has started a revolution,” added Daksh Sabharwal, Co-founder & CMO.
Institutional Impact in Action
At SRM University Ramapuram, where Dhobi G’s system is fully deployed, the results speak for themselves:
72% reduction in water and CO₂ usage
Higher student satisfaction and retention
Near-zero complaints and service downtime
Revenue generation for the university via managed services
These metrics have made Dhobi G not just a service provider but a strategic partner for educational institutions.
Media Contact:
Daksh Sabharwal
Chief Marketing Officer
📧 media@dhobig.com | daksh@dhobig.com
Recognized Globally
Dhobi G has been recognized at both national and global levels:
- Incubated at IIM Bangalore
- Awarded by the University of California, Berkeley
- Awarded by Uber
- Awarded by SRM University
- And now, Honored with the Startup Maharathi Award at Startup Mahakumbh 2025
As India leans deeper into innovation for social good, Dhobi G’s win at Startup Maharathi Challenge 2025 isn’t just a personal milestone, it’s a declaration that no problem is too small to solve.
Article 2: Empowering India’s First “Laundropreneurs” — Dhobi G and the Tamil Nadu Government’s Initiative
Chennai | April 2025
Laundry has long been viewed as low-skilled, low-value work. But a quiet revolution is changing that, and its epicenter is in Tamil Nadu. On April 19, 2025, Chief Minister Thiru M.K. Stalin launched the Kalaignar Kaivinai Thittam (KKT), a statewide initiative to skill and certify traditional workers and artisans, including laundry professionals.
At the forefront of this movement is Dhobi G, India’s first fully managed, tech-enabled institutional laundry company, and one of the earliest organizations to pilot KKT’s vision through their now-lauded Valarchi Paathai program.
From Pilot Program to State Policy
In partnership with TNSKILL and the Tamil Nadu Government, Dhobi G’s Valarchi Paathai was launched to transform traditional laundry workers into skilled professionals. Over 80 individuals have already been trained, certified, and empowered to join Dhobi G’s workforce or establish their own businesses.
“We’ve seen pride replace hesitation, and routine work become entrepreneurial,” said Ravi Ranjan, CEO of Dhobi G. “The launch of KKT means thousands more can now access that same transformation.”
The success of this pilot didn’t go unnoticed. Today, the KKT initiative uses Valarchi Paathai as a model framework, bringing structure, dignity, and upward mobility to thousands of unorganized workers.
Real Impact, Real People
These aren’t just stats on paper. At SRM University Ramapuram, where Dhobi G’s managed laundry system is deployed, the impact has been tangible:
72% less water and CO₂ emissions
Near-perfect operational uptime
Boosted student retention and satisfaction
More importantly, it’s changed lives. Trainees have transitioned from daily-wage uncertainty to become certified professionals, leading teams, supporting families, and contributing to India’s growing circular economy.
> “We’ve seen lives change through Valarchi Paathai,” said Daksh Sabharwal, CMO of Dhobi G. “We’ve seen people who once hesitated to call themselves laundry workers now run their own operations with pride.”
> “Valarchi Paathai is about learning how to move better, step by step. Systems, people, and patience, that’s all what growth really runs on. Welcome to the era of laundry-tech,” said Ankur Gupta, Co-founder & COO.
A New Blueprint for Upskilling India
Dhobi G’s success showcases the power of combining edtech, deep operations, and social impact. Their laundry units run on smart IoT systems, integrated with student dashboards, and are operated by a team of certified professionals trained to meet both quality and sustainability benchmarks.
Now, with backing from the Government of Tamil Nadu and endorsements from institutions like IIM Bangalore, Uber, and UC Berkeley, the model is gaining momentum across the country.
Media Contact:
Daksh Sabharwal
Chief Marketing Officer
📧 media@dhobig.com | daksh@dhobig.com
