While everyone’s talking about AI, fintech, and unicorns — one gritty founder from Rajasthan is quietly building something that could change the way India handles waste itself.
Meet Tushar Suhalka, Founder & CEO of REGRIP India Pvt. Ltd., a startup that’s turning discarded tyres into energy — and tyre collectors into full-time, insured employees.
Yes, you read that right.
This Tier-3-born startup just secured the license to build India’s largest continuous waste-to-energy tyre recycling facility, capable of processing 65,000+ tons of tyres every year. That means millions of tyres once dumped in landfills or burned in open fields will now be transformed into industrial oil, gas, and recovered carbon black — powering factories instead of polluting the planet.
“We’re not just recycling tyres — we’re redefining how the world looks at waste,” says Tushar. “From Rajasthan, we’re building a model the world can replicate.”
Founded in 2021, REGRIP started with a simple yet radical vision — to make India tyre-neutral by 2040. What began as a bootstrapped venture from a Tier-3 city has grown into India’s largest organized tyre-collection network, now operating across 22 cities and handling 5,000+ tons of tyre waste every month.
Unlike traditional recycling firms, REGRIP built its foundation on data and digital transparency. Its suite of platforms — TyreBook, EPRxchange, and InspectSmart — connect fleets, dealers, and recyclers in a unified, traceable ecosystem. Every tyre collected is digitally tracked until it re-enters the value chain as a recycled material or clean fuel.
That tech-first approach is what sets REGRIP apart — a startup solving a hard industrial problem through the precision and agility usually seen in SaaS companies.
At the heart of REGRIP’s next phase lies its flagship waste-to-energy facility, now under development in Rajasthan.
The plant will use continuous pyrolysis technology to convert waste tyres into low-emission industrial oil, reusable carbon black, and gas fuel — products that feed directly into India’s manufacturing and energy sectors.
It’s a powerful example of circular innovation at scale: taking something seen as waste and turning it into a source of renewable industrial energy.
Built From the Ground Up by a First-Generation Founder
Suhalka’s journey mirrors that of many first-generation entrepreneurs from small-town India — driven by purpose, persistence, and a desire to prove that world-class innovation can come from anywhere.
Before starting REGRIP, he worked in the tyre industry, witnessing first-hand the massive piles of discarded tyres left unaccounted for. “It bothered me that something so valuable was being burnt or dumped,” he recalls. “That’s when I decided to build a business that could turn this waste into wealth.”
Four years later, that conviction has evolved into a pan-India cleantech enterprise — one that’s digitizing the tyre waste economy and inspiring a new generation of impact founders to think beyond software.
Scaling the Circular Revolution
With an upcoming USD 10 million Series A, REGRIP aims to expand to 100 cities, establish 18 recycling plants, and capture over 20% of India’s tyre-waste market by FY 2033–34.
Its hybrid model — combining micro recycling plants (FOCO units) and large-scale waste-to-energy facilities — is designed for scalability. Local franchise partners manage regional operations, while REGRIP ensures technology, compliance, and traceability — a win-win for both environmental and economic sustainability.
Why REGRIP Matters in the Global Context
Tyre waste is a global problem hiding in plain sight. Every year, the world discards over 1 billion tyres, most of which are burned or dumped illegally, releasing toxins and carbon emissions.
REGRIP’s model demonstrates how emerging-market startups can lead in hard-tech sustainability, proving that impactful innovation doesn’t need Silicon Valley’s gloss — just relentless execution.
From a small office in Jaipur to India’s largest waste-to-energy license, REGRIP’s story is a reminder that the next big climate solution might not come from a lab — but from the dusty highways of India.
About REGRIP
REGRIP India Pvt. Ltd. is a Jaipur-based cleantech startup building India’s first fully circular, technology-enabled tyre recycling ecosystem. Founded in 2021 by Tushar Suhalka, REGRIP’s mission is to make India tyre-neutral by 2040 through large-scale recycling, digital traceability, and circular economy innovation.
