Lucknow: A casual observation during a visit to his aunt’s flat in Delhi has grown into a startup idea for 20-year-old BTech student Ankush Tiwari of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU), who is developing a digital platform to improve scrap collection in high-rise housing societies.Tiwari said he noticed piles of scrap stored in a room of his aunt’s apartment and saw similar stockpiles in neighbouring flats. When he asked why the items were not being sold to a local kabadiwala, he learnt that scrap dealers often do not visit high-rise residential complexes regularly. He also found that when scrap collectors announce their presence while moving through societies, residents on upper floors frequently do not hear them, leading to missed pickups and continued accumulation of recyclable waste.The gap led him to conceptualise JustBin, a waste management and recycling venture that connects households and businesses with local scrap dealers through a digital platform for doorstep collection. A first-year BTech student in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Tiwari said the startup is at an early stage, and he is preparing to register it as a company.“JustBin aims to make recycling more accessible, efficient and sustainable while supporting India’s circular economy,” he said, adding that the university’s incubation and innovation support helped him shape the idea into a viable venture.Tiwari is also among the first three AKTU students to receive academic credits for running a startup under a university scheme designed to encourage entrepreneurship alongside coursework.AKTU dean (academics) and Centre for Advanced Studies dean Anuj Sharma said three BTech students have become the youngest beneficiaries of the startup credit programme, earning 15 academic credits for operating their ventures at ages 19 and 20. Under the initiative, students can earn up to 15 credits for successfully running and developing a startup, reducing reliance on conventional examinations for academic progression, he said.Two other first-year BTech students, Vanshika Agarwal and Reetima Pandey, have also launched a venture, Smart Fashionable Belt, which they describe as a wellness-tech product blending fashion and healthcare.Pandey said the idea came from her own long commute — about 40 km — and extended sitting hours that often caused discomfort and lower back pain. She initially planned the product for women, but expanded the concept after noticing similar issues faced by her father, businessman Dheeraj Pandey.She said the belt is designed as a modern, discreet alternative to conventional medical belts, incorporating heat therapy, vibration therapy, safety controls and adjustable comfort settings. The founders aim to position it for fashion-conscious, health-aware users seeking a wearable accessory that combines daily style with routine therapeutic support.
