From Rubbish to Riches: How Two Childhood Friends Built a Million-Rupee Business from Scrap
Most businesses begin with a grand idea. But this one began at the corner of a street, beside a humble kabadiwala (scrap dealer) in Thane, Maharashtra. Henik Gala and Shreyas Jalapur, childhood friends and now eco-entrepreneurs, turned their early fascination with scrap collection into a tech-driven waste management startup called ScrapJi — a venture that’s now generating lakhs in monthly revenue and revolutionizing India’s informal scrap economy.
A Childhood Habit Turned Green Startup Dream
As school kids, Henik and Shreyas often found themselves curiously watching a scrap collector outside their school — sorting metal, weighing plastics, stacking newspapers. That local ragman unknowingly planted the seed of an idea that would take shape more than a decade later.
In 2023, the duo launched ScrapJi, combining nostalgia with necessity — and tech with tradition.
How ScrapJi Works
ScrapJi functions much like your neighborhood kabadiwala — but with a modern, professional twist:
Users book scrap pickups via website or WhatsApp.
Trained collection agents arrive at doorsteps with weighing machines.
Instant payments are made to customers based on market rates.
Scrap is sorted and sent to authorized recycling centers, ensuring proper disposal.
The goal? Eliminate the inefficiency and unreliability associated with traditional scrap dealing.
“Most scrap collectors disappear or refuse pickups due to low volume or full carts. We’ve replaced that uncertainty with tech, trust, and transparency,” says Shreyas.
ALSO READ:-Anna Mani: The Woman Who Gave India Its Weather Forecasting Power
Growth & Revenue
In less than two years, ScrapJi boasts:
Over 2,000 regular customers
Monthly recycling of 10 tonnes (10,000 kg)
Revenue exceeding Rs 25 lakh in the last financial year
Projected revenue of Rs 1 crore by 2025
Adding even more credibility, former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik has joined the venture as an equity partner, giving the startup both visibility and validation.
Mission: Trash-Free India by 2030
ScrapJi is more than just a business — it’s a movement for sustainable urban living. With ambitious goals and youthful grit, Henik and Shreyas are working towards a cleaner, greener future.
“Waste management should be seen as a proud profession — not a fallback. We’re building that narrative,” says Henik.
A Model for India’s Circular Economy
ScrapJi is showing how technology, sustainability, and local insight can drive real change. From schoolyard curiosity to eco-conscious enterprise, their story proves that even waste can be turned into a wealth of opportunity — with the right vision.