[100 Emerging Women Leaders] Tanya Goyal’s Karban Envirotech offers an all-in-one climate alternative to ceiling fans

About four years ago, when Tanya Goyal and Karan Bansal were living in an apartment in Jaipur with a low ceiling, they were frustrated with the ceiling fan options in the market.

“Fancy bladeless fans didn’t provide enough airflow and traditional blade fans posed safety hazards in our low-ceiling environment. Additionally, we noticed the inefficiency in the airflow market and the growing concern of rising AQI (air quality index) levels,” Goyal tells HerStory.

They also realised that the air-purifier usually placed in a corner of the room was inefficient and had the potential to show false positives, and a centrally located purification system was aerodynamically better and effective. 

That’s when they decided to come up with a device that would offer a seamless alternative to ceiling fans. What began as a small project to meet their personal needs quickly evolved into a much larger endeavour.

Goyal is a lawyer and Bansal has a BTech in mechanical engineering from IIT-Guwahati and an MS in aeronautics and astronautics from Purdue University in the US. They met three years ago, got married, and left their well-established careers to start Karban Envirotech Pvt Ltd in 2021. 

Karban Envirotech offers an innovative all-in-one climate solution to traditional ceiling fans. 

“We saw the potential to redefine the air-flow industry and set out to manufacture a product that could make a significant impact. We observed that most fans in the market were round, which did not blend well with the typically square or rectangular ceilings in homes and offices. This insight guided us to design a fan that harmonises with the common ceiling shapes, enhancing overall visual appeal,” she explains

To optimise the performance of the product, they utilised CFD technology, leveraging Bansal’s expertise. This technology allowed them to refine the airflow dynamics, ensuring maximum efficiency and effectiveness. For aesthetics, they focused on continuous design improvement. 

“We launched KARBAN Airzone in 2023–a product that integrates air circulation, air purification, and elegant lighting into one seamless device,” describes Goyal. 

This single device eliminated the need for multiple devices, saving both space and money, she says. Its bladeless design ensures safety, especially in areas with low ceilings. According to Goyal, the integrated air purification system removes pollutants, allergens, and odours, providing cleaner, healthier air. 

Innovative, multi-functional and aesthetically pleasing

Building on the success of Karban Airzone, the company recently introduced Karban Airzone Lite, a smaller version designed for more compact spaces. 

For the initial research and development (R&D), the couple bootstrapped and used all their savings. 

The initial phase required significant resources, particularly for prototyping and acquiring essential machinery. During this time, Karban received funding from the IIM-Ahmedabad’s incubation sector, allowing it to create more advanced prototypes, conduct thorough testing, and refine the designs. 

In April this year, the startup secured seed funding from marquee investors including Titan Capital, All In Capital, Rainmatter, and Anupam Mittal. This financial backing has been instrumental in scaling Karban’s operations, allowing it to invest more heavily in R&D and expanding market presence. It is incubated at AIC Banasthali.

Karban sold over 1,000 units of Karban Airzone within the first eight months of its launch. 

Goyal believes educating consumers about how the device can improve their living and working environments by providing cleaner air and how it is also a visually pleasing addition to the décor is crucial. 

“By highlighting these advantages, we hope to encourage a shift towards more innovative, multifunctional, and aesthetically appealing appliances,” she says.

The products are available on Karban’s website and on Amazon. Karban Airzone is priced at Rs 30,000, and Karban Airzone Lite costs Rs 17, 400.

The company is in the process of developing a next-generation version of its existing products.

“Our primary focus is on enhancing airflow efficiency, which is crucial for improving overall performance. One of the key additions will be swing flaps, which will further optimise air distribution, ensuring better comfort and effectiveness in different environments,” she says.

In addition to its product innovations, Karban is also focusing on expanding its business-to-business (B2B) and offline sales channels and brand penetration across India while bolstering its R&D capabilities. 

Bansal heads R&D, purchase and finance while Goyal takes care of marketing and operations at Karban.

To other women wanting to start up, Goyal advises, “Quit whatever you are doing, and just do it. There is no good time to follow your dreams, and it is always a learning curve. Believe in yourself and your vision. 

“Don’t let fear or societal expectations hold you back. Surround yourself with supportive people who believe in your dreams as much as you do.”