DTU alumnus invests Rs 4 crore in campus-incubated sustainability startup

In a boost to university-led entrepreneurship, Delhi Technological University (DTU) announced that its alumnus Rajesh K Soin has invested Rs 4 crore in seed funding for biome sustainability ventures, a sustainability-focused startup founded by fellow alumnus Sumeet Popli.

The startup is currently being incubated at the DTU Innovation and Incubation Foundation (DTU-IIF). Its idea is to convert agricultural by-products, especially crop residue that often contributes to large-scale pollution, into sustainable construction materials that can be used in building infrastructure.

Biome sustainability ventures aim to tackle two major challenges at once—agricultural waste and the environmental impact of construction. By transforming crop residue into high-performance materials, the company hopes to create scalable solutions for sustainable infrastructure while supporting circular economy practices.

University officials said the investment highlights how alumni engagement can help early-stage startups grow and bring research-driven ideas to the market.

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DTU Vice Chancellor Prateek Sharma said the move reflects the strong bond between the university and its alumni community. He described the investment as “a powerful affirmation of the strength of the DTU ecosystem.” Sharma added that it is encouraging to see one generation of alumni support another in building solutions for pressing global issues such as climate change and sustainable development.

DTU mentorship and funding

Soin, founder and CEO of Soin LLC, said supporting the venture aligns with the broader goal of promoting innovation that benefits both the environment and society. “We are thrilled to support Biome Sustainability Ventures in their mission to transform agricultural waste into high-performance, circular construction materials,” he said, adding that turning a pollution source into a useful resource could benefit farmers and the planet alike.

Founder Sumeet Popli said the investment will help the startup move beyond the most difficult stage of hardware innovation and focus on scaling the technology. “This investment helps us overcome the most challenging phase of hardware innovation and move confidently toward scale,” he said.

DTU said initiatives like DTU-IIF continue to support technology-led startups through mentorship, infrastructure, and industry partnerships, helping position the university as a key contributor to India’s growing deep-tech and sustainability ecosystem.