From the Economic Times profile of Bamboo-based building systems company, Wonder Grass:
Arun Natarajan is the Founder & CEO of Venture Intelligence, the leading provider of data and analysis on private equity, venture capital and M&A deals in India. View free samples of Venture Intelligence newsletters and reports. Email the author at arun@ventureintelligence.in
“Using bamboo to build structures is not rocket science. Bamboo is renewable, cost-effective and appropriate material to be used for housing segment. It is available in abundance in India,” said Vaibhav Kaley, co-founder of Wonder Grass, who started the firm along with his younger brother Nachiket Kaley in December 2007.
...Industry experts say bamboo solutions for the high-end luxury and rural housing market forms a 41,875-crore market. Almost half of this opportunity includes supplying structures such as green-wall panels, pergolas, rooftops, cottages to high net worth individuals, corporates and resorts.
The other half of this market comprises of making affordable houses in rural areas, for corporate foundations, NGOs and during disasterrelief initiatives .
“The rural end-user gets a new home built by Wonder Grass for 1.25 Lakh in only 15 days, which includes integrated sanitation, water and lighting. They have to pay at least 30% more labour for traditional brick-and-mortar house, which also excludes these services,” says Robert Moore, who works for Villgro Innovation Foundation, which is currently incubating Wonder Grass.
Arun Natarajan is the Founder & CEO of Venture Intelligence, the leading provider of data and analysis on private equity, venture capital and M&A deals in India. View free samples of Venture Intelligence newsletters and reports. Email the author at arun@ventureintelligence.in