Start-up onboards 2,500 construction workers across J&K
Srinagar :In an attempt to bring India’s unorganised construction labour sector online, two fourth-year students of National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar have launched a startup that connects labourers, contractors and customers through a digital platform modeled around traditional labour chowks.
“BigBrick”, a startup founded by Saurabh Kumar and Aryan Kumar, is recognized as India’s first digital platform dedicated to labor chowks and construction workforce management. The platform has successfully onboarded over 2,500 construction workers in regions such as Srinagar, Jammu, and Katra, facilitating direct connections between workers, contractors, and customers. This initiative aims to enhance transparency, accessibility, and organized hiring in a sector where many laborers rely on informal roadside markets for employment. The startup has generated revenue of ₹11 lakh and has attracted funding offers, including a valuation of ₹3 crore from a Mumbai-based company and an additional ₹40 lakh from another venture. This achievement highlights the potential of student-led initiatives in Kashmir, with BigBrick being incubated and funded by the NewGen IEDC at the University of Kashmir. The venture was also recognized as the “Best Startup Idea” during the IDE Bootcamp, showcasing its innovation and market viability. The core team, which includes Yashas Naidu, Vivek Kumar, Munmun Naresh, Raj Kumar, and Vijay Kumar, has been instrumental in scaling operations and expanding outreach to workers. The Director of NIT Srinagar, Prof. Binod Kumar Kanaujia, commended the students for their entrepreneurial spirit, emphasizing the role of technology in addressing societal and economic challenges. Registrar Prof. Atikur Rehman echoed this sentiment, noting that such success stories inspire students to explore unconventional career paths and contribute to the regional startup ecosystem. Saurabh Kumar articulated the startup’s mission to organize the unorganized labor sector through technology, aiming to create a transparent system that allows workers to access employment opportunities with dignity. Aryan Kumar highlighted the startup’s origin in addressing the real challenges faced by daily wage workers in construction, emphasizing the need for a reliable platform that connects skilled laborers with contractors in a rapidly digitalizing economy.
