In an interview with TimesTech, Yashraj Bhardwaj, CSO & COO of Petonic Infotech, Petonic AI, and Plannex Recycling, alongside CEO Yuvraj Bhardwaj, shared their journey from teen innovators to industry disruptors. With over 18 patents by age 17, the duo now leads ventures transforming strategic consulting and circular economy through AI, sustainability, and tech-first models that tackle real-world challenges with measurable impact.
Read the full interview here:
TimesTech: What inspired the both to embark on their entrepreneurial journey at such a young age?
Answer: Our entrepreneurial journey was sparked by deep scientific curiosity and a strong desire to create meaningful social change. From the age of 14, we have been motivated to tackle real-world problems through innovative ideas. Early on, our research in water purification using indigenous grains, like the bajra purifier, gained international recognition from organizations including the State Ganga River Conservation Agency and the governments of Malaysia, Austria, and Israel.
By the time we turned 17, we had secured 18 patents, which strengthened our resolve to turn our ideas into scalable businesses. We have always been guided by a vision to develop solutions that go beyond profit, aiming to empower communities and industries with technology and sustainability. This spirit of entrepreneurship and our focus on building ecosystems for enduring impact led us to establish Petonic Infotech, Petonic AI, and Plannex Recycling.
TimesTech: How did the idea of Petonic Infotech and Plannex Recycling come to life, and how do the two ventures complement each other in terms of innovation and impact?
Answer: Petonic Infotech and Plannex Recycling emerged in response to critical market gaps and our resolve to bridge them through innovative, technology-led solutions. In 2014, we established Petonic Infotech by reinvesting the proceeds from our initial patent sales. Our mission was to transform strategic consulting with a success-fee model, charging clients based on outcomes instead of fixed retainers. This model positioned us as a trusted partner to governments, corporations, and SMEs across sectors such as technology, finance, agriculture, healthcare, and defence, delivering customized, impactful solutions.
Plannex came to life in 2021 when we recognized a significant void in India’s waste management sector: the absence of effective, tech-driven recycling systems. With the nation producing over 62 million tonnes of waste each year, inefficient reverse logistics and a disjointed recycling network have hindered sustainability efforts. Motivated by a vision to turn waste into a valuable asset, we founded Plannex to foster a circular economy through innovation and operational excellence.
Together, these ventures strengthen each other, amplifying both our innovative capabilities and positive societal contributions.
TimesTech: What were some of the biggest challenges they faced while building their companies, and how did they overcome them?
Answer: In an industry long dominated by established consulting giants, Petonic Infotech built credibility by introducing a performance-based success-fee model that directly tied our earnings to client results. This approach fostered trust and attracted prestigious clients, including government bodies and Fortune 500 companies, helping us establish a strong presence across sectors like technology, infrastructure, defence, fintech, agribusiness, and public policy.
For Plannex, the major hurdle lay in addressing India’s highly fragmented recycling sector, where formal systems were scarce and stakeholders were unfamiliar with technology-led solutions. Developing a reverse logistics framework that linked waste generators with recyclers demanded extensive operational expertise and flawless execution. By streamlining operations, automating workflows, and launching India’s first proprietary waste ERP featuring real-time tracking and AI-driven sorting, Plannex tackled structural inefficiencies. Both ventures have scaled successfully by blending innovation with operational excellence and stakeholder collaboration, positioning themselves as transformative forces within their industries.
TimesTech: Petonic is known for working on futuristic solutions, shed light on some of their most disruptive or scalable innovations to date?
Answer: 1. An AI-powered live analytics dashboard was developed for the Uttarakhand Government to enhance governance, safety, and efficiency during the Char Dham Yatra. The system integrates real-time data from pilgrim registrations, weather updates, medical alerts, and crowd movement. AI models support predictive crowd management, route optimization, incident prevention, and resource allocation. This innovation enabled proactive monitoring, significantly reduced congestion, improved emergency response, and enhanced the overall safety and experience of pilgrims through data-driven alerts.
2. A state-level GST analytics solution was developed using big data and AI to help tax departments identify compliance gaps, evasion, and revenue leakages. By integrating GSTN data, PAN-linked filings, and sectoral revenue reports, AI models were built to detect anomalies, fake invoices, and input credit misuse. The solution enabled targeted audits, improved compliance, boosted indirect tax collection without raising rates, and supported states in designing sector-specific GST enforcement policies.
3. The Hilans initiative by the Uttarakhand Government aimed to build a sustainable market ecosystem for rural and hill-based products. From brand conceptualization to execution, the project covered product curation, pricing, packaging, branding, organic/GI certification, logistics, and both physical and digital distribution channels. It also included e-commerce integration, FPO enablement, and training workshops. As a result, Hilans emerged as a recognized brand, improving market access and boosting the incomes of over 10,000 local producers and women-led self-help groups while ensuring long-term viability of rural products.
4. Petonic designed the GTM strategy for Apollo’s logistics and infrastructure verticals, enabling swift market entry and scale. The project involved in-depth research on India’s 3PL, infrastructure, and warehousing sectors, defining the value proposition, solution mapping, and differentiators. The GTM blueprint included B2B segmentation, sales funnel strategy, pricing models, SLAs, branding assets, and partner onboarding tools. Digital dashboards were also developed for client lifecycle, sales tracking, and service optimization. This helped Apollo secure early anchor clients, accelerate growth, and build a scalable, investor-ready model for nationwide expansion.
TimesTech: With Plannex Recycling, they’re addressing a critical environmental issue, how do they envision its role in building a circular economy in India?
Answer: Our fundamental mission is to redefine waste as a valuable resource and weave sustainability into every stage of the value chain. We believe that building a genuine circular economy in India requires scalable infrastructure, smart technology, and strong partnerships—this is precisely where we aim to make an impact.
We see Plannex as the cornerstone of this shift, empowering businesses, governments, and communities to close the waste loop. Our end-to-end model, which spans collection, segregation, recycling, and value generation, guarantees that waste materials are reintegrated into the production cycle instead of being discarded in landfills.
TimesTech: What role has research and collaboration played in their success, and how do they approach R&D and partnerships in both their ventures?
Answer: Research and collaboration have been pivotal in helping us create innovative, high-impact solutions. Our 36 research initiatives, recognized by awards such as the Karmaveer Chakra and a Padma Shri nomination, highlight our strong commitment to R&D. At Petonic Infotech and Petonic AI, our research focuses on AI-powered platforms that combine real-time analytics with generative AI to offer scalable consulting solutions across healthcare, energy, BFSI, and sustainability sectors. We work closely with governments, Fortune 500 companies, and institutions like UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, driving cross-sectoral change and policy advocacy. For Plannex Recycling, our R&D advances material recovery technologies to handle varied waste streams, including e-waste and tyres. Collaboration remains equally crucial for Plannex, as partnerships with global leaders help us strengthen and expand our technological edge.
