Janardhan Reddy grew up in a construction environment in Tumkur, Karnataka, where his father, a Class 1 PWD contractor, managed owned and rented equipment. This early exposure gave him deep insights into the sector. Today, he leads AUEQI (pronounced Aaki), short for ‘An Aura of Equipment’ – a tech-driven platform simplifying rentals and boosting productivity. Recognised as an innovator by the Karnataka government, he is supported by the Rajiv Gandhi Entrepreneurship Programme and is a final-round applicant for Elevate 2024. In this conversation with CW, he shares how AUEQI is bridging critical gaps in equipment management, infusing structure, transparency and technology into a fragmented industry.

Growing up, I was surrounded by construction and rental activity; our sites had 20-30 workers and various machines. This environment shaped my understanding of the industry...