Airchains, a Web 3 Middleware SaaS company has recently been in the talk of towns due to its practical yet innovative blockchain-based use cases. Let’s delve into the inspiring journey of Airchains and learn from Ankur’s insights into the cutting-edge solutions they provide. From being the center of attention in the blockchain space to forging transformative partnerships with government bodies, Airchains is undoubtedly making waves in the decentralized world.
Discover the founding story of Airchains, from its roots as a service-based company to its evolution into a product-based powerhouse with a focus on ZK roll-up solutions. Gain fascinating insights into the strategic partnerships with industry giants like Polygon (formerly Matic), and how Airchains is driving innovation in various governance applications.
This engaging interview promises to unravel the limitless possibilities of blockchain technology and showcase the visionary leadership that drives Airchains’ trailblazing journey. So, without further ado, let’s begin!
Thank you, Ankur, for joining us today. Let’s start by learning more about your background and what inspired you to venture into the decentralized world. Could you share your journey with us?
Ankur: Absolutely! I studied at the Govt Engineering College in Jagdalpur, in Bastar (Chhattisgarh). One of the first use cases of Blockchain has been practically implemented in Bastar itself. It was during my college days that I got introduced to the blockchain through a practical implementation of the technology in a project called Guhar, a grievance redressal platform on the Matic network. Around the same time, I started working on my startup, which focused on a record-based system for online note recording. I was not inclined toward the studies but somehow I was pursuing my engineering. While studying in college I started working on blockchain technologies and that led my interest more profound into the decentralized world. Later I found Redcons and worked on multiple blockchain products.
That’s fascinating! So, could you tell us the founding story of Airchains? How did the idea come into existence?
Ankur: Sure! As we all know India predominantly harbours service-based companies. So, there is a huge influence of the service-based sector in the place I belong to. As a result, I also ended up founding Redcons as a service-based company to work on blockchain technologies. It was in 2019 when I met Sandeep, the Co-founder of Polygon (formerly Matic). He encouraged us to work on numerous projects using Polygon’s technology. Those were times, when Arjun Kalsy, who handles the Mantle network now, was new at Polygon. We (Redcons) were the first project he dealt with. So, that’s how it all started, we did a lot of projects on Polygon. In 2022, we thought why not start something on a product base? How long we would serve as a service company and that’s how Airchains took off. We raised the funds and Airchains started getting into a lot of projects. We were offering app-specific blockchains utilizing Polygon edge, supernets, avalanche subnets, cosmos SDK, etc.
We were a middleware SaaS solution but now we are shifting towards the ZK roll-up as we have realized after completing multiple projects within middleware that ZKs are a better solution than app chains.
Airchains came into existence as we worked to solve a specific technical problem faced by an enterprise, and the idea evolved into what it is today. At that time it was not popular to make app chains but enterprises were still interested because they don’t need to be blockchain savvy to use these and it additionally saves time and money for them. So that’s where Airchains became a valuable option for them.
It’s interesting to see how Airchains evolved from addressing a specific problem. Now, let’s talk about the recent partnership with the New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA). How will this collaboration revolutionize land records and mutation processes?
Ankur: The partnership with NKDA is truly significant, as it addresses common issues related to land records. The govt was facing two burning issues:
First, the people were getting away without paying money for mutation by using loopholes in the laws. Most people were doing it actively.
Second, the govt was concerned about the illegal land selling.
To tackle these challenges, we proposed an NFT-based land mutation system. Land or flat owners are provided with NFTs, and these tokens can be transferred, mutated, or fractionally shared with heirs, ensuring a transparent and traceable process. This blockchain-based solution offers financial stability and longevity, making it a remarkable use case.
Indeed, the application of blockchain technology in governance is compelling. However, there are often regulatory concerns. How has Airchains ensured privacy and security in the blockchain model used for land mutation records?
Ankur: That’s a valid concern. The solution we implemented for NKDA is not on a public chain; instead, it operates on a Polygon supernet chain, which can be public or private. The data is not shared on any public chain, and there is no commercial token or cryptocurrency utilization involved. We have implemented Polygon supernet shared security layers and multiple layers within the chain solution to maintain data privacy and security.
That’s reassuring to hear about the security measures taken. Let’s move on to the collaboration with the Telangana State Transport Department. What was the outcome of this initiative, and how did it bring transparency to managing transportation services and data?
Ankur: The collaboration with the Telangana State Transport Department was a pilot project tested within the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) jurisdiction. The project aimed to track and trace vehicle licensing, prevent illegal vehicle licensing, and transparently manage the entire vehicle lifecycle. With blockchain-based solutions, police and authorities can quickly verify whether a vehicle is legal, promoting transparency and accountability within the transportation sector.
It’s impressive to see how Airchains is working across different sectors. You also collaborated with the Chattisgarh government to launch the “Guhar App” for speedy grievance redressal. How has working with various government bodies and institutions shaped your perspective on the intersection of technology, governance, and societal impact?
Ankur: Working with government bodies and institutions has been an eye-opening experience. It has reinforced my belief that blockchain technology has the potential to create a long-term impact on society. Our goal at Airchains is to make blockchain integration as seamless as possible, making it accessible to various industries, from gaming to banking, etc. We envision a future where people use blockchain technology without even realizing it, as it becomes an integral part of everyday applications.
Your vision for the future of blockchain integration is inspiring. As a web3 middleware SaaS startup, what are Airchains’ future plans for enhancing network security and performance? Can you give us a glimpse of any upcoming innovations or developments?
Ankur: We have exciting plans for the future! We are continually exploring new use cases and projects with institutional enterprises and developers. Currently, we are working on introducing modular ZK roll-ups on our platform, which will significantly enhance blockchain adoption and utilization. Our main focus remains on ensuring the seamless integration of blockchain technology and utilization of cryptocurrencies will parallelly evolve.
It sounds like Airchains has a lot in store for the future. Finally, could you provide us with an overview of Airchains’ growth and revenue? What are your aspirations for the company in the coming months and beyond?
Ankur: Airchains started as a bootstrapped venture, and overall, we have experienced significant growth. We are targeting a 35% quarter-on-quarter growth, and this number will likely evolve as we implement more scalable plans. Our goal is to continue expanding our range of use cases and solutions, making blockchain technology accessible and beneficial to various industries and users.
Thank you so much, Ankur, for sharing your insights and experiences with us. We wish you and Airchains all the best for the future endeavors.
Ankur: Thank you! It was my pleasure to be here and share our journey with you. We are excited about the future, and we look forward to making a positive impact through blockchain technology.
