Optimist launches energy-efficient 1.4-tonne AC, takes on Daikin and LG in India

Gurugram-based Optimist, founded by Urban Ladder's Ashish Goel and Pranav Chopra, has entered India's cooling market with a 1.4-tonne split AC built on 90%+ local sourcing. The startup is betting on energy efficiency as India's AC sales head toward 28 million units by 2030 and peak cooling demand could hit 180 GW by 2035.

— Filed Fri, 5 Jun, 2026, 08:04 IST · Source The Ken · Free list · Updated

Gurugram-based startup Optimist, founded by Urban Ladder's Ashish Goel and Pranav Chopra, launched a highly energy-efficient 1.4-tonne split AC with 90%+ local sourcing, challenging Indian AC giants like Daikin and LG amid surging cooling demand.

Why this matters

Optimist's debut marks a founder-led entry into India's fast-growing cooling market, leveraging local manufacturing to compete against entrenched global incumbents like Daikin and LG.

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