Nia.one, a rising startup dedicated to improving the lives of gig and migrant workers, has secured $2.4 million (around ₹21.3 crore) in seed funding from impact investor Elevar Equity. The company aims to build a supportive ecosystem where gig workers can easily find jobs, safe accommodation, food, community and helpful digital tools. Founded in 2024 by Sachin Chhabra and Lt. Col. Pushkar Raj, Nia.one has grown quickly and is already serving more than 3,000 workers across over 50 cities. This fresh investment will help the team expand operations, build more centres and strengthen its AI technology.
Building a Strong Foundation for Workers
India’s gig workforce is growing rapidly, but most workers face challenges like unstable jobs, unsafe housing and long travel times. Nia.one is trying to solve these issues with its unique “Niadel” hubs. These hubs are located near large work clusters in cities such as Delhi NCR, Bengaluru and Pune. Instead of workers struggling to find a job one day and a bed the next, Nia.one connects both needs under one system. Each hub offers work opportunities, decent living spaces, meals, mobility support and a community environment. Workers get a more stable life, while companies benefit from lower worker turnover and better productivity.
Technology at the Heart of the Model
A major part of Nia.one’s approach is its AI engine called Rafiki, which acts like a helpful digital friend for gig workers. Rafiki guides workers toward suitable job roles, encourages better saving habits and helps them identify safe and affordable places to stay. The platform studies patterns in how workers move from one job to another and what problems they face daily. This helps the startup design better solutions and increase job retention. With the new funding, Nia.one plans to upgrade Rafiki so it can support even more personalised worker journeys and improve long-term outcomes.
Expanding the Niadel Network
The company now aims to scale its Niadel hubs to support nearly 8,000 workers in the coming months. This expansion will include hiring new team members, partnering with more employers and reaching deeper into high-demand locations. Co-founder Lt. Col. Pushkar Raj explains that they want to build the “missing physical layer” between a worker’s journey on the road and the bed they sleep on. Their mission is to transform migration from a painful necessity into a smoother, empowering experience. Founder and CEO Sachin Chhabra adds that their model has already reached an impressive 80 percent worker retention rate, proving that the combination of jobs, housing and community support truly works.
Investors Back a High-Impact Vision
Elevar Equity believes Nia.one can redefine how India supports its gig workforce. The investment firm praised the startup’s approach of treating gig workers not just as labourers but as “entrepreneurial households” with dreams and needs. This seed round gives Nia.one the strength to grow faster, improve its digital products and create long-lasting positive change in the way gig workers live and work. If successful at scale, Nia.one could become one of the most impactful worker-support models in India, offering security, dignity and opportunity to millions who build the backbone of the country’s services economy.