Observe first.
We start with people, not features. Weeks of listening before a single screen.
An Indian research and product lab
Research that turns into technology for people
Rachna Labs studies everyday problems in India, from food and learning to safety and money, and turns what we learn into calm, careful technology.
Why we exist
Technology often forgets the people it serves
We started Rachna Labs because everyday technology in India could be kinder, clearer and more honest. So we work differently: research first, people first, and every claim backed by evidence.
- 01
Built elsewhere, translated here
Most technology is designed for other countries and translated for India. Cups instead of katoris, English-only search, prices in dollars.
- 02
Designed for attention, not wellbeing
Many apps are measured by how long they keep you, not by whether your day got better.
- 03
Data taken, not earned
People are asked for more than an app needs, with little say in what happens next.
Method
One method behind everything we make
Prototype small.
Many quick experiments. Most are discarded, and only the best ideas get built.
Prove it.
Nothing ships without evidence: sourced data, real tests and honest results.
Research areas
Everything we explore, in one lab
Five areas of everyday life, studied together, so what we learn in one makes the others better.
- 01
Language and AI
Technology that understands Hindi, Tamil, Bengali and code-mixed speech, the way India actually talks.
- Multilingual
- Speech
- Search
- 02
Food and nutrition
Open, sourced data on Indian food, so nutrition fits a thali and is measured in katoris and rotis.
- Open data
- Sourced
- Indian portions
- 03
Learning
Lessons that adapt to a student’s language and pace, built for classrooms and homes across India.
- Adaptive
- Bilingual
- Low data
- 04
Safety and wellbeing
Calm tools that help people look after themselves and the people they love, privately.
- Private
- Wellbeing
- Family
- 05
Everyday money
Clear, honest ways to see and plan money in rupees, for households and small businesses.
- Households
- Small business
- ₹ first
Principles
Four rules we never trade away
Evidence over opinion
Every number and claim has a named source. If we cannot back it up, it does not ship.
Private by design
We collect only what is needed, never sell data, and keep analytics off until people agree.
Made in India, for India
Indian languages, measures and money from day one, not added later as a translation.
Open where it helps
We share data and learnings, like Plate’s food catalog API, so others can build on them.
Our work
Research that becomes real products
When an idea proves itself, we build it into a product people can use every day. Each one shares our design system, our principles and our standard of care.
Careers
Build calm technology with us
We are a small team and do not list open roles yet. If you care about craft and the people you build for, we would love to hear from you.
Write to us- DesignProduct and interaction design, in Hindi and English.
- EngineeringKotlin, SwiftUI and Jetpack Compose, built natively.
- ResearchField research with the people our work is for.
What does Rachna Labs do?
We are an Indian research and product lab. We study everyday problems in food, learning, safety and money, and when an idea proves itself we build it into a product: Plate for food, Grokul for learning, Beside for safety, Balance for money and Paparazi for small businesses.
Which apps can I use today?
None yet. Plate and Balance are being built, and Grokul, Beside and Paparazi are coming soon. Our work, above, shows where each one stands.
How do you decide what to build?
We start with people, not features. We listen first, try many small prototypes, and only build what holds up to evidence. Every number or claim in our products comes from a named source.
How do you protect my data?
We collect as little as we can, never sell your data and keep analytics off until you agree. Our practices are aligned with India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
Will the apps be free?
We plan for every app to have a free version. Some may offer optional paid upgrades, always priced clearly in rupees.
Can my business work with you?
Yes. We work with businesses, universities and NGOs on research and partnerships, and Plate offers a food data API that other apps can use. Tell us about your idea through the form below.
Are you hiring?
We do not list open roles yet, but we are always happy to meet designers, engineers and researchers who care about craft. See Careers above, or write to us with your work.
Contact
Let’s build what India needs next
Tell us what you are working on. We read every message and reply within a day.
hello@rachnalabs.com