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Clean The World – How This Startup Is Recycling Soap From Hotels Over The World

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Hotels across the world have toiletries like soap bars, toothbrushes, toothpaste and moisturizers which are available to be used by people who stay in their rooms.  Travellers have become accustomed to this and it is now an industry standard adopted by hotels everywhere. However, these toiletries hardly see any use and are replaced every time a new guest moves into the room.  Clean the World, a startup established in Florida, is aiming to divert this discarded soap away from landfills to recycling centers and provide it to communities which have no access to sanitation and soap in order to reduce mortality rates in children.

Beginnings

Clean the World was founded by Shawn Seipler and Paul Till in 2009.  While staying at a hotel Shawn Seipler wondered what happens to the soap guests leave behind after they checkout.  He learnt all the soap, along with the rest of toiletries, is disposed off into the garbage. He started thinking if he can find a way to prevent soap from ending up in a landfill.  He then began Clean the World out of his garage. Shawn Seipler and his friends used potato peelers, meat grinders and cookers to recycle the soap. Shawn Seipler developed a way to recycle soap and sterilize it so they can be used again.  After partnering with a few hotels, they outgrew the garage and moved into a bigger facility.

Working model

The process of recycling starts right from the hotels, where the housekeeping staff are trained about the collection and recycling process.  They collect all the used soaps and bottles to deposit them into special bins. These bins are transported to recycling and distribution centers.  The toiletries are sorted manually according to the product by the staff and volunteers before they begin the recycling process. The top layer of soap bars are scraped off and the bars are sterilised before they are ground up and put through a manufacturing line to be moulded into new bars.  These are packed up and distributed to homeless shelters and to people across the world who need them.

Impact of Clean the World

Clean the World partnered with Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Marriott Hotels and Walt Disney World Hotels to recycle all the toiletries.  Hilton Hotels partnered with Clean the World in 2019 and in the first seven months, donated two million pounds of toiletries, which contributed to seven million bars of soap across 127 countries.  As of 2019, Clean the World is partnered with 8,000 hospitality outlets across the world and distributed 53 million bars of soap and 5 million hygiene kits.

Clean the World aims to reduce diseases like diarrhoea and pneumonia, which heavily affect children and can be prevented by something as simple as washing hands with soap.  Clean the World is a startup dedicated to the mission of saving millions of lives across the world.

Learn about Phool an Indian Startup that aims to recycle floral waste: How One Indian Startup Is Tackling The Problem Of Floral Waste

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Larry Page: The Visionary Co-Founder Behind Google’s Global Success

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Larry Page

Larry Page is a visionary technology entrepreneur and co-founder of Google, one of the world’s most influential companies. Born in 1973 in Michigan, Page grew up surrounded by computer technology, which inspired his passion for innovation from an early age. He studied computer engineering at the University of Michigan and later pursued his PhD at Stanford University, where he developed the revolutionary PageRank algorithm with Sergey Brin. This technology fundamentally changed the way search engines rank websites, making Google the most accurate and popular search engine globally.

The journey of Larry Page and Google began in 1998 when they officially launched the search engine from a small garage. Leveraging their unique algorithm, Google quickly surpassed competitors due to its ability to deliver highly relevant search results, transforming internet search forever. Under Larry Page’s leadership as CEO, Google expanded beyond search to launch groundbreaking products including YouTube, Gmail, and Google Maps, turning it into a global tech powerhouse that shapes how we access and interact with information online.

Larry Page later became the CEO of Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., driving innovation and investment in next-generation technologies such as artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, and healthcare solutions. His visionary leadership and commitment to technological advancement have cemented his legacy as one of the most influential figures in the tech industry. Today, Larry Page remains a key influencer in shaping the future of technology and digital innovation worldwide.

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India’s Tech Story: Airtel Spreads AI Access, Ohm Mobility Lessons

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Airtel AI

Bharti Airtel has launched the innovative “Airtel-Perplexity Blueprint,” partnering with Perplexity to provide over 360 million customers free access to Perplexity Pro for a year—a benefit valued at ₹17,000 ($200). This collaboration enables Airtel users across mobile, broadband, and digital TV to harness advanced capabilities in generative AI, including leading AI models like GPT 4.1, Claude, and Gemini, along with up to 300 Pro searches daily, image generation, document analysis, and personalized planning services. The move is seen as a milestone for telecom innovation and the democratization of AI in India, making powerful research and productivity tools accessible to a massive user base.

This strategic partnership positions Airtel as an “AI-first” telecom provider, allowing it to gain key insights into user interactions with artificial intelligence and adapt its networks for growing digital demands. For Perplexity, the tie-up grants exclusive access to India’s vast telecom audience, rapidly propelling the app to the No. 1 spot on the Indian App Store, surpassing global competitors like ChatGPT and Google Gemini. Airtel customers can activate their complimentary subscription seamlessly through the Airtel Thanks App, under the Rewards and OTTs section, reinforcing Airtel’s commitment to digital customer empowerment.

The broader Indian startup ecosystem reflects both breakthrough innovation and hard-earned lessons, illustrated by the recent shutdown of Ohm Mobility, an EV financing startup. Despite multiple pivots and industry-leading investors, Ohm Mobility struggled to achieve a sustainable business model—a reminder of the challenges in market fit and adaptability. As AI adoption accelerates and startup realities evolve, industry leaders like Airtel and Perplexity are setting new standards, while others, like Ohm Mobility, offer valuable insights on resilience and the importance of business model flexibility in India’s dynamic tech landscape.

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Tesla Secures Mumbai Facility as Key Step in India Market Entry

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Tesla StartupStories

Tesla has ramped up its India expansion by leasing a 24,565 sq ft warehouse at Lodha Logistics Park in Mumbai’s Kurla West. The five-year lease, registered on May 16, 2025, involves a total rent of over ₹24 crore, starting at ₹37.53 lakh per month with a 5% annual escalation. The facility includes two ground-floor units and 20 parking spots, with rent payments commencing June 1, 2025.

This warehouse will function as a key service center and garage for Tesla’s India operations, excluding bodywork and spray painting. The move supports Tesla’s preparations for its official market debut, expected in late 2025 or early 2026.

Tesla’s India rollout includes offices in Pune, flagship showrooms in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and Delhi-NCR, and co-working spaces in Mumbai. The new warehouse lease highlights Tesla’s commitment to building a robust infrastructure for sales, service, and delivery of electric vehicles and energy products across India.

While manufacturing plans are not yet confirmed, Tesla is reportedly exploring sites in Maharashtra for a potential assembly unit. The Mumbai warehouse lease marks a significant step in Tesla’s strategy to establish a strong presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing EV markets.

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