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.

— Source publishedFri, 5 Jun, 2026, 08:00 IST·First seen Fri, 5 Jun, 2026, 08:03 IST·Source The Ken · Free list

What happened

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

Key facts

  • 1.4-tonne
  • 90% local sourcing
  • 28 million AC sales by 2030
  • 180 GW by 2035
  • 35-45% peak demand by 2045

Why this matters

Track Optimist's traction over the next two cooling seasons as a potential bolt-on or distribution partnership target in India's appliance category.