From Hassle to Home: How This Startup Makes Renting Easier for India's Urban Dwellers
Finding a good place to stay in a city can be a nightmare, especially for young professionals and students. High rents, brokerage fees, and the hassle of setting up a house make it a challenging experience. This is where Colive, a Bengaluru-based startup, is changing the game. Colive provides fully-furnished, ready-to-move-in rental spaces designed for urban dwellers. With a focus on convenience, affordability, and community living, the company has grown to become a leading name in India's co-living space sector.
How It All Started
Colive was founded in 2016 by Suresh Rangarajan, a seasoned entrepreneur with a vision to solve urban housing problems. The idea was simple: offer young professionals and students hassle-free rental accommodation that comes with all the necessary amenities, while also fostering a sense of community. With rapid urbanization and an increasing number of people moving to big cities for work and education, Colive identified a huge gap in the rental market and sought to fill it.
The Journey of Colive
Since its inception, Colive has expanded significantly. It currently operates in multiple cities, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Pune, with thousands of beds available for rent. The company has partnered with real estate developers and property owners to scale its operations quickly without heavy infrastructure investments.
Colive has also attracted investments from various venture capital firms and real estate partners, enabling it to grow its presence in key metro cities.
Today, Colive boasts:
- 150+ properties across key cities
- 20,000+ managed beds for young professionals and students
- An upcoming pipeline of 20,000+ Platinum Beds
- A team of 300+ members driving innovation in real estate
But what makes Colive more than just a rental platform? It's a community-driven experience, where technology meets convenience, enabling seamless rental management, flexible stays, and an engaging social lifestyle.
Why Colive Stands Out
Colive follows an asset-light business model, meaning it does not own the properties but partners with property owners and developers. It then converts these spaces into well-designed, tech-enabled rental homes. These homes are offered to tenants on a flexible rental basis, making it an attractive option for people who do not want to commit to long-term leases. Colive isn't just about providing a bed, it’s about offering a complete lifestyle experience. Their homes are designed around six key principles (6S):
- Style – Trendy, well-furnished apartments with modern interiors.
- Safety – 24/7 security, surveillance, and biometric access.
- Smart – Tech-enabled homes with IoT-based features.
- Service – Regular maintenance, housekeeping, and customer support.
- Savings – Budget-friendly rent with zero brokerage.
- Social – A vibrant community with networking events, game nights, and shared spaces.
How Colive is Changing Urban Renting
Colive is transforming urban housing in three major ways:
1. The Way India Lives
With over 1 million users and 400,000+ properties listed, Colive has helped redefine city living for young professionals and students. Their fully-managed homes allow residents to move in hassle-free without worrying about furniture, maintenance, or hidden costs.
2. The Way India Lists
Colive isn’t just beneficial for tenants—it also supports property owners. Through their digital property management platform, landlords can:
- List their properties online.
- Manage tenant agreements and payments.
- Get a rental guarantee—if their property isn’t rented within 100 days, Colive will pay the rent themselves!
3. The Way India Rents
Colive has built an AI-powered rental engine that makes it easier for tenants to find homes. Instead of fixed rents, potential tenants can bid for properties within their budget, making renting more flexible and affordable.
Challenges and Future Plans
Despite its success, Colive has faced challenges, including competition from other co-living startups like NestAway, Zolo, and Stanza Living. The COVID-19 pandemic also temporarily slowed down demand as remote work became more common. However, with the return to offices and hybrid work models, the demand for co-living spaces is once again on the rise.
Looking ahead, Colive aims to expand to more cities and introduce smart living solutions, including IoT-enabled homes and AI-powered tenant services. The company also plans to focus on premium offerings for working professionals looking for high-end co-living experiences.
By continuously innovating and blending technology with real estate, Colive is setting new benchmarks in urban living. Their focus on flexibility, affordability, and convenience has made them a go-to choice for the modern generation looking for a smarter way to live.
Meet the Founder – Suresh Rangarajan Kidambi (SRK)
Colive is led by Suresh Rangarajan Kidambi (SRK), a forward-thinking entrepreneur with vast experience in real estate, finance, and technology. A Chartered Accountant and an MBA from Yale University, he has a strong background in creating new and successful businesses. SRK started his career at Citibank, where he quickly rose to become one of its youngest Vice Presidents. Later, he built Remit2India, the world’s largest online money transfer service, and played a key role in other successful ventures. With his expertise in building and scaling businesses, he is now focused on making Colive a game-changer in India’s rental housing market.
Colive has successfully tapped into the growing need for flexible, affordable, and community-driven urban housing. By blending technology with modern housing solutions, it has created a new way of living that resonates with young urban dwellers. As Indian cities continue to grow and housing needs evolve, startups like Colive will play a crucial role in shaping the future of urban living.
