Nitin Goyal, Co-founder of Grest, is on a mission to change how India thinks about sustainable refurbished technology. With over 16 years of experience in telecommunications and technology, he has combined corporate expertise with entrepreneurial grit to build Grest into one of India’s top five refurbished electronics tech brands.

From starting with one small cabin in a shop to recently raising ₹16 crore in funding, Nitin’s journey is as much about resilience and perseverance as it is about technology. Under his leadership, Grest is not just selling devices — it’s reshaping an industry, proving that refurbished can be premium, reliable, and aspirational.

From Corporate Careers to Building Something Real

Nitin’s professional journey began in the telecommunications sector, working with global telecom giants such as Nokia, Ericsson, and ZTE. He held senior leadership roles, managing large-scale operations across diverse markets globally. These experiences gave him a unique blend of technical knowledge and strategic vision — tools he would later use to build a company from scratch.

In 2018, Nitin joined forces with his school-time friend Shrey Sardana. Both were at the peak of their corporate careers but wanted to build something meaningful and sustainable. With Nitin’s expertise in telecom and Shrey’s expertise in electronics repair, they saw an opportunity in India’s largely unorganized recommerce sector.

For the first four years, Grest focused on repairing and refurbishing devices for other companies. Bootstrapped and resource-constrained, the founders faced the constant challenge of keeping operations running while building credibility.

Post-COVID, they recognized the growing e-waste issue along with the need for digitization in India. In 2023, with IT veteran Sanjeev Aggarwal joining as CTO, Grest pivoted into a tech-driven, full-stack re-commerce company, offering high-quality refurbished devices with peace-of-mind warranties and transparent pricing.

Building Trust

Landing the first paying customers was not very difficult. Nitin and Shrey personally reached out, explained their processes, and demonstrated the quality of their refurbished devices.

“We had to show them that we weren’t just another reseller or service provider,” Nitin recalls.

Those early conversations taught them the power of credibility and transparency — a lesson that remains central to Grest today.

Grest now specializes in premium refurbished Apple devices, particularly iPhones and MacBooks. Each device goes through 50+ quality checks in their 20,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art refurbishment lab in Gurgaon and is certified to just-like-new condition.

The distribution is spread across 26 states and 5 UTs of India. But Grest is more than just a seller of devices — it’s an ecosystem built on trust, transparency, and customer support, giving consumers confidence in choosing refurbished tech without compromise.

Resilience in the Face of Adversity

Nitin’s journey hasn’t been without setbacks. Early on, heavy rains flooded Grest’s basement office, destroying infrastructure and lakhs worth of stock. Soon after, COVID added more uncertainty.

With limited funds, the team had to focus on survival rather than growth.

“We constantly asked ourselves, ‘How will we survive?’” Nitin recalls.
“There were moments when quitting felt easier, but giving up was never an option.”

They reached out to previous clients, made contingency plans, and executed strategies swiftly. Salaries were paid on time despite financial stress, building deep team loyalty that would pay dividends as the company grew.

Resilience became a core principle: patience, perseverance, and smart execution were as important as luck. Nitin emphasizes that luck alone isn’t enough; success requires consistent effort and strong relationships.

Breaking the Myth

Many still see refurbished devices as second-best or unreliable. Nitin disagrees:

“Our devices often match the quality of new products. Refurbishment isn’t just cost-saving — it’s responsible consumption.”

By extending the life of premium devices, Grest promotes sustainability, supports the circular economy, and makes technology more accessible.

The company’s mission is to show that refurbished goods are reliable, aspirational, and smart — a shift that is slowly changing consumer behavior in India.

Strategic Choices That Shaped Grest

Early strategic decisions laid the foundation for growth. Rather than trying to scale too broadly, Nitin focused on a B2B-first model with:

• Strong pricing engines
• Organized processes
• Robust retailer partnerships

By offering better pricing, transparent grading and quality, and seamless digital app-based ordering, Grest built trust in a fragmented market.

Focusing on Apple devices initially ensured that repair, refurbishment, and sourcing processes were airtight.

This top-down approach — sell aspirations first, build trust, then scale operations — enabled the company to grow revenue quickly while creating a repeatable, scalable model for future expansion.

Milestones and Market Leadership

From a small repair company to recently raising ₹16 crore in funding and ranking among India’s top five refurbished electronics tech companies, Grest’s journey is a testament to strategic execution, credibility, and perseverance.

The funding will support technology upgrades, operational expansion, and scaling both B2B and B2C channels, positioning Grest for national and global growth.

The Road Ahead

For Nitin, the vision is simple but ambitious: make renewal the standard, not replacement.

Over the next five years, Grest aims to:

• Set industry benchmarks for quality, trust, and customer experience
• Promote sustainable consumption and circular technology adoption

By bridging the gap between affordability and reliability, Grest is making it easier for consumers to choose premium, sustainable technology with confidence.

Leadership Lessons from Nitin Goyal

Nitin’s journey offers lessons that resonate beyond business:

• Solve real problems, not just build a business
• A happy and satisfied customer is the key
• Consistency and execution matter more than ideas alone
• Focus on value creation rather than valuation
• During tough times, stay calm — Give Time Some Time

Final Thoughts

Through resilience, clarity of purpose, and a commitment to trust, Nitin has turned Grest into more than a company — it’s a pioneer reshaping India’s relationship with technology.

Grest under the leadership of Nitin Goyal is proving that doing good profitable business and doing well for the planet can coexist.

By professionalizing a fragmented sector, championing quality, and promoting sustainable technology, Grest is showing that refurbished can be aspirational, reliable, and the smart choice for India’s consumers.