In today’s digital landscape, data is everywhere, but access to it remains uneven, opaque, and often centralized. Over 90% of the world’s data has been created in just the last two years, yet most of it lies dormant, never analyzed or monetized.

Treenteq, a Guwahati-based lean startup, believes it's time to shift that paradigm. Their approach is to build from first principles. Treat data as a product. Let it circulate — refined, tokenized, and accessible through decentralized systems.

To understand how this lean, bootstrapped team of six is building a decentralized data economy from the heart of Northeast India, we spoke to Jesu Neelkamal Borah, Co-Founder of Treenteq.

Unlocking Data Liquidity

According to industry research, only a small percentage of all data generated is actually analyzed or used. For instance, in 2020, a mere 2% of the data produced and consumed was saved and retained into the following year, revealing that the vast majority of data remains untouched and unleveraged.

Treenteq was established on this simple yet profound insight. Sequestered in centralized stores and valued through impenetrable mechanisms, data today is afflicted with a persistent lack of liquidity. 

For Borah and his team, this was not merely an inefficiency, it was a root flaw in the digital economy.

Instead of storing or hoarding data, Treenteq is focused on refining, tokenizing, and enabling its circulation. By treating data as a product and designing around modular, open systems, Treenteq allows data to move, trade, and unlock value in a decentralized framework. Each module in their ecosystem performs a specific function, enhancing efficiency and ensuring clarity in how data is processed and accessed.

“We do not store. We do not hold. We give data a path to circulate. That is the purpose,” says Borah. 

This guiding principle defines Treenteq’s approach—from their refusal to chase fleeting trends to their commitment to transparency in pricing.

Their architecture intentionally avoids custody, instead leaning on decentralized storage and open-access protocols that let the market determine value. It's a stark contrast to the closed models dominating the space, where data often benefits only the aggregators and never the creators.

Scaling with Simplicity

From a kernel of an idea to a working alpha product within sixty days, Treenteq has operated with subdued urgency. That pace wasn't fueled by scale or capital—it was founded on belief. What came next was the development of a close-knit team, collaboration with a legal practice, and the creation of their MVP. Now, Treenteq is at its alpha phase, consistently moving toward beta.

At the heart of this progress is a lean team of six. Dhrupad Das leads product and legal strategy, while Rahul Barman, Vansh Sahay, and Sumit Mazumdar form the core of the tech build. Shekh Razaul Islam oversees finance, and Borah, by his own admission, “holds the rest.” The team operates without external capital, bootstrapping its way forward with focus and discipline.

Their goals are as minimalistic as their rituals. Short-term objectives are about refinement, testing, learning, and shipping. The team is focused on expanding user trials and rolling out core modules. But it’s the long-term vision that truly defines Treenteq: a new data economy where value doesn’t pool but flows—fairly, transparently, and to the rightful creators.

Furthermore, the culture at Treenteq reflects this ethos. There are no grand strategy meetings or flashy offsites. Instead, ideas brew over cups of chai and nightly 10 PM check-ins. 

“We work with what we have. We build in the open,” Borah says. 
“It’s not about how big you are, but how clear you are.”

This culture of intentional simplicity isn’t just about team dynamics, it’s a statement of purpose. Just as they seek to deconstruct complexity in the data economy, they’ve stripped down the startup experience to its essentials: purpose, people, and progress.

Rooted, Not Rushed

Building a startup from Guwahati, far from the usual tech corridors of India such as Bengaluru or Mumbai, came with its own set of hurdles. The ecosystem was sparse, and so were the builders. Mentorship was hard to find, and the ever-evolving landscape of Web3 brought regulatory uncertainties that only added to the friction. But for the Treenteq team, these weren’t roadblocks—they were reminders to stay adaptive and grounded.

“Location made it hard,” Borah admits. “The ecosystem is still small. Builders are rare. Mentors, even rarer. Web3 adds its own friction, and the laws aren’t always clear. But we adapt, we learn, we ask questions—and we keep going.”

This perseverance forms the cornerstone of Treenteq’s journey. In a world chasing rapid scaling and overnight success, Treenteq offers a refreshingly different playbook: go deep, stay lean, and build with intent. Their advice to fellow entrepreneurs echoes this mindset. 

“Do not let go. Keep building. That is enough.”

As the team continues iterating and refining its modules, the broader vision remains unshaken—cut through the noise, deliver signal, and create systems that reward creators and foster fair access. It’s a long game, and Treenteq is in it for the distance.

“We start small. We think long. We keep moving,” Borah says—a fitting reflection of a company that’s quietly laying the groundwork for a more fluid, equitable data economy from the edges of the mainstream.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah