HooLiv: How Chinmoy Mishra is Transforming Student Co-living in Bharat's Tier 2 Cities

For most students in India moving out of their homes for the first time, the "PG experience" is a nightmare of unhygienic rooms, zero safety, and profound isolation. Chinmoy Mishra, Founder and CEO of HooLiv, is rewriting this script for the non-metros. After a successful exit from his first health-tech venture, Chinmoy is now building a student co-living empire that combines high-quality retrofitted properties with a community layer focused on soft skills and employability. With a target of 15,000 beds, HooLiv is ensuring that for Bharat’s students, living away from home is finally a launchpad, not a struggle.

Chinmoy Mishra’s journey is a story of a veteran entrepreneur who chose "meaning" over "mediocrity." A graduate of NIT Rourkela and Babson College, Chinmoy spent a decade in the US with Infosys and HealthAssist before the "complacency treadmill" forced a pivot. In 2013, he launched AllizHealth, a wellness platform that scaled to 2.5 million users before being acquired by a Singapore-based health-tech giant in 2018. In 2019, alongside his original founding team—including his elder sister Rasmi Mishra—he launched HooLiv. Backed by marquee investors like **Negen Capital** and **Kolte-Patil Family Office**, HooLiv is now one of India’s top student accommodation players.

The Problem: The "PG Nightmare" in Tier 2 India

While metro cities have seen a surge in managed living, the student populations in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities like Bhubaneswar or Pune are still stuck in pitiable accommodations. These "PGs" are unorganized, lack hygiene, and provide zero safety for students moving from rural areas. Furthermore, these students often suffer from a "Self-Confidence Gap" when they eventually move to metros for work, as their living environments provide zero community or vocational support.

"We saw that the market was pitiable," Chinmoy explains. "Properties were unhygienic and unsafe. But more importantly, students were isolated. We wanted to build a system where the property is just the foundation, and the 'Community' is the value-add—helping them with spoken English, soft skills, and internships."

The Solution: The HooLiv "Retrofit" Model

HooLiv acts as a full-stack operator. They take over existing properties from owners, inject capital to retrofit them with modern amenities, hygiene standards, and security, and then manage them as branded student hubs.

Scaling Bharat: $2.7M to Power 15,000 Beds

HooLiv’s growth has been fueled by a focus on "Unit Economics" over "Vanity Metrics." By targeting cities where property costs are lower but student demand is massive, they have maintained high occupancy rates. Their recent **$2.73 million Seed round** led by Negen Capital is a testament to the viability of student co-living in the heart of Bharat. With 4,000 beds already operational, the company is on a clear path to becoming a dominant player in the student housing sector.

"Unit economics and profitability are the only things that matter," Chinmoy notes. "If you nail those, you never have a problem getting investors. We are a for-profit enterprise with a social heart. Our goal is 500 crores top-line in five years, while changing how students live in cities like Bhubaneswar."

Lessons in Leadership: Pedigree vs. Struggle

Chinmoy is refreshingly honest about his hiring philosophy. He has moved away from "Pedigree Hiring" (IIT/IIM) in favor of hiring people who have "struggled in their personal and professional lives." He shares the story of his first developer who joined for ₹10,000, sent half to his village, and stayed for eight years to become a senior leader. For Chinmoy, passion and loyalty are found in the struggle, not just the certificate.

"Entrepreneurship changes you," he reflects. "It makes you humble and thick-skinned. You don't get disturbed by 100 investors saying 'No.' You learn that the biggest sacrifices are made by your family, who put their dreams aside to see you fulfill yours."

The Future: A Global Student Network

Chinmoy’s vision for HooLiv is to move beyond Indian borders while maintaining a stronghold in Bharat. He sees a future where HooLiv isn't just a place to stay, but a "Career Launchpad" for every student. By integrating more vocational training and digital management tools, he aims to ensure that no student's potential is limited by their postal code. For Chinmoy, the ultimate victory isn't a top-line number, but the sight of a student from a Tier 3 town walking into a global MNC with the same confidence as an Ivy League graduate.

HooLiv is proving that the next generation of real estate giants will be built on "Managed Services" and "Community." By giving the student housing industry a digital and hygienic backbone, Chinmoy Mishra and his team are ensuring that for the future of Bharat, the student journey finally has a home.

About the Guest

Chinmoy Mishra is the Founder and CEO of HooLiv. An alumnus of NIT Rourkela and Babson College, Chinmoy is a serial entrepreneur with a track record of success in the tech and healthcare sectors. Before HooLiv, he co-founded AllizHealth, which he successfully exited in 2018. Under his leadership, HooLiv has emerged as a premier student co-living platform, recognized for its focus on Tier 2 cities and student employability. He is a recognized thought leader in the prop-tech ecosystem and a vocal advocate for unit-economic-driven growth.

HooLiv is a student co-living venture that provides managed accommodation solutions in India's non-metro cities. By retrofitting properties with modern amenities, hygiene, and safety protocols, and providing a community layer for skill-building and networking, the company helps students live profitably and confidently while pursuing their academic and professional goals.