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A service providing hired drivers to fulfill your transportation requirements.

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Updated: May 18, 2024




Fifteen years ago, Parag Palsokar, Krishna Badwane, and Dinesh Rahane recognized the challenge of finding a car driver in Pune. "We saw the need and came up with the idea to provide drivers," Dinesh recalls. However, they soon realized that implementing this seemingly simple idea was more complex than anticipated. Working full-time in banking, they knew they needed more than just an idea to start a business. They conducted extensive surveys in Pune's various neighborhoods, such as Janata Vasahat, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Parvati, to gauge the demand for drivers. They interviewed over 500 drivers and 200 car owners, discovering a clear demand for drivers who could meet the expectations of car owners.

Initially, Parag dedicated all his time to a small cubicle where they conducted interviews with drivers, although attracting drivers for interviews proved to be challenging. "We attempted to reach out to them by placing flyers in local newspapers," he explained. The strategy proved successful, with Indian Drivers interviewing over 1,000 drivers in the first year alone. These drivers were categorized into standard, classic, gold, and platinum based on factors such as years of experience, the types of vehicles they could operate, and their grooming and demeanor. With the supply side established, they turned their attention to generating demand. "We spread the word about our service and started receiving calls for drivers on demand. Initially, we managed these requests manually by directly contacting drivers," Parag recalled. While this approach led to some growth, it was gradual. By 2015, they had amassed a database of 15,000 drivers and served 20,000 customers.

The emergence of Ola and Uber in Pune in 2015 prompted a realization of the importance of technology in their business. Recognizing the potential of app-based services, they decided to develop their own app. Despite being bootstrapped, they managed to pool resources and collaborated with a software engineer, Munnawar, who agreed to develop the app on an installment payment basis. The app was launched in 2017, significantly expanding their reach among drivers, with over 55,000 downloads nationwide. They also broadened their client base to include corporate clients alongside individual customers. By 2019, their revenue had reached ₹25 lakh.

The onset of Covid-19 in 2019 posed challenges, but their corporate clients continued to support them, ensuring that their drivers received income despite not reporting to work. While navigating through these difficult times, they realized the importance of networking for business growth. Actively joining various networking groups such as TiE Pune, BNI, Saturday Club, MCCI, and DCCI proved to be beneficial, leading to a significant increase in revenue from ₹25 lakh to ₹2.10 crore, revitalizing their business.


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