Hire A Quick Ride And Keep The Traffic Woes At Bay Essay Example

entrepreneurial journey

It was a natural urge for me to pursue my own venture. My colleague, Ashutosh, also shared the same desire as he was not suited for a structured work environment. He recognized this early on in his career and focused on sales in the Telecom industry as it allowed him to think creatively within set sales targets.

Upon his return to India in 2014, Ashutosh opted not to pursue employment and instead sought out business prospects due to the availability of funding. Throughout his career, he consistently exceeded his goals. Having previously worked in Africa for four years, he observed the widespread use and success of motorcycle taxis in East Africa and Nigeria known as boda-bodas and okadas, respectively.

The Problem and Solution

Ashutosh introduced the concept of using bikes as taxis in India with the assistance of technology, inspired by the success of e-commerce players like Ola Cabs and Uber in the country. He believed that the public in India was willing to adopt technology to enhance their daily commute. Bikes as taxis have been embraced globally for their speed and cost-effectiveness. However, regulatory permissions have previously hindered the introduction of this concept in India.

Manu explained that Baxi addresses a significant gap in transportation options for Indian commuters. At present, the cheapest personalized travel option is an auto, which costs at least INR 40 and only drops passengers off at their doorstep. Alternatively, commuters can opt for shared autos or buses, but these are often slow, overcrowded, and require walking the last stretch of the journey. Baxi strives to meet the fundamental need for convenient and affordable commuting for short distances.

Baxi adopts a subscription-based

revenue model, with a small daily fee enabling driver buddies to offer unlimited rides in a single day. A large proportion of the demand originates from the Baxi app.

Explanation for Choosing ‘Baxi’

According to Ashutosh, the name Baxi is a combination of the words Bike and Taxi, which reflects the nature of their bike taxi services. After exploring numerous options, the name Baxi was chosen as it most accurately represents their services. Manu added that there is a longer story behind the evolution of this name.

We registered several domain names, hoping each time to find the ideal one. Yet in hindsight, none expressed the concept as well as Baxi does. After many permutations and combinations, we arrived at the name Baxi, which was a definite a-ha moment!

Our biggest challenge so far:

Ashutosh remembers the numerous challenges faced, such as regulatory issues and predatory competition, but none gave them more anxiety than the uncertainty of whether consumers would embrace pillion-riding a bike as a transportation mode, despite the surveys indicating they would. However, a week of operations in Gurgaon confirmed their hopes.

Manu's Perspective on Co-founder Relationship

Manu relies on his inner strength and professional knowledge to tackle obstacles. He combines industry standards and successful models to develop innovative solutions with his team. For him, choosing a co-founder is like selecting a life partner who shares common values and goals.

Manu recalls his college experiences with Ashu, who he has known as a close friend for 25 years. He considers Ashu to be the ideal co-founder due to his non-conformist attitude and immense passion towards his beliefs, despite being not academically inclined. After graduation, Ashu

discovered his talent in sales and business and became a remarkable leader. His patience and passion have earned him respect from everyone who knows him.

Ashutosh says that he and Manu have been acquaintances for over half of their lives, despite having contrasting personalities they relish each other's company. In his personal and professional life, Manu has always been meticulous as evident from the impeccable state of his hostel room. Over time, this trait has strengthened, resulting in a strong sense of dependability which is highly advantageous for his career. It aids him in surpassing expectations while contributing to his team's accomplishments.