Think travel, think Rapido

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Rapido is an Indian bike taxi aggregator and logistics service provider based out of Bangalore. The company was founded in 2015 by two IIT alumni and PESU alumni – Aravind Sanka, Pavan Guntupalli, and SR Rishikesh. The Rapido app allows the user to book a ride, after which a rider (called "Captain") arrives at the location. The fare includes a base fare of Rs.15 in addition to Rs.3 for every kilometer of the ride. The "Captains" need to register through the Rapido-Captain app and get validated by submitting the required documents. They can use motorcycles, scooters, or e-bikes, but the vehicle cannot be older than 2010.

Rapido claims to have crossed 10 million happy customers and 100 million rides. Rapido has come a long way ever since its inception in 2015. With a lot of hardwork and perseverance they have made a place for themselves in the market. Rapido has been one of the main pioneers in the bike-taxi industry.  Rapido in Spanish means swift and smooth.

Pavan Guntupalli, one of the co-founders of Rapido explained that a common thing among all the 3 founders was to create a product that has the ability to impact millions. With other app-based services already doing a brilliant job by making commuting easy the primary focus was on affordability. India, largely being a middle-class country, depends on other transportation services like buses, auto’s, etc either out of choice or no option. Our country primarily runs on a 2-wheeler economy and our main goal was to cater to the larger section of the population. He further added that the Vision and Mission of the organization is to ensure everyday commute is made affordable and effortless to the masses.

Rishikesh SR, the CTO of Rapido has some interesting perspectives on the bike taxi industry in India.Every start-up has its challenges and Rishikesh mentions that “one of the toughest parts was educating the masses that the concept of a bike taxi is possible and pragmatic. Another aspect was to bring captains on board with assurance that one can actually make money by riding bikes with all valid papers and formalities.”

Riding on a Rapido can reduce traffic congestion related worries. With a quick-fix solution, Rapido provides economical rides that don't burn a hole in your pocket.
The news about Rapido spread through word-of-mouth and fell from one ear to the other. This dynamic interaction saw 900+ on-the-spot registrations.The Rapido App allows everyone to book rides instantaneously, travel faster and in a more cost-effective manner. The app even provides real-time feedback to Captains in order to better services in the future.

When the corona virus pandemic shuttered offices and reduced the demand for personal mobility, bike-taxi aggregator Rapido was faced with a choice: to wait for the tide to turn, or to leverage its existing infrastructure and pivot to allied services through partnerships with other companies. “With the lock down, bike taxi services came to a complete standstill. Bike Taxi services being our primary business, this was a huge setback for us,” says Aravind Sanka, co-founder, Rapido.
“However, we quickly evaluated the situation and pivoted out focus to accelerate the existing Rapido-Delivery services. We provided delivery of essential goods through partnerships with Big Bazaar, Spencer Retail, and Big Basket. We also collaborated with the Delhi and Karnataka governments to support in delivering essentials,” he adds.
When the lock down was gradually lifted in parts of the country, Rapido shifted focus back to its core business. New modes of travel were added, including Rapido Auto.According to Rapido, resuming the operations brought relief to around 3 lakh captains that are dependent on the bike taxi service for their daily income and livelihood.
Rapido believes in breaking the gender stereotypes and that women can make a huge impact, it has always encouraged women to be captains.