#StartupsVsCovid19: Urban Company Resumes Service; Launches Fund To Support Partners

Gurugram-headquartered home services startup Urban Company, previously known as UrbanClap, has now resumed its essential services in Gurugram, Noida, and Faridabad. However, the services in Delhi and Ghaziabad region continue to be at a halt until further notice. 

Despite the permission from the police commissioner’s office in Gurugram, Noida and Faridabad regions, Urban Company has asked users to check with their housing complex or residents welfare association about entry permits for service professionals before making any bookings. 

The users can now book plumbers, electricians, cleaning, pest control and service for various electrical appliances including AC, water purifier, refrigerator and more. The company has assured that it will monitor the situation and open more services soon. 

To ensure the safety of its service providers and customers, Urban Company claims to ensure that the tools and kits are sanitised after every use. The company has also provided its service partners with masks, gloves and single-dose products that can be disposed of when relevant.

Besides this, Urban Company had set up a Covid-19 Relief Fund to provide sustenance support to its 30K service providers over the next few months. Urban Company founders Abhiraj Bhal, Raghav Chandra and Varun Khaitan, investors and employees will be contributing INR 1.5 Cr for this fund. 

The company is providing interest-free business advances with delayed payback period, income protection and health insurance. In addition, the company will also be covering existing life, accidental and health insurance.  Meanwhile,  the company

Besides Urban Company, several other companies that rely on gig economy workers to go about their day-to-day operations have taken us similar practices and set up funds. This includes Zomato, Swiggy, Uber, Ola and more. 

Swiggy cofounder and CEO, Sriharsha Majety, has decided to give up on 50% of his annual salary, while Ola’s CEO and cofounder Bhavish Aggarwal has given up on his annual salary to contribute to their respective relief fund. 

Both Ola and Uber have also extended their services to support healthcare providers, government initiatives and more. Uber has started UberMedic, meanwhile, Ola has reached out to the government of Karnataka to offer 500 cabs to support state initiatives.

Digital payments platform, Paytm, has offered INR 5 Cr to any researcher and innovators working on effective solutions to tackle the potential shortage of clinical ventilators and other medical equipment. 

Besides this, Paytm has partnered with more than 300 hotels in 60 cities to offer temporary accommodation for the medical practitioner on the frontline. OYO, Treebo and Ginger Hotels have also joined in this initiative.