IAN Backs Car Pooling Startup Orahi

Gurgaon-based car pooling app, Orahi, has raised about $450K (INR 3.5 Cr.) in a funding round from Indian Angel Network (IAN), an early-stage investor. As part of the deal, Vinish Kathuria and Amandeep Gupta of IAN will join the board of the company.

The startup will utilise the funds to enhance its product features and capabilities, expand its team and launch marketing initiatives in the National Capital Region centred on Delhi.

Founded in 2012 by Sameer Khanna and Arun Bhati, Orahi, is a ride sharing system that lets users share car rides to office and back. It is a community-based system that enables rides with friends, colleagues and neighbours. The service costs INR 3.5 per km, out of which INR 3 goes to the car owner while 50 paise is earned by Orahi.

Currently, it has over 45,000 registered members on the platform, including car owners and passengers. Also, it has launched a corporate connect programme which connects 500 companies in the NCR to enable carpooling among their employees.

Sameer Khanna, founder & CEO at Orahi said, “India has 30 Mn cars on road and we are going to target 10% of these cars to enable carpooling in next two years.”

“The city has always been dealing with traffic issues. With the government’s latest odd-even scheme, it is essential for each one of us to encourage people who want to help reduce environment pollution and further restrict traffic on the roads. Orahi is well-poised with its convenient and cost-effective platform,” said Kathuria of IAN.

Other startups in the car pooling space include PoolCircle and Let’s Ride. Meanwhile international companies like Brazil-based Tripda and French-based BlaBlaCars also launched their services in India last year.

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