Electric Ride-Sharing Platform Hala Receives $1 Mn Funding Led by Magnifiq Securities

Since the beginning of our operations, Hala has covered 8M green kilometres saving 717 Tonnes of Co2 emissions, saving 300K litres of petrol consumption and doing 32,000 battery swaps a month.

The startup will utilize the funds to significantly increase the number of electric vehicles by 5X times, improve infrastructure for swapping, and research and develop new product offerings.

The Indian EV industry has grown significantly in the past few years, picking up pace with the growth of new manufacturing hubs, and increased push to improve charging infrastructure. In the background of this development, Hala - a ride-sharing platform, today announced that it has raised USD 1 million, led by Magnifiq Securities.

Working towards helping India move towards sustainable mobility, Hala is a 100% electric ride-sharing platform solving last-mile connectivity problems with a vision of reducing pollution, traffic congestion, and affordable commute. 

The fresh funds will be used to significantly increase the number of electric vehicles by 5X times, improve infrastructure for swapping, and research and develop new product offerings. 

Hala Mobility was a part of T-Hub’s Lab32 and T-Angel cohort, which connected them with angel investor networks, HNIs, CXOs and Finance VPs of the leading corporates which resulted securing investor connection with Magnifiq Securities. During the T-Angel program, Hala spent a significant time fine-tuning its business model, go to market strategy and achieved a 40% raise in Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) by the end of the cohort. This also enabled Hala to be investment-ready through pitch review, financial projections, valuation certificate, funding need estimation and equity exchange.

 

Hala Mobility's Core Team

Commenting on the announcement, Srikanth Reddy, Founder & CEO said, “Today, out of 10 million two-wheelers sold in India, around two million scooters belong to gig workers. This makes it important for companies to adapt to sustainable measures that leave a lower carbon footprint. Since the beginning of our operations, Hala has covered 8M green kilometres saving 717 Tonnes of Co2 emissions, saving 300K litres of petrol consumption and doing 32,000 battery swaps a month. We are aiming to create the largest ecosystem for all things EV and are delighted by the support provided by our investor.”

MSR, CEO of T-Hub said, “Over the past few years, we are seeing transformational growth in autonomous technologies, electrification, and shared mobility across the globe. We congratulate T-Angel cohort startup Hala on achieving this important milestone in their growth journey and we are glad to have paved this path of growth. We will continue supporting emerging startups like these that are reshaping our economy for a better and sustainable future through access to investors like Magnifiq for capital, customized mentorship and knowledge sharing from across T-Hub’s global network.”

Rahul Co-founder of Magnifiq added - “Hala has shown tremendous growth potential in the EV space and we are positive that there are many good things in store for it in the years to come. The promoters have a great understanding and the intent to create a profitable business model. Alongside, Hala has already saved around 717 tonnes of carbon emissions, directly contributing to the conservation of the environment. The contribution is going to be more significant in the coming years, completely in line with the Government policies. We are very happy to be a part of their ecosystem as we at Magnifiq also share the same goals - being future-ready and easing the lives of people.”

Know More About Hala

Hala was founded in 2019 by co-founders Srikanth Reddy Kalakonda, Snehith Reddy Meda, and Anand Pareek. It began operations in 2020 and has since taken active steps in reducing the carbon footprint in over five different cities, namely Mumbai, Vizag, Pune, Hyderabad, and Chennai. They have taken a holistic approach to bring about a change in sustainability.

Hala’s current associations have helped delivery partners to reduce 60% of their total costs and 42% cost per delivery. As they continue to provide sustainable zero-carbon deliveries, Hala’s potential to make an impact runs much deeper. It’s unique offering of providing a bundled solution of AI-enabled backend tools, swapping infrastructure, roadside assistance and maintenance package makes Hala’s potential to make the shift to EVM affordable and all-time available.

Outstation Cabs Firm Gozo Cabs Launches Ride Sharing Service at ₹1/ Seat

Gozo Cabs, the leading provider for outstation taxi travel across 1000+ cities in India has introduced its ride-sharing service - Gozo Share, using which travellers can share taxi rides with others while travelling from one city to another. Gozo Share is the first-of-its-kind ride-sharing service.

A best of the breed outstation travel service provider, Gozo Cabs has aggregated over 25,000 cabs on its tech platform and has already served rides in over 1000 towns and cities across India. It has enlisted verified and commercially registered vehicles and drivers on the platform who meet stringent protocols in order to offer a standardized, safe and reliable experience to outstation travelers. Unlike traditional peer-to-peer ride-sharing services and intra-city cab service providers, Gozo Cabs’ focus on outstation travel, ensures that their fleet of drivers are skilled at highway driving, familiar with routes and have the mindset aligned with traveling outstation on an ongoing basis.

Gozo Cabs has launched Gozo Share with an inaugural price of INR 1 per seat, for a limited time. This inaugural offer is being rolled out to promote environmentally safe transport on the most popular routes first – Mumbai to Pune, Delhi – Agra, Bangalore – Mysore and Delhi-Jaipur. Gozo Share will be available in all major towns across India by the end of this year.

Users availing Gozo Share can book their shared cab via the Gozo app, website or by phone. Gozo’s platform matches passengers travelling from point A to point B while enabling them to share the costs of the trip. Riders can pay via cash, digital wallets like PayTM, Mobikwik, debit/credit cards and pay-later platforms like LazyPay and ePayLater.

Gozo Cabs offers travellers a bevy of cars across segments such as hatchbacks, sedans, SUV and Luxury. For Gozo Share, 3 to 4 passengers typically share a Sedan for their journey. All Gozo Cabs are AC cabs and come with the latest safety features, clean interiors, music system and luggage space, etc.

For drivers on the platform, the app enables them to effectively monetize the rides by ensuring high occupancy across all routes. Using advanced data science and predictive analytics, the app also nudges drivers to move from low demand to high demand areas.

“Being the market leader in outstation travel, our cab sharing service - Gozo Share is a natural progression to our offerings as we seek to connect the country with outstation travel. It serves the needs both of users, driver partners on our platform and the travel industry at large. It provides tremendous convenience and affordability for users who travel outstation often without having to sacrifice comfort, at a price point that is often cheaper than a bus ticket. For the drivers it allows them to monetize their cab efficiently, besides this being an environmentally responsible way to commute. With the government’s thrust on improving the road network, Gozo Cabs intends to be a key player in providing a framework that makes intercity travel and tourism seamless and simple,” said Deepesh Arora & Sanjay Kumar, Co-founders, Gozo Cabs.

“The transportation sector in India emits an estimated 261 tonnes of CO2, of which 94.5% is contributed by road transport. The Great Smog in Delhi last year was classified as a major health emergency. This is an alarm for India to wake up and smell the pollution. While outstation cab ride has traditionally been quite expensive, with Gozo SHARE we’re making it accessible to the common man. If we can transport 2-3X more people from one city to another by using the same number of cars running on the roads today then we can also make a significant impact on the air pollution, traffic levels and contribute to the travel footfall economies of those 2 cities.” added Deepesh.

The Inter-city taxi segment is estimated to be a USD 12 Billion market in India, according to the Indian Angel Network (IAN). With changing transportation dynamics, a declining trend in car ownership and an increasing convenience seeking customer, cabs are becoming the preferred choice of travel for outstation riders.

About Gozo Cabs

Founded in November 2015 by Deepesh Arora and Sanjay Kumar, Gozo Cabs is India's leading provider of taxis for outstation taxi travel, with which consumers can book intercity/outstation cabs for one-way, round-trips, pre-planned packaged tours or even rail or airport transfers. Using a proprietary technology platform to aggregate taxis, Gozo is reinventing mobility beyond city limits, by matching travelers with cab drivers nationwide.

Gozo’s technology is tailor-made for India and the travel needs of Indians, to capture and adapt to the mechanics of outstation travel - including varied pricing structures, tariffs, and tolls across the country. A deep understanding of these is translated into a simplified and transparent pricing model that works for taxi operators and customers. Gozo has brought pricing transparency into the outstation taxi market, enabled 24x7 nationwide service while making outstation travel in India simpler and more accessible to all involved. The platform leverages technology to maximize the utilization of cabs and enables customers to take one-way journeys and save 10-50% over having to pay for a round-trip elsewhere. Extensive use of technology has created a win-win for both traveler and taxi operators.

Based on the ethos of transforming outstation travel, Gozo is committed to delivering consistent quality & experience aligned with fair pricing. To achieve this, Gozo Cabs trips are provided by pre-screened drivers, commercially licensed vehicles and are measured for customer satisfaction. Over 30% of business comes from repeat customers, underpinned by Gozo’s top-notch service quality.

Prior to Gozo, there has been no centralized reservation system for booking outstation cabs anywhere in India, and that meant having to hassle with not-so-transparent prices, service reliability, availability and accountability. Gozo’s platform serves OTAs, travel agents, event organizers, hotels and corporates as a central reservation system for outstation cabs, backed by our 24x7 support, attractive fares and focus on a carefully selected, expansive travel operator network. Gozo’s mission is to gain customer trust and loyalty by delivering seamless reach, quality services, reasonable prices and relentless support to our customers and enable our taxi operator partners to maximize the utilization of their cabs.

Tata Motors to Partner with Ola, Uber and Freight Aggregators for its new Shared Mobility Division

Tata Motors Ltd has created a new and separate division called, 'Mobility Innovations Hub', in order to tap entire range of passenger and commercial vehicles manufactured by Tata Motors for offering shared mobility solutions, reported LiveMint, citing two people aware of the development.

The new shared mobility division, which will be headed by Pankaj Jhunja, formerly with Tata Technologies, will be look at collaborating with ride-hailing startups such as Ola, Uber and other freight aggregators, said the report.

With this, Tata Motors becomes the first automaker in India to create a new division for shared mobility.

Since Tata motors is India's largest OEM that manufactures a complete range of vehicles in different segments, which is needed for last mile connectivity ranging from small cars to trucks and buses, the company wants to provide end-to-end connectivity to companies likeola, Uber or freight aggregating startups, which have substantially picked up market traction of late.

Shared mobility can broadly be defined as transportation services and resources that are shared among users, either concurrently or one after another. This includes public transit - cabs, bikesharing, shuttle/bus services, carsharing (round-trip, one-way, and peer-to-peer), ridesharing including non-commerical services like carpooling, ridesourcing or ride-hailing and bikesharing.

Shared mobility as a concept has different facets to it and ride-sharing is probably one of the main aspects that has become popular in India with companies like Ola and Uber. Interestingly, Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of Tata Group, is an early backer of Ola and had invested in the ride hailing startup back in 2015.

In the future, Tata Motors plans to connect with customers in the commercial vehicle space for providing end-to-end connectivity again because it offers products across the entire range.

Additionally, Tata Motors will also work in the domain of freight aggregation and as the top commercial vehicle maker, it has the data base of its customers to offer its services. It is to be noted that in July this year, Tata Motors has already picked up 26% stake in TruckEasy, a Bangalore-based logistics & freight aggregating startup also touted as "Uber-for-Trucks".

The report further suggested that Tata Motors will work with a number of startups in different areas of mobility and provide solutions in the domain of smart mobility solutions,

In passenger vehicle space as well, the company will be working with its customers and other tech companies to provide solutions. This new department will be in charge of all this activities and much more.

Tata Motors is in a unique position to play a pivotal role in mobility solutions of the country. From public transport to personal cars, from last mile connectivity to BRTS, from emergency response vehicles to commercial utility vehicles, from green and sustainable solutions Tata Motors has a product portfolio to connect the aspirations and needs of its discerning customers.

[Top Image Credits - Glassdoor.com]

Bike Sharing - A Healthy Lifestyle and Better Time Management

Bike sharing is no longer just material idealistic hipster talk. Cities across the world have seen people leave their car keys home and head over to the nearest cycle station, pedaling away to their destinations. Paris and Copenhagen boast integrated cycling networks that include thousands of stations and state-of-the-art technology. That bike-sharing boom can also be seen in Indian cities, (in)famous for their traffic gridlocks. There are many reasons why informed commuters are finding their transport solution in a cycle rental rather than cars and buses – it is all about the multi-pronged benefits.

Negotiate the Traffic with Ease

Cycles have always been an efficient mode of transport. A staple of the rural and semi-urban countryside, the humble ‘seat and two wheels’ is slowly becoming the answer to the packed urban schedule. A cycle can be squeezed through stationary traffic without anyone objecting and cyclists can from point A to point B via typical Indian skinny alleys that even scooters and motorbikes would struggle to maneuver in. Changed minds about the route? With a cycle, it is as easy as lifting it up and doing an about turn.

The time saved on commuting is precious. An extra half-hour, either way you can be some rejuvenating sofa-TV time or even a bit of reading or catching up with the kids.

A Health Upgrade

A lot of city-dwellers have undergone the routine of joining a gym only to have the enthusiasm fade away in a couple of weeks. Exercise is not just about motivation. It is also about tricking the brain into a pleasure-giving habit that works the muscles. With a cycling habit, even the most lethargic will find a new lease of life. Here are just some of the many ways cycling can rejuvenate a person.

Consistent cycling is a great way to lose belly fat but the weight loss benefit does not stop there. It is a perfect exercise for those who want to tone their body while maintaining agility. And all this can be done while going for an errand. Cardiovascular fitness, or the lack of, is a serious issue in India. Heart disease is rampant as people eat more and spend more time sitting. Cycling strengthens the body’s most important set of muscles – the heart. With a stronger heart, people will enjoy better stamina for other tasks. The weight management and cardio benefits of cycling help reduce the chances of hypertension and even diabetes.

Core body strengthening can be achieved by a good bout of cycling now and then. The cycling posture is low impact and also improves back strength. It is recommended over jogging on the treadmill as it is easier on the weight-bearing lower body muscles and leg joints. Cycling is also good for joint mobility and flexibility. It increases muscle strength of the legs and constant cycling also improves muscle coordination and reflexes.

From a mental point-of-view, cycling is a trusted stress buster. The adrenaline rush is a positive body reaction that can lift a person’s mood. Exercise also gives participants a sense of achievement and gives them a confidence boost that can translate in many ways, including at the workplace.

The best part about cycling is that it is easy. Once a rider gets the hang of it, the natural body movements integrate seamlessly with the bike – unlike other complex exercises and sports that require a fair bit of practice. Cycling is fun, so it takes the mind off the exercise allowing people to be active for more hours than they would usually achieve in a gym or running track.

A Great Way to Explore

For travellers looking to feel the pulse of a new city, there is no better way than to dive into the crowded melees and buzzing markets on a cycle. From Chandni Chowk in the evenings to a sunrise trip around Mumbai’s heritage streets, a cycling route can be punctuated with stops for chai and snacks – without the nightmare of driving in circles looking for parking. With mostly plain landscape, India’s cities have easily doable and fascinating cycling routes – old towns and scenic countryside included.

A Responsible Way to Travel

Doomsday scenarios are not as unrealistic as one may have initially thought with climate change causing havoc. At a local level, temperatures have risen and pollution has increased just from the exhaust of buildings and vehicles. A cycle on the other hand, is the cleanest mode of transport. The only thing burning is calories. This progressive attitude towards commute is a great way to make friends too. Many cycling clubs, formal and informal, have formed in India’s cities, driven by a common goal of sustainability and a healthy lifestyle.

Cycling Rentals – Making Things Easy

For those who are not ready to make an investment in a cycle, rentals are the best way to enjoy the ride without having the liability. There are no time limits for how long one can rent a cycle for – with pre-booking, commuters can hold on to the cycle from as little as an hour to an entire month. Cycling rentals also get rid of storage issues – which can be a problem for cycle owners who live in apartment blocks or small urban spaces.

A lot of trips within the city are short enough for a cycle ride. With companies like Pedl, booking a cycle online is as easy as it gets. Customers just need to find the nearest Pedl station and unlock a cycle with a popular wallet app. The rates for Pedl shared cycles are cheap – at INR 3 for half an hour no other transport option can beat that. When the ride is over, cyclists can drop the ride back at the nearest Pedl station, which are dispersed across the city.

From gaining mobility and flexibility in even the worst of traffic jams to increasing cardiovascular health, cycling is an activity that is life changing in multiple ways. Step out and rent a bike – feel the wind and freedom of this timeless piece of transport.

Bike Sharing - A Healthy Lifestyle and Better Time Management

Bike sharing is no longer just material idealistic hipster talk. Cities across the world have seen people leave their car keys home and head over to the nearest cycle station, pedaling away to their destinations. Paris and Copenhagen boast integrated cycling networks that include thousands of stations and state-of-the-art technology. That bike-sharing boom can also be seen in Indian cities, (in)famous for their traffic gridlocks. There are many reasons why informed commuters are finding their transport solution in a cycle rental rather than cars and buses – it is all about the multi-pronged benefits.

Negotiate the Traffic with Ease

Cycles have always been an efficient mode of transport. A staple of the rural and semi-urban countryside, the humble ‘seat and two wheels’ is slowly becoming the answer to the packed urban schedule. A cycle can be squeezed through stationary traffic without anyone objecting and cyclists can from point A to point B via typical Indian skinny alleys that even scooters and motorbikes would struggle to maneuver in. Changed minds about the route? With a cycle, it is as easy as lifting it up and doing an about turn.

The time saved on commuting is precious. An extra half-hour, either way you can be some rejuvenating sofa-TV time or even a bit of reading or catching up with the kids.

A Health Upgrade

A lot of city-dwellers have undergone the routine of joining a gym only to have the enthusiasm fade away in a couple of weeks. Exercise is not just about motivation. It is also about tricking the brain into a pleasure-giving habit that works the muscles. With a cycling habit, even the most lethargic will find a new lease of life. Here are just some of the many ways cycling can rejuvenate a person.

Consistent cycling is a great way to lose belly fat but the weight loss benefit does not stop there. It is a perfect exercise for those who want to tone their body while maintaining agility. And all this can be done while going for an errand. Cardiovascular fitness, or the lack of, is a serious issue in India. Heart disease is rampant as people eat more and spend more time sitting. Cycling strengthens the body’s most important set of muscles – the heart. With a stronger heart, people will enjoy better stamina for other tasks. The weight management and cardio benefits of cycling help reduce the chances of hypertension and even diabetes.

Core body strengthening can be achieved by a good bout of cycling now and then. The cycling posture is low impact and also improves back strength. It is recommended over jogging on the treadmill as it is easier on the weight-bearing lower body muscles and leg joints. Cycling is also good for joint mobility and flexibility. It increases muscle strength of the legs and constant cycling also improves muscle coordination and reflexes.

From a mental point-of-view, cycling is a trusted stress buster. The adrenaline rush is a positive body reaction that can lift a person’s mood. Exercise also gives participants a sense of achievement and gives them a confidence boost that can translate in many ways, including at the workplace.

The best part about cycling is that it is easy. Once a rider gets the hang of it, the natural body movements integrate seamlessly with the bike – unlike other complex exercises and sports that require a fair bit of practice. Cycling is fun, so it takes the mind off the exercise allowing people to be active for more hours than they would usually achieve in a gym or running track.

A Great Way to Explore

For travellers looking to feel the pulse of a new city, there is no better way than to dive into the crowded melees and buzzing markets on a cycle. From Chandni Chowk in the evenings to a sunrise trip around Mumbai’s heritage streets, a cycling route can be punctuated with stops for chai and snacks – without the nightmare of driving in circles looking for parking. With mostly plain landscape, India’s cities have easily doable and fascinating cycling routes – old towns and scenic countryside included.

A Responsible Way to Travel

Doomsday scenarios are not as unrealistic as one may have initially thought with climate change causing havoc. At a local level, temperatures have risen and pollution has increased just from the exhaust of buildings and vehicles. A cycle on the other hand, is the cleanest mode of transport. The only thing burning is calories. This progressive attitude towards commute is a great way to make friends too. Many cycling clubs, formal and informal, have formed in India’s cities, driven by a common goal of sustainability and a healthy lifestyle.

Cycling Rentals – Making Things Easy

For those who are not ready to make an investment in a cycle, rentals are the best way to enjoy the ride without having the liability. There are no time limits for how long one can rent a cycle for – with pre-booking, commuters can hold on to the cycle from as little as an hour to an entire month. Cycling rentals also get rid of storage issues – which can be a problem for cycle owners who live in apartment blocks or small urban spaces.

A lot of trips within the city are short enough for a cycle ride. With companies like Pedl, booking a cycle online is as easy as it gets. Customers just need to find the nearest Pedl station and unlock a cycle with a popular wallet app. The rates for Pedl shared cycles are cheap – at INR 3 for half an hour no other transport option can beat that. When the ride is over, cyclists can drop the ride back at the nearest Pedl station, which are dispersed across the city.

From gaining mobility and flexibility in even the worst of traffic jams to increasing cardiovascular health, cycling is an activity that is life changing in multiple ways. Step out and rent a bike – feel the wind and freedom of this timeless piece of transport.

Tripda, A Ride-Sharing Marketplace Enters India

US-based ride-sharing marketplace Tripda has entered India as its new consumer ground. Tripda is a ride-sharing community for long-distance travel and a marketplace connecting drivers and passengers. Tripda is backed by Rocket Internet. Tripda has launched it services in India with online address - Tripda.in.

According to the Tripda website, passengers can create accounts through their Facebook ID to Tripda's website. Afterwards, they enter their pickup location, destination, and date of departure. Drivers, meanwhile, must register their vehicle with Tripda by providing the company with its brand, model, number of seats available and level of comfort. Tripda then matches drivers and passengers looking to travel on the same route, and sets a suggested price for drivers to charge each passenger. Once the ride is completed, drivers and passengers can rate one another.

Tripda will operate in India through its headquarter office in Gurgaon, a city near to Delhi.

Tripda operates through its website and mobile app (iOS & Android) where anyone can post a ride and then carpool irrespective of their location. In India, Tripda will operate initially in Delhi, Mumbai/Pune and Bangalore although anyone outside these cities can use the service as well such as Nagpur or Gurgaon.

Additionally, in India tripda also offer the 'Ladies Only' option to make female drivers and passengers feel more comfortable and safe. If you’re a female driver or even passenger and want to offer a ride to other females only or looking for a trip only with females in the car you will find the option 'Ladies Only' when you create a trip. When you select this option, only females will accompany you for ride.

In India, Tripda will be competing with Ola Cabs and Uber who are already competing with each other in highly competitive cab market of India. Founded by four co-founders Adi Vaxman, Pedro Meduna, Joe McFarlane and Eduardo Prota, Tripda operates in ten countries including the US and India.

Tripda is similar to the French venture BlaBlaCar which recently raised $100 million from venture capital firms Index Ventures, Accel Partners among others. BlaBlaCar plans to use its funding to grow its business and expand to markets like Turkey, Brazil and India.

India is fourth country in south-east asian region as in September Tripda had already launched its services in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

GoTogether - India’s first intercity ride-sharing solution online

GoTogether is India's first intercity ride-sharing solution for people traveling to other cities. This idea came to Shirish Gone (the founder) when he travelled to his hometown Warangal every alternate week from his workplace in Hyderabad. "It was a regular problem for me to get a comfortable travel, as there are very less number of Volvo buses available," he says. "I tried to understand why this problem exists. I found out that there are not enough buses from any Tier-1 city to Tier-2/Tier-3 towns across India, as the buses won't get enough passengers in return," adds Shirish.

[caption id="attachment_94649" align="alignleft" width="255"] Shirish Gone, Founder of GoTogether[/caption] GoTogether helps Car-owners save fuel costs and passengers get a comfortable travel. The cool factor of this solution is, you can choose whom you want to travel with, unlike in buses or trains you don't know who is going to sit beside you. "People with cars can give rides to passengers, which became a win-win solution for both," says Akhil, an app user. Shirish with a group of 3 passionate engineers, product managers, designers with entrepreneurial attitude bootstrapped to build a mobile solutions for ride-sharing in the country. They have recently launched their android app after the success of their iOS app.

There are many startups and apps in daily commute carpooling but intercity ride is a new concept altogether. They are in talks with a few taxi services to bring more access to their users. They launched their alpha version 4 months ago and got around 300 users with zero marketing. The team is now fine tuning the solution by observing user behavior.

"This is a chicken-egg problem, where we need to balance both sides of the users to leverage value for each. So our plan is carefully go route by route basis, choosing appropriate routes where our solution has maximum utilization," says the founder.

They are currently based out of Hyderabad. They have started testing the this strategy with a pilot for 6 weeks between Hyderabad to Warangal starting on 15th August, and carefully choosing next appropriate routes.

As a message for future entrepreneurs, Shirish says "Give your 100% and you are smart enough to figure out ways to do it. In the end, it's a Do or Die commitment." They are currently bootstrapped but in talks with VC's about funding. Keep watching this space for more.