To some, nothing comes easy and hard work is the only way forward. And like most of us, Dilkhush Kumar, hailing from Bangaon, a small village in Bihar, had big dreams. Even though he was short on an educational degree, his determination and passion to make it big in the world bore fruits.
After studying till 12th standard, Kumar started hustling seven years ago. He began pulling rickshaws in the streets of Delhi and even sold vegetables in Patna in a desperate attempt to make ends meet, reported DNA.
But soon after, he changed his profession to an auto-rickshaw driver after learning how to drive from his father who was also a bus driver. However, the passionate man wanted to do something big and something he could call his own. Hence, he started a taxi service.
Talking to GNT News, the 29-year-old said that first, he started a company called ‘Aarya Go Cab’ which was doing good business in Bihar. But then, the idea of opening a database company clicked after which he left his first start-up. He named his second company ‘RodBez’, giving it a desi twist to ‘Roadways’.
In a short span of 6-7 months, Kumar was able to raise funds worth Rs 4 crore and nearly 1.2 lakh people visited the platform.
Talking about ‘RodBez’, he explained that it’s a database company whose primary work is to provide taxi service in Bihar and is very different from companies like Ola and Uber. The company connects with taxi aggregators, local tour and travel guys, and individual drivers and brings them into their community. They then ask them to share the details of the route they’re plying in. Most of the time the drivers driving outstation don’t have any customers while returning.
This is when ‘RodBez’ connects people wanting to travel on these routes with the drivers driving on them. By doing so, they help the customers spend less money as they now have to pay the money for one side in spite of paying for two-way while traveling only one way. Their company helps customers reduce their taxi fair by 40%. Currently, the company operates in every city in Bihar.
The founder and CEO of ‘RodBez’ said that after this company became successful, they were able to hire graduates from institutions like IIT Guwahati to work for them. He also reportedly claimed that some students from IIM have also joined his startup on a part-time basis.
Recalling an old incident, Kumar said, “I had been for an interview of a guard. However, I was considered unpolished and uneducated. I was asked to identify the logo of an iPhone, which I couldn’t because I was seeing an iPhone for the first time in my life.” Therefore, he was rejected for the job of a guard.
The start-up entrepreneur envisions providing the company’s services to every city in India. From working as a rickshaw driver to being a millionaire entrepreneur and hiring people from acclaimed colleges, Kumar sure has come a long way. Kudos!