Pavan Guntupalli, a determined entrepreneur from Telangana, began his journey as a top-performing student. He secured admission to IIT Kharagpur and later worked at Samsung as a software developer. But the monotony of corporate life didn’t satisfy him—he wanted to create something impactful.
A String of Failures Before Breakthrough
Pavan ventured into entrepreneurship with his first startup, theKarrier, along with friend Aravind Sanka. But it failed, and so did the next seven ventures. Despite 75 investor rejections, Pavan didn’t give up. His belief in eventually hitting on the right idea kept him moving forward.
A New Idea Born in Traffic
In 2015, stuck in traffic, Pavan realized that existing cab services were expensive and time-consuming. He asked a simple question—why not bikes for daily transport? That thought led to the creation of Rapido, India’s first bike taxi platform, offering a faster, more affordable alternative for short city rides.
Building for Small Cities, Not Big Giants
Instead of competing with Ola and Uber in major metros, Rapido focused on Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities. This decision helped the company stand out. Their bike rides, starting at just ₹15, offered commuters a quick and low-cost option in cities where traffic was chaotic and public transport limited.
Investor Support at the Right Time
Skepticism from investors continued even after the idea was launched. The market doubted the viability of bike taxis, especially with big players entering the space. But in 2016, Pawan Munjal of Hero MotoCorp believed in Rapido and invested in it. His support brought credibility and more funding soon followed.
Winning with Users and Riders
With new funding, Rapido expanded to Bengaluru, Delhi, and Gurugram. They started with 400 bikes and attracted 5,000 users in just months—reaching 1.5 lakh by year-end. Their approach was unique: riders were called “Captains” for dignity, initial commissions were waived, and fares remained low.
A Startup That Changed Urban Commutes
Today, Rapido operates in over 100 cities, with more than 5 crore app downloads and lakhs of daily rides. The startup that once faced repeated rejections is now valued at ₹9,350 crore. Pavan Guntupalli’s journey from failure to success proves that persistence and one great idea can rewrite your story.
