Brief introduction about yourself and tell us something about Wheelstreet?
I am Moksha Srivastava, co-founder and CMO of Wheelstreet. I am from Jhansi and I’m a graduate of IIMC, Delhi.
Wheelstreet is a two-wheeler rental platform that aims to make travelling and commuting more convenient and enjoyable. Wheelstreet is based on an aggregator model and uses technology to connect potential customers to vendors. By using our website or Android App, customers can look at all the two-wheelers available for rent and select the one they need. They can make the payment online and opt for home delivery as well for a completely hassle-free process. Wheelstreet also offers its customers the lowest rental tariffs in the market, variable rental durations, complimentary helmets and unlimited kilometres.
What ignited the spark in you to start Wheelstreet?
I had started working in New Delhi and I thought of transporting my scooter from my home to make commuting easier. Then someone suggested me to rent out a scooter instead since I was going to be in Delhi only for a short time.
I searched for places where I could get a scooter on rent and I was only able to find a few. I finally rentedone from Karol Bagh for 8000/- and that was a life changing experience for me.
I was given a different model than the one I was promised and the quality was terrible. Oneday I was discussing this experience with my friends Pranay and Mritunjay and we came up with the idea of creating a platform for people like me who need bikes on rent and don’t know where to get them.
Then we started Wheelstreet in November 2014.
Please share your future goals.
We are planning to launch pan India as there are more than 40 Potential cities with existing bike rental markets.
Also, we are coming up with mobile apps for vendors to help them manage their inventory and accounting, which they are currently doing using the back-end technology that we have provided them with.
Something about the challenges you faced while starting Wheelstreet.
Challenges in terms of business were very less as the vendors were actually waiting for someone like Wheelstreet to help them increase their business. But in terms of building the company, getting the right employees was difficult. Since it’s a tech+ops business we really needed people who excelled in their respective fields. We cannot compromise with the tech platforms in this business as it is directly involved with the vendors and the customers.
The only challenge we faced initially is to create awareness about bike rentals. Once people got to know that they could rent a bike from a standardized platform, they start doing it.
Share few important goals of your venture?
We aim to make Wheelstreet a platform where people can find the answers to all their biking needs.
After successful launchesin Bangalore, Delhi, Gurugram, Noida and greater Noida, we plan to launch in Pune, Hyderabad and Goa very soon.
What are your views on the thought, that as compared to male counterparts, it’s harder and more struggling for females to make a mark professionally?
I totally disagree to this because when you are starting a business it is equally difficult for a male and a female. You have an idea and you have to make people believe it, it only depends how good a leader you are. If people believe in you and your vision, it’s not difficult for anyone to walk towards success.
What piece of advice would you like to give to the aspiring youth who wish to pursue their dream of becoming an entrepreneur?
I would say that this is the right time to experiment with the ideas in your mind because after a certain time you will have many responsibilities to take care of and at that time you will not be in a position to take risks.
So, live your idea and live your dream while you have time. Don’t wait to gain experience because if you have it within you, it will automatically show and you don’t need experience for it.
According to you, what are the top three essential skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
What are your views and opinions towards the ambiguous need to promote women entrepreneurship and women empowerment in India?
I think you don’t need a government or an authority to tell you that you can do this and we give you so many rights. If a woman wants to do something, she should do it anyway. Most women who are remembered in history did remarkable things without waiting for anyone to help them or grant them permission to do so.
So, I think one should not wait for any policy or women empowerment program and start doing it when you think you can.
How do you see the future of online platform like these incoming years in India?
The future of online platforms like these is certainly promising. Use of technology in India is growing at an exponential rate and it doesn’t look like it’s going to slow down any time soon.
