Bengaluru-based startup DriveU gets funding from Unitus Seed Fund

By Taslima Khan

NEW DELHI: Bengaluru-based startup DriveU, which aggregates on-demand drivers for private-car owners, has raised an undisclosed amount from Unitus Seed Fund.

DriveU targets a growing section of car owners who are forced to choose alternative modes of conveyance owing to the hassle of driving and parking in cities, which are becoming more and more crowded.

As per an estimate, there are more than 15-lakh private cars in Bengaluru, with 30% of the car owners needing drivers.

“That is the kind of market gap we want to address,” said Ramprasad Rahm Shastry, who founded DriveU in July 2015 along with Ashok Shastry and Amulmeet Singh. Ramprasad Shastry was one of the first angel investors in TaxiForSure, while other cofounders Ashok Shastry and Amulmeet Singh were employees at TaxiForSure and FreeCharge respectively.

DriveU is seeking to fulfil the demand for reliable, background verified drivers on demand. The company charges customers Rs 99 an hour. It competes with similar startups such as Noida-based DriveBud, which provides its services in Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai and most recently, Delhi.

As of January, DriveU has provided more than 15,000 trips to over 6,000 customers, of which more than 60% are women.