We are publishing an interview of Mr. Aman Khurana – Founder and CEO, GoLofty – An Indore based startup which is growing for a large pie of online bus ticket booking market.
About the founders
Mr. Aman Khurana (a transport owner by profession and innovative, multi-talented Entrepreneur) is the only face behind the success story of GoLofty. He has studied B.A (Hons) from Daly College Business School which is in collaboration with De Montfort University, Leicester, UK. He has successfully Undertaken program with startupindia – an initiative by Invest India powered by Make in India. He has earned certificate from ‘startupindia’ Invest India.
What is the problem you are trying to solve? Can you share with us any insights that led you to believe that this is a big enough problem?
We are trying to solve basic booking problems by presenting our easy to use and convenient interface with some of its exclusive features like:
- Bus Ticket Bookings: GoLofty launched to help people find the best solutions for Buses. It’s just like a hub of Buses with the highest coverage where you can find attractive deals on ticket booking whether it will be single or return journey as well.
- Bus Hire: We expertise to offer our premium customers the greatest power to search for Group tours, If you are planning to hire a bus for any marriage purpose, corporate tour, outing or any pilgrimage purpose, we are here to find it for your ease. Just give us your details and we will get back to you with the best offers from major operators near you.
- Advertising: The one of its kind Advertising campaigns specifically designed for Bus operators. Advertising with us gives Operators the power to list their newly launched buses as well as routes to promote and let travellers know about it. It also helps passengers to decide with such better options that operators are providing them through the medium of GoLofty.
What is the uniqueness about your Startup?
GoLofty.com is India’s most convenient hub for all Bus booking needs with its largest coverage in India of 75000+ routes. Our ambition is to bring every bit of available routes online and to create the easiest and cheapest way for customers to book it. At GoLofty, we have more than 2500 Bus operators, specialists constantly to help you with great deals. Our network of Bus ticket bookings and Bus hire spread in 3440 cities across India, which are growing every day too.
What is the revenue model? Explain your thought process.
After doing campaigns with famous advertisement channels, thousands of customers like the concept by approaching the website and started booking tickets online with its easy to use and more convenient interface. We have also launched many coupons to provide huge discounts to the customers which they can easily avail with our fast and secure portal. Customers can easily book tickets and hire a bus without paying any extra cost for unnecessary services like a subscription, packages, schemes, etc. Which most of the existing companies are doing to earn extra profit. But with GoLofty, the portal is designed keeping in mind every class of the society so that any person, whether belongs to any class of the society can easily book tickets without paying any extra cost in the atmosphere of cashless and digital India. The account is free of charge.
Who are the consumers that you are targeting? How is this going to affect them?
We are targeting complete marketplace by focusing customers to agents and associated with private and govt state road transport corporations too. Our network of Bus ticket bookings and Bus hire spread in all over India. The price of tickets ranges from around Rs.150 to Rs.3000 affordable for every class of the society.
What is the big picture of your startup? Will it lead to something bigger? If so, how?
It is very important in today’s era keeping in mind the trend of cashless transactions, the need of easy to use tool for all your booking aspirations. Thanks to the internet where we make sure to present you the best deals at the ease of your fingertips wherever you are and wherever you want to travel. This industry is having a huge opportunity because of its essential usage.
My future plans includes launching interface of other industries also like:
- Rail Reservation
- Flight Booking
- Cab/Taxi Booking
- Tour/Holidays Packages
- Hotel Booking
- Mobile/DTH Recharge
- Bill Payment
- Domestic Money Transfer
What is the success story of your startup in your own words?
My Family business was used to be related to the FMCG sector. But my vision was always to do something different that leaves a trail. I started my profession with the transportation sector after completing my graduation. I observed this industry with my different point of vision, how this whole system works and to understand this practically I started bidding in various schemes of Govt. and private tenders. Where in almost all the organization my decisions depends on young age leads every person surprising that without having transport background and young age
how I make decisions so perfect.
After few years of operating with the model like this. I observed the basic need of coming with something that reduces the headache of booking whether the ticket or complete bus for any special occasion and there all the plans started.
Any other information about your startup that you would like to share with us.
Customers appreciating the business plan a lot. We are giving our best too by growing our network everyday keeping in mind the people who are not tech savvy by focusing on the B2B part for agents and stockists.