Looking for that big splash for your special occasion? Book a Rolls Royce Ghost or Audi Cabriolet
Startup: Hype Technologies Founders: Raghav Belavadi
Sector: Transportation
Problem it solves: Rental
Twenty-four-year-old Mayur Patel was set for his first date – and looking to make it special, along with booking a table at a swanky restaurant, he also wanted to book a swanky ride. Only a BMW or a Mercedes Benz would pass muster, he believed. To make it easier for people like Mayur, Raghav Belavadi started Hype Technologies – an online platform for luxury car rentals. Raghav had faced the situation himself – wanting to hire a luxury car for his parents’ wedding anniversary, Raghav went through a lot of pain, price hikes, and negotiations with different vendors. “After going through all that pain, I received a different car from what I asked,” says Raghav. The chaotic and unorganised market gave Raghav a feeling that the problem could be fixed with technology. That is how Hype was born.
Finding the right vendors Within a few months of launching the platform, it had three luxury car vendors signed up. Raghav adds the fleet has now risen to over 1,000 cars and operates in all the metro cities. Luxury cars in all ranges – from Rolls Royce Ghost or Audi Cabriolet in different variants and colours – can be booked with the click of a button. The initial challenges were finding the right car rental agencies that were credible, established, and reputed for their service in each city. “We did extensive market analysis, took references, ran background checks and visited personally to evaluate their “owned” cars. It is our goal to bring the agents who own the cars, and not the brokers, so that we can assure our customers premium service quality and value for money,” says Raghav.