For many who travel long distances to reach their workplace, there is always a compromise between cost and comfort. Now an on-demand carpooling app, GreenPool, helps you travel to and from work comfortably for just ₹30.

Aimed at IT professionals, the application was developed by Chennai-based start-up Flower Pot Mobility Solutions, and was launched a week ago.

This is how the app, which is currently available only in Chennai, works. If someone wants to look for carpool from place A to workplace B, the user has to input the area he wants to be picked up from. The app connects them to drivers who are in the area enroute to B. The rider pays ₹30 if the distance is less than 15 km or ₹50 if it is between 15 km and 60 km. Beyond 60 km, the fare is calculated at ₹1.50 per km.

All transactions are made digitally through the app’s mobile-wallet system.

Ravikumar Kumarasamy, founder, said: “I came by this idea when I was looking to carpool to work after undergoing a knee surgery. I realised that there are not many carpooling platforms available with flexible timings. Cost is another issue I faced when carpooling.”

So far, the app has 2,500 registered users and expects to add another 20,000 by partnering with software companies in Chennai. Kumarasamy said: “For every transaction, we get a 10 per cent commission. At this rate, we expect to generate a revenue of ₹2 crore a year.”

So far, the company has invested ₹70 lakh, and is looking for Series A funding to expand to newer markets and acquire customers and for technological upgrade.

Expansion

After Chennai, the company plans to enter Bengaluru by February 2017 and eventually Mumbai, NCR, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune and Mysuru. The company is in talks with potential partners in Dubai and Singapore to take GreenPool beyond India.

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