Top 10 Gig Economy Startups in India

The gig economy has seen a significant rise globally, and India is no exception. With the increase in internet penetration and the growth of digital platforms, gig economy startups have emerged to meet the diverse needs of consumers and provide flexible work opportunities. Here’s a detailed overview of the top 10 gig economy startups in India, highlighting their business models, services, and impact on the economy.

1. UrbanClap (now Urban Company)

Urban Company, formerly known as UrbanClap, is a leading platform in the home services sector. Founded in 2014 by Abhiraj Bhal, Varun Khaitan, and Raghav Chandra, Urban Company connects customers with professionals offering services like beauty treatments, home repairs, cleaning, and more.

Aspect	Details
Founded	2014
Founders	Abhiraj Bhal, Varun Khaitan, Raghav Chandra
Sector	Home services
Services Offered	Beauty treatments, home repairs, cleaning, and more
Revenue Model	Commission from service professionals
Impact	Improved quality and reliability of home services

UrbanClap (now Urban Company) – Top 10 Gig Economy Startups in India

Business Model: Urban Company operates on a marketplace model, where it acts as an intermediary between service professionals and customers. It earns revenue by taking a commission from the professionals for each completed service.

Impact: Urban Company has significantly improved the quality and reliability of home services in India, providing verified professionals and standardized service delivery.

2. Swiggy

Swiggy is one of India’s leading food delivery platforms, founded in 2014 by Sriharsha Majety, Nandan Reddy, and Rahul Jaimini. It has revolutionized the food delivery landscape by offering a seamless platform for restaurants and delivery partners.

Aspect	Details
Founded	2014
Founders	Sriharsha Majety, Nandan Reddy, Rahul Jaimini
Sector	Food delivery
Services Offered	Food delivery, Swiggy Genie, Swiggy Instamart
Revenue Model	Commission from restaurants, delivery fees from customers
Impact	Created gig opportunities for delivery partners

Swiggy – Top 10 Gig Economy Startups in India

Business Model: Swiggy charges restaurants a commission on each order and also has delivery fees for customers. It has diversified its offerings with Swiggy Genie for hyperlocal delivery and Swiggy Instamart for groceries.

Impact: Swiggy has created numerous gig opportunities for delivery partners, contributing to the growth of the on-demand delivery sector in India.

3. Ola

Ola, founded by Bhavish Aggarwal and Ankit Bhati in 2010, is a major player in the ride-hailing industry in India. It offers a platform for booking cabs, auto-rickshaws, and even bike taxis.

Aspect	Details
Founded	2010
Founders	Bhavish Aggarwal, Ankit Bhati
Sector	Ride-hailing
Services Offered	Cab booking, auto-rickshaw, bike taxis, rentals
Revenue Model	Commission from drivers, subscription services
Impact	Provided flexible employment to drivers, transformed urban transportation

Ola – Top 10 Gig Economy Startups in India

Business Model: Ola operates on a commission-based model, where it takes a cut from the earnings of its drivers. It also offers subscription services and rental options.

Impact: Ola has provided flexible employment to thousands of drivers, transforming the transportation landscape in Indian cities.

4. Zomato

Zomato, founded in 2008 by Deepinder Goyal and Pankaj Chaddah, is another prominent food delivery and restaurant discovery platform. It also offers services like Zomato Gold, a subscription service for dining out.

Aspect	Details
Founded	2008
Founders	Deepinder Goyal, Pankaj Chaddah
Sector	Food delivery, restaurant discovery
Services Offered	Food delivery, Zomato Gold
Revenue Model	Commission from restaurants, subscription fees, advertising
Impact	Expanded reach of restaurants, provided gig opportunities for delivery personnel

Zomato – Top 10 Gig Economy Startups in India

Business Model: Zomato generates revenue through commissions on food orders, subscription fees, and advertising on its platform.

Impact: Zomato has expanded the reach of restaurants and provided gig opportunities for delivery personnel across the country.

5. Housejoy

Housejoy, founded in 2014 by Arjun Kumar, is a home services platform offering a wide range of services, from beauty treatments to home construction.

Aspect	Details
Founded	2014
Founders	Arjun Kumar
Sector	Home services
Services Offered	Beauty treatments, home construction, cleaning, repairs
Revenue Model	Commission from service providers
Impact	Empowered skilled professionals, ensured quality home services

Housejoy – Top 10 Gig Economy Startups in India

Business Model: Housejoy follows a commission-based model, earning revenue from the service providers registered on its platform.

Impact: Housejoy has empowered skilled professionals by providing them a platform to reach a broader customer base and ensuring quality home services.

6. Dunzo

Dunzo, founded in 2015 by Kabeer Biswas, Mukund Jha, Dalvir Suri, and Ankur Aggarwal, is a hyperlocal delivery service that runs errands, delivers groceries, and more.

Aspect	Details
Founded	2015
Founders	Kabeer Biswas, Mukund Jha, Dalvir Suri, Ankur Aggarwal
Sector	Hyperlocal delivery
Services Offered	Grocery delivery, parcel delivery, errands
Revenue Model	Delivery fees from customers, commission from partners
Impact	Made urban living more convenient, created gig jobs for delivery executives

Dunzo – Top 10 Gig Economy Startups in India

Business Model: Dunzo charges delivery fees from customers and also partners with businesses for deliveries, earning through commission and delivery charges.

Impact: Dunzo has made urban living more convenient and created gig jobs for delivery executives.

7. GigIndia

GigIndia, founded in 2017 by Sahil Sharma and Aditya Shirole, focuses on providing on-demand workforces for businesses, offering tasks like telecalling, data entry, and market research.

Aspect	Details
Founded	2017
Founders	Sahil Sharma, Aditya Shirole
Sector	On-demand workforce
Services Offered	Telecalling, data entry, market research
Revenue Model	Charges businesses for gig workers, takes a percentage of payment
Impact	Provided short-term employment opportunities for freelancers and students

GigIndia – Top 10 Gig Economy Startups in India

Business Model: GigIndia charges businesses for providing gig workers and takes a percentage of the payment made to the gig workers.

Impact: GigIndia has opened up numerous short-term employment opportunities for freelancers and college students.

8. Uber India

Uber, the global ride-hailing giant, entered India in 2013. It offers cab services, bike taxis, and auto-rickshaw rides through its app.

Aspect	Details
Founded	2013 (India operations)
Founders	Travis Kalanick, Garrett Camp (Global)
Sector	Ride-hailing
Services Offered	Cab services, bike taxis, auto-rickshaw rides
Revenue Model	Commission from drivers
Impact	Provided flexible earning opportunities for drivers, expanded urban mobility options

Uber India – Top 10 Gig Economy Startups in India

Business Model: Uber operates on a commission-based model, taking a cut from the fares of rides booked through its platform.

Impact: Uber has provided flexible earning opportunities for drivers and expanded urban mobility options.

9. Lalamove

Lalamove, a Hong Kong-based on-demand logistics company, expanded into India to offer same-day delivery and courier services for businesses and individuals.

Aspect	Details
Founded	2013 (Global), expanded to India
Founders	Shing Chow (Global)
Sector	On-demand logistics
Services Offered	Same-day delivery, courier services
Revenue Model	Delivery charges, commission from drivers
Impact	Streamlined logistics and delivery services, benefited small businesses and delivery drivers

Lalamove – Top 10 Gig Economy Startups in India

Business Model: Lalamove earns through delivery charges and a commission from the drivers.

Impact: Lalamove has streamlined logistics and delivery services, benefiting small businesses and independent delivery drivers.

10. Bro4u

Bro4u, founded in 2015 by Pramod Venkatesh, is a marketplace for home services, offering a variety of services such as home cleaning, plumbing, and appliance repair.

Aspect	Details
Founded	2015
Founders	Pramod Venkatesh
Sector	Home services
Services Offered	Home cleaning, plumbing, appliance repair
Revenue Model	Commission from service providers
Impact	Simplified finding reliable home service professionals, provided numerous gig jobs

Bro4u – Top 10 Gig Economy Startups in India

Business Model: Bro4u charges service providers a commission for every service booked through its platform.

Impact: Bro4u has simplified the process of finding reliable home service professionals, providing numerous gig jobs in the process.

FAQ’S on Top 10 Gig Economy Startups in India:

India’s Largest Gig Discovery Platform

As of the latest data, GigIndia is often recognized as one of India’s largest gig discovery platforms. It connects businesses with gig workers for various tasks, such as sales, marketing, and operations.

Size of the Gig Economy in India

The gig economy in India has been rapidly growing. Estimates suggest that as of 2023, the gig economy workforce in India comprises over 15 million workers. This number is expected to increase significantly in the coming years, driven by digital platforms and changing work preferences.

Biggest Gig Economy Platform

UrbanClap (now Urban Company) is considered one of the biggest gig economy platforms in India. It offers services ranging from home cleaning and repairs to beauty and wellness, employing a vast network of gig workers.

Is Gig Economy the Future of India?

The gig economy is poised to be a significant part of India’s future. Several factors contribute to this trend:

Digital Transformation: Increased internet penetration and smartphone usage facilitate the growth of gig platforms.
Changing Work Preferences: More people, especially millennials and Gen Z, prefer flexible work arrangements.
Economic Necessity: Gig work provides additional income opportunities for many, especially in a country with a large informal sector.
Policy Support: The Indian government is increasingly recognizing and supporting the gig economy through various initiatives.

While the gig economy offers flexibility and opportunities, it also brings challenges such as job security, benefits, and fair wages that need to be addressed to ensure sustainable growth.

Meaning of a Gig Company

A gig company is a business that operates primarily by hiring freelance or temporary workers (often referred to as gig workers) for short-term engagements or specific tasks. These companies typically use digital platforms to connect workers with customers or clients who need services. The term “gig” comes from the music industry, where it refers to a one-time job or performance.

Biggest Gig Economy Companies

Globally, some of the largest and most well-known gig economy companies include:

Uber: A ride-hailing service that connects drivers with passengers.
Airbnb: A platform for renting out homes or rooms to travelers.
Upwork: A marketplace for freelancers in various fields such as writing, graphic design, and programming.
TaskRabbit: A platform for hiring people to complete everyday tasks and errands.
Lyft: Another major ride-hailing service.

In India, prominent gig economy companies include:

Urban Company (formerly UrbanClap): Provides various home services like cleaning, repairs, and beauty services.
Zomato/Swiggy: Food delivery platforms that employ a large number of delivery personnel.
Dunzo: A hyperlocal delivery service for groceries, medicines, and other essentials.
GigIndia: Connects businesses with gig workers for tasks in sales, marketing, and operations.
Ola: A ride-hailing service similar to Uber.

Workflexi

Workflexi is an Indian gig economy platform that connects companies with freelancers and part-time workers. It aims to provide flexible work opportunities for professionals looking to balance multiple commitments or seeking a better work-life balance. Workflexi focuses on offering short-term projects and freelance gigs across various industries.

Conclusion:

The gig economy in India is thriving, driven by the convenience of digital platforms and the growing demand for flexible, on-demand services. These startups have not only disrupted traditional industries but also created a plethora of job opportunities, contributing significantly to the Indian economy. They have empowered freelancers, service professionals, and delivery personnel, offering them flexible work options and a steady income. As the gig economy continues to evolve, these startups are likely to innovate further, expanding their services and impact.