TaxiPixi, an aggregator app that lets users book a radio cab from any of the multiple operators and track the taxi in real time, has raised an undisclosed amount in
funding from
Celkon Mobiles, a Hyderabad-based firm specialising in mobile phone solutions and wireless technologies. Celkon has invested in the Delhi-based start-up
On Time Technologies Pvt Ltd, the company behind TaxiPixi. Launched in May 2013, it is India’s first-ever multi-operator
cab booking app and currently covers as many as 10 Indian cities. The
Android version of the app (requires Android 2.2 and up) can be
downloaded for free from
Google Play Store. Last we checked, its rating was 4.1 while download numbers are nearly 50,000, according to the company. TaxiPixi has also launched an
iOS version in December last year and you can
download it for free from
iTunes.
As part of the deal, Celkon will pre-embed TaxiPixi application in all its compatible smartphones selling in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and
South Africa. The company will also promote the app to its existing consumers through Celkon app store and website. “With this funding, we have started diversifying our business and exploring new opportunities in the mobile application segment,” said
Pradeep Yerraguntla,
head of digital business at Celkon.
Although the amount raised by the start-up has not been disclosed, TaxiPixi
co-founder and CEO Kajal Dubey has told
Business Insider India the money would be utilised to extend its operations across tier II and tier III cities. The company will also expand its services to
Malaysia and users hailing from
Kuala Lumpur can start using the app from mid-March this year.
“Our aim is to leverage Celkon’s innovative products to build engagement with young consumers as they enjoy experimenting with exciting technology products like TaxiPixi, which ensures convenience, comfort and great user experience. With this deal, we are aiming to add up to 100K users every month through Celkon,” says Kajal.
So how does this app work and how do you benefit? Unlike other cab booking apps, this one allows users to send cab booking requests directly to the
drivers of several radio taxi companies. New operators are added to the TaxiPixi platform only after a thorough verification of documents, permits and licences of each cab and driver. However, this essentially means you can contact not just one driver/operator but several, at one go, and your request reaches them in just 15 seconds. All you need to do is provide the pick-up address and destination (you can do it using the map or simply type it in) and specify the pick-up time and the type of cab.
TaxiPixi offers three different types of cabs –
economy radio taxi,
sedan taxi and
sedan radio taxi – and charges a fixed fee per booking. Users get instant confirmation as soon as requests are accepted or get a notification within 15 minutes, suggesting further upgrades in terms of booking to ensure confirmation. You can book your cab for point-to-point commute and opt for an
hourly package. One can also track the cab in real time as it approaches you or cancel the booking with a single tap.
In a bid to expand further and leverage the technology platform even better, the company may soon start an
auto rickshaw booking service on similar lines, according to Kajal. “There will be more challenges, of course, when autos come on board as it is with cab booking now. You need both technology and scale to succeed in this business, and that’s what we are focusing on,” she sums up.
