Rapido, founded in 2015, has emerged as a serious challenger to Uber and Ola in India’s ride-hailing market. Initially focused on bike taxis, the Bengaluru-based startup now commands nearly 50% of the market share, with its cab business doubling to 30% in just eight months of 2024.

Its edge lies in a subscription model for drivers, replacing high commissions with a flat fee. This approach lets “captains” keep 100% of their earnings, boosting retention and satisfaction. As a result, Rapido is clocking half a million cab rides daily and already outpacing Uber in monthly active Android users, 50 million versus 30 million by July 2024.

Beyond numbers, Rapido has become India’s largest gig employer, onboarding 1.6 lakh people monthly and employing 20 lakh captains, more than the Railways and Army combined. “We’re not just solving mobility, we’re solving livelihoods,” says co-founder Pavan Guntupalli.

Now, Rapido is expanding into food delivery with Ownly, a zero-commission platform that challenges Swiggy and Zomato by offering transparent pricing for restaurants and affordable meals for customers. With a massive fleet and loyal user base, Rapido aims to disrupt food delivery just as it did ride-hailing.