My Story

Intro

In India, almost ninety-five percent rickshaw operators do not own the rickshaw but instead they take them on daily rent (20-30 Rs./day) basis. And while most of them work long hour, rickshaw pullers hardly make in come to support their families. Irfan wants to change just that: providing rickshaw pullers with a job they can be proud of providing them with dignity, an increased salary and even insurance.

About Me

I am a simple human being but a big dreamer. I come from rural India (Bihar, An Indian State) and I am a first generation entrepreneur and working towards organizing “Rickshaw Pulling Sector” in India.

I am passionate about entrepreneurship, I love ideas and innovations. I was enterprising since my childhood; my first brush with entrepreneurship was at the age of 14, when I started investing in the stock market for my father. I loved watching the markets and soon I got quite good at it, so much so that I was managing the portfolios of quite a few of my father's friends. At the age of 14/15, it was exhilarating to say the least! So it was obvious to become an Entrepreneur and also by the time I got my degree I realized the market potential of “Rickshaw Industry” in India and the poor condition of Rickshaw Operators that was more than enough to choose this as my career. Today, I am proud to be a SammaaNian and dreaming to become first Indian Listed Social company.

My Venture

Sammaan's idea is to systematize the working of all Rickshaw pullers by bringing them under one roof and to modernize the cycle rickshaw pulling sector (which contributes 30% in urban transport) with small but innovative changes. This not only makes it easier for the rickshaw pullers to drive and increase their income through outdoor advertising, but value added service such as sale of mineral water, juices, mobile recharge, courier collection, bills collections also makes it more comfortable and enjoyable ride for the commuter.

Nowhere in India but at SammaaN, peddle rickshaw gives every bit of luxury to its passengers. The value added features in our rickshaws include music, magazine/news papers, first aid, and sellable items like cold water, fruit juices etc.(operators share this income). We are the first company to introduce Pre Paid Cycle Rickshaws in India. Passengers can even pay their utility bills and recharge their mobile phones while traveling by our rickshaw. Hence we have transformed the traditional rickshaw into a marketing engine.

Not only is this, after airways, SammaaN Rickshaw the only mode of public transportation where passengers are insured. Where governments everywhere have started to remove hoardings and billboards from public places, our rickshaws provide alternative to the clients to reach masses and penetration into semi urban and rural market. We are therefore working to organize the rickshaw pulling sector by bringing them under a uniform system.