Akshat Mittal: The 13-Year-Old Tech Prodigy Who Sold Odd-Even.com and Shaped Commuting Solutions

While cricket enthusiasts celebrated the West Indian victory at the T20 World Cup final, a 13-year-old tech prodigy, Akshat Mittal, was busy making waves in the world of web platforms. In a remarkable feat, Akshat sold his web platform, Odd-Even.com, to the Gurgaon-based carpool app company Orahi.com. This visionary teenager’s platform aimed to address the challenges posed by Delhi’s odd-even rule, showcasing his incredible foresight and innovation. In late 2015, the Delhi government introduced the odd-even rule, restricting the use of private vehicles on alternate days, as a measure to combat pollution and traffic congestion in the city. Akshat Mittal, ahead of his time, anticipated the potential issues stemming from this rule. He envisioned a solution that could bridge the communication gap among commuters who might be living in the same locality and traveling to the same destination. His logic was brilliantly simple: on odd days, odd-numbered cars would show up on the platform, while even-numbered cars would appear on even days.

Who Is Akshat Mittal?

Akshat is a Class IX student at Amity International School in Noida, and his journey into the world of tech entrepreneurship is nothing short of remarkable. He was part of the TiE Delhi-NCR Young Entrepreneur (TYE) program, which nurtured his entrepreneurial spirit. Akshat’s ambition was to create a solution that could have a significant social impact. With his father, an IT entrepreneur, guiding him, Akshat learned to code a website. He mastered HTML, CSS, and JAVA coding, while his father assisted with PHP coding.

In the first phase of developing Odd-Even.com, Akshat aimed to connect people traveling to the same destination based on various filters and refined searches. The website operated on algorithms that considered factors like age, gender, profession, and travel timings of commuters. Users only needed to provide details such as their name, car registration number, destination, and preferences. Interestingly, the platform wasn’t limited to car owners; individuals without cars could also hitch a ride from the platform.

Even after the odd-even rule was lifted, the platform continued to evolve. Akshat and his team worked on introducing enhanced security features, including Facebook or LinkedIn profile logins for user verification and the option to upload government-issued identity proofs like Aadhaar cards. These measures were aimed at ensuring user authenticity and safety.

The Acquisition by Orahi.com:

In a significant move, Orahi.com acquired Akshat’s company, Odd-Even.com, in an all-cash deal. As part of the agreement, Akshat would join Orahi’s advisory board, receiving mentorship from the company. The acquisition marked a thrilling advancement in Akshat’s journey, and he eagerly anticipated his year-long stint with the advisory board. Odd-Even.com boasts a user base of around 30,000 individuals on the platform.

Arun Bharti, CEO of Orahi, expressed excitement about the acquisition, highlighting the platform’s catchy name and its potential to attract more users, particularly with the anticipated second phase of the odd-even rule coming into effect. In the future, the Odd-Even.com website will redirect users to the Orahi interface, consolidating the strengths of both platforms.

Akshat Mittal’s remarkable journey from a young tech enthusiast to a tech entrepreneur making a significant impact demonstrates the immense potential and innovation that young minds can bring to the world of technology and transportation solutions.