Ashok Shastry, Rahm Shastry, and Amulmeet Chadha: The Visionaries Behind DriveU’s Disruptive On-Demand Driver Service

In the fast-paced world of modern transportation and on-demand services, Ashok Shastry, Rahm Shastry, and Amulmeet Chadha have emerged as the driving forces behind DriveU, a Bengaluru-based start-up revolutionizing the concept of on-demand drivers. These innovative founders have not only redefined the commuting experience but have also expanded their reach by acquiring Gurgaon-based CallAtHome, marking a significant milestone in the on-demand driver service sector in India. DriveU’s journey began in July 2015, led by the trio of founders, Ashok Shastry, Rahm Shastry, and Amulmeet Chadha. Their mission was clear: to enhance the on-road commute experience by providing technology-enabled and verified drivers for consumers’ personal vehicles. The founders recognized the growing need for reliable and professional drivers, considering the increasing number of car owners.

Customers can effortlessly book and track the nearest available partner-driver using the DriveU App or website. The platform provides essential information about the driver, such as their name, picture, rating, phone number, distance from the user’s location, and estimated time of arrival. The uniformed partner-drivers arrive at the customer’s doorstep, equipped with seat covers and floor mats, ensuring a comfortable ride.

Opportunity Cost and Growth-Oriented Strategy:

Rahm Shastry, DriveU’s Co-founder and CEO, has been a strong advocate for focusing on opportunity cost. When he joined DriveU in July 2020, the mobility industry was severely impacted by the pandemic. Instead of cutting costs, Rahm identified the potential in the crisis and aimed to expand operations to prepare for the post-pandemic recovery. The strategy was to be ready to capitalize on the tailwinds when the situation improved. This approach paid off when DriveU secured funding in December 2020, with the Gross Ticketing Value (GTV) standing at $31 million. Nine months later, another round of funding brought in $40 million, and the GTV doubled to $62 million.

The acquisition of CallAtHome in Gurgaon, an all-cash deal, further strengthened DriveU’s position. By seizing the opportunity cost, DriveU expanded from 2,000 buses in FY20 to over 10,000 buses, broadened its presence from 13 cities to 21 cities, and increased its ride count from 14 million in January to 70 million. The founders have shown that understanding and leveraging opportunity cost can be a key driver of success in the world of start-ups. Today, DriveU has approximately 350 drivers across major Indian cities, and with the inclusion of CallAtHome’s 150 partner-drivers, the company is well on its way to achieving its goal of having 1,000 drivers by the end of the year. DriveU is growing at a rate of 30-40% month-on-month in revenue.

The founders’ commitment to embracing technology, proactively managing growth, and communicating effectively has set a new standard for CFOs in rapidly scaling companies. The modern CFO must be a future officer, not just a financial officer. They need to lead the company into the future, embracing technology, risk, and change, while effectively communicating with tech-savvy teams. Ashok Shastry, Rahm Shastry, and Amulmeet Chadha are the embodiment of innovation and vision, transforming the on-demand driver service sector in India. Their journey highlights the importance of recognizing opportunity cost and seizing the moment to drive significant growth.