Transforming Museums and Experiences: The Visionary Journey of Saurav Bhaik

In an era where museums have evolved into immersive digital spaces, Gurugram-based start-up Tagbin stands at the forefront of this transformation. Founded in 2013 by Saurav Bhaik and Ankit Sinha, Tagbin is on a mission to stimulate people’s senses and ignite their imagination by turning physical spaces into digital and interactive experiences. Tagbin’s focus is on experiential marketing, a niche segment that involves creating interactive museums, experience centers, and captivating light and sound shows. The company aims to provide end-to-end experiential technology solutions to captivate visitors and leave them with unforgettable memories.

One of Tagbin’s remarkable projects is ‘Azadi Ke Diwane,’ an unconventional museum located at the Red Fort in Delhi. This state-of-the-art exhibition pays tribute to the unsung heroes of India’s freedom struggle, offering an educational and informative experience enriched with multi-sensory technologies. With over 150 touch-screen panels, audio-visual displays, archival data, and interactive kiosks, ‘Azadi Ke Diwane’ sets a new standard for museum experiences. Tagbin doesn’t stop at ‘Azadi Ke Diwane.’ The startup has a portfolio of projects that use interactive storytelling to bring history to life. These include ‘Yaad-e-Jallian’ at Red Fort, ‘One Interactive Museum’ at the National Library of India, and ‘Mahatma on Celluloid Exhibition’ at the International Film Festival in Goa. Through these projects, Tagbin demonstrates its expertise in blending technology with history to create engaging and educational experiences.

Saurav Bhaik, the Co-founder and CEO of Tagbin, had a keen interest in innovation and technology from a young age. While studying software engineering at IIT-Roorkee, he organized an ad campaign for Cadbury Oreo during the international robotics competition, Robocon 2012. This project involved distributing RFID tags to event attendees, allowing them to automatically generate hashtags on social media when sharing pictures and posts. The campaign’s success left Saurav fascinated by the potential of technology to create captivating experiences. Saurav’s path to entrepreneurship took shape when he met Ankit Sinha, Co-founder and CTO of Tagbin, during this time. Their shared passion for technology and innovation led to the official launch of Tagbin Service Private Limited in June 2013. Their initial focus was on creating buzz for events after registrations and check-ins, which marked the beginning of Tagbin’s journey.

Since its inception, Tagbin has grown from a small office with a couple of employees in a basement to a team of 83 professionals spread across Gurugram, Mumbai, Dubai, and Singapore. The company has completed multi-million-dollar projects for the Indian government, Indian corporates, and international markets like Tokyo.

Tagbin’s growth was not limited to its client base; it also attracted Rs 4 crore in Series A funding in 2014 from angel investor Vikramjiet Roy, MD of Maccaferri India. Tagbin’s unique offering caters to the government, institutions, museums, Smart City Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV), and corporates. The startup brings innovation to spaces such as museums, light and sound shows, and experience centers, creating immersive and engaging environments. Saurav Bhaik emphasizes that Tagbin provides a comprehensive solution, standing out in the market due to its in-house team of specialists, including designers, engineers, marketing strategists, architects, content curators, and technology experts. This all-encompassing approach sets Tagbin apart from competitors and positions it as a one-stop solution for clients.

Today, Tagbin boasts a client list that includes the Ministry of Culture, ASI, National Library of Kolkata, Metcalfe Hall, GAIL, Coca Cola, Vodafone, ONGC, Mercedes Benz, Uber, Hero, and many more. The company turned profitable in FY17 and achieved a four-fold growth in revenues in FY18, currently valuing the company at Rs 250 crore. Tagbin’s future plans involve aggressively expanding into the market for experience centers and becoming a leader in building smart city experience centers. The startup is currently working on projects with cities like New Delhi, Vadodara, and Ahmedabad, tapping into the potential created by the government’s announcement of 100 smart cities.

Saurav Bhaik’s vision for Tagbin includes challenging conventional approaches to museum design and creating unique museums that incorporate the latest technologies. As the company continues to innovate and expand its presence, it seeks funding of Rs 150-200 crore to support team growth, market expansion, and its mission to transform physical spaces into unforgettable experiences.