The ‘Startup India’ movement has proved momentous for the country due to the inception of many startups in the last few years. These startups have contributed to the country’s economic growth and have generated significant employment. Numerous startups have gone global with their strategy, vision, and market intellect; however, some simply couldn’t survive and sank without a trace due to various reasons.
Lately, Kashmir also has been witnessing the inception of several startups. Several youngsters have managed to incubate and sustain startups across various business domains in spite of geo-political and logistical challenges. This is despite the fact that Kashmir is a place, where it is believed that startups are short-lived and many succumb due to financial reasons and many other challenges much before their first birthday.
One such success story is that of Gatoes, a hyperlocal grocery delivery startup in J&K. Founded by Jibran Gulzar, a 23-year-old youngster from Kashmir, Gatoes exemplifies success amidst adversities and challenges. Let’s look at the journey of Gatoes so far; how it is setting an example and inspiring many from the valley.
What is Gatoes?
Gatoes is a hyperlocal on-demand food and grocery delivery platform, the founder of which is Jibran Gulzar, a computer science graduate from the Chandigarh University. The platform acts as a bridge between vendors and customers. It leverages an innovative technology platform that acts as a single contact point. It enables food lovers to order food from nearby restaurants and groceries from nearby shops and get them delivered at their doorstep.
The Idea that Drove Gatoes
After graduating in computer science from the Chandigarh University, Jibran intended to pursue masters in blockchain. But destiny had other plans for him. Instead of pursuing his Master’s, he became an entrepreneur.
Accordingly, he found Gatoes. However, running the idea was way more challenging than conceptualizing it. Jammu and Kashmir, as we all know, has been a region plagued by weather vagaries, logistical challenges and geo-political stability. And, as if these obstacles weren’t enough, the region’s poor internet connectivity makes every technology-based company difficult to operate and sustain.
So, while combating physical challenges, Jibran had a set of technological impediments to deal with as well. Considering the poor connectivity, one of the first challenges he encountered was that of building a food delivery application on a 2G network. Accordingly, Jibran and his COO, Tofail, spoke to several developers to help them build an application on 2G. It referred to pulling something out from the impossible!
But they eventually did it. Despite limited financial resources and mostly family investors, Gatoes and its team, which gradually grew to a hundred people, managed to build a foodtech startup, which addresses itself to be the first internet business in the valley to have crossed USD 1 million GMV!
Numbers Speak for Gatoes’s Success
Gatoes is growing rapidly. In many regions where even giants like Swiggy and Zomato haven’t yet ventured, Gatoes has already established its position, perhaps, making these players difficult to gain a foothold if and when they plan to enter them. Until August, 2021, Gatoes had already delivered 2.5 lakh orders across various places such as Anantnag, Jammu, Ladakh, Baramulla, Udhampur, Chenab Valley, and many others.
Gatoes’s B2B Grocery Delivery
In June, 2021, the startup launched a B2B grocery delivery vertical for its restaurant partners, wholesale buyers, and merchants. Srinagar does not have as many groceries’ stores. Hence, the only option people are left with is to take long bus/car rides to buy essential items. Gatoes aims to resolve this problem through its app.
The app reflects the startup’s social approach and an inclination towards helping Kashmiris overcome problems related to grocery purchases. The app enables bulk purchases (which are very common in Kashmir due to the uncertainties that drive lockdowns and curfews) for merchants. Accordingly, the company has entered strategic partnerships with PayTM, BharatX, etc. to provide flexible payment options for grocery purchases.
Gatoes Today!
Gatoes has undoubtedly become a brand today. The company has partnered with 200+ restaurants and 80+ grocery stores and over 1450 merchant partners to date. It processes thousands of orders and aims to deliver 5,000 orders every day in Srinagar, wherein the order density is the highest.
Additionally, by 2022, the company intends to employ around 5,000 people and by March 2022, it aims to cross the INR 50 crore GMV mark. Gatoes has already started pilots in the Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities of Punjab and Haryana. Based on the funding it will receive in the future, it plans to expand to other parts of India as well.
Conclusion
It really feels great when youngsters from an otherwise under privileged region like Kashmir take such great leaps and achieve success. They serve as an inspiration to many not only from Kashmir but other parts of India, who consider challenges as immovable roadblocks to their aspirations. Gatoes is indeed an inspiring success story! We hope it keeps bringing positive changes in Kashmir, makes foodtech a sustainable business in the valley, employs many and continues to contribute to the valley’s economic progress.
