(India)  Raghav Sharma: Touristy is designed to connect tourists with local, certified guides in India

A QUICK INTRODUCTION ABOUT WHAT YOUR COMPANY DOES/YOUR VALUES/MISSION.

 
Touristy is India’s first tourist guide booking app, designed to connect tourists with local, certified guides in India. Our app aims to provide tourists with a seamless and personalised travel experience by offering them access to a network of knowledgeable and experienced guides.

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF?

My background is a mix of business and marketing experience, which I believe has prepared me well for entrepreneurship and building a startup. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit and have worked on a few side projects in the past, which gave me a taste of the excitement and challenges of starting something new.

In terms of education, I have a degree in business administration, which gave me a solid foundation in finance, marketing, and strategy. I’ve also taken some technical courses in coding and web development, which have been helpful in understanding the technical aspects of building a digital product.

One of my strengths is my ability to think creatively and come up with innovative solutions to problems. I’m also a natural leader and have experience managing teams and driving results.

The motivation for starting my own venture comes from a deep passion for solving a particular problem that I believe is not being addressed adequately in the market. I see an opportunity to create a new solution that can have a positive impact on people’s lives and I’m excited to bring this idea to fruition with my startup

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME A YEAR OR TWO, WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOURSELF?

 
If I could go back in time a year or two, the piece of advice I would give myself is to focus on developing a growth mindset.

WHAT PROBLEM DOES YOUR BUSINESS SOLVE?

The tourism industry is facing many challenges, such as a lack of authenticity, cultural appropriation, and a lack of economic benefits for local communities.

Our solution is an online app that connects tourists with local guides who have been vetted and trained to provide high-quality tours. These tours are tailored to the interests and preferences of the tourists, ensuring that they have a unique and personalized experience. Additionally, our platform is designed to benefit local guides by providing them with a steady stream of clients, fair compensation, and opportunities for professional development.

WHAT IS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR BUSINESS?

 
This startup is inspired by a desire to address a number of challenges facing the tourism industry, including a lack of authenticity, cultural appropriation, and a lack of economic benefits for local communities.

Our goal is to create a platform that connects tourists with local guides who have been vetted and trained to provide high-quality tours that are tailored to the interests and preferences of the tourists.

In terms of the problem we are trying to solve, we are seeking to provide a solution for both tourists and local guides. For tourists, we are addressing the problem of a lack of authentic and personalized experiences, while for local guides, we are addressing the problem of a lack of steady income and opportunities for professional development.

Overall, our business is inspired by a desire to create a more sustainable and responsible tourism industry that benefits both tourists and local communities.

WHAT IS YOUR MAGIC SAUCE?

The magic sauce of our startup is the combination of the following unique features that differentiate us from our competition:

1. Affordable and vetted local guides

2. Personalised tours

3. Fair compensation for local guides

4. Sustainable and responsible tourism

Overall, our combination of affordable and vetted local guides, personalised tours, fair compensation for local guides, and commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism practices make your startup unique and set us apart from the competition.

WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE?

Our plan for the next 5 years is to establish our startup as a leading platform for responsible and sustainable tourism that connects travelers with local guides worldwide. We aim to expand our services to cover multiple locations and markets, including popular and emerging tourist destinations.

We plan to continue building a strong community of local guides and promoting sustainable tourism practices, while ensuring that our customers have access to unique and authentic travel experiences. We also aim to develop partnerships with key players in the tourism industry to expand our reach and impact.

Our vision is to create a world where tourism benefits local communities, promotes cultural understanding, and protects the environment. We believe that by building a sustainable tourism ecosystem, we can contribute to the growth and development of local economies while preserving the beauty and heritage of the places we visit.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU’VE FACED SO FAR?

Challenges include competition from established companies, ensuring the quality and reliability of the local guides, and navigating local regulations and laws. The need to pivot the business strategy may arise due to changing market trends or unforeseen challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly impacted the tourism industry. As the business grows, managing the supply and demand of local guides could also become a challenge.

HOW DO PEOPLE GET INVOLVED/BUY INTO YOUR VISION?

We want to make tourist (local+foreign) life easy with ease to learn more about Indian heritage and culture.