From Rickshaw Puller to Multi-Crore Startup. Photo Credit: yourstory
The extraordinary journey of RodBez serves as a powerful reminder that determination, innovation, and grit can fuel business in the most unexpected places. What began as a modest ambition—to connect rural passengers with affordable rides—has grown into a thriving multi-crore startup founded by a former rickshaw puller from Bihar. Today, RodBez is transforming rural mobility and uplifting thousands of drivers and passengers across the state.
From Village Streets to Startup Boardrooms
Dilkhush Kumar hails from Bangaon, Saharsa—a small village in Bihar. According to Your Story, with only a high school education and no formal training, he worked as a rickshaw puller and vegetable vendor in Patna to support his family after being turned away from jobs due to his lack of credentials. Determined to change his path, Dilkhush learned to drive from his father and bought a second-hand Tata Nano by borrowing ₹50,000. This modest start marked the birth of AryaGo in 2016—a local shared taxi service operating out of a cowshed in his village .
Despite early skepticism from villagers who joked that he had “gone crazy” for operating a solo taxi, Dilkhush persisted. He expanded his fleet with a Hyundai Santro, secured a ₹6 lakh state government loan under Bihar’s startup policy, and soon deployed AryaGo across seven districts with 500 drivers.
RodBez: Solving the One-Way Fare Problem
The real turning point came in 2022, when Dilkhush launched RodBez to address a key gap in Bihar’s mobility market. Much of the state lacks organized taxi services, and drivers often return empty after dropping passengers—leaving riders to pay exorbitant round-trip fares. RodBez’s platform uses a smart algorithm to match one-way rides, linking passengers traveling opposite directions and boarding cabs already headed their way.
RodBez’s success has been remarkable. Outstation fares dropped by up to 40‑60% for travelers and drivers began earning more consistently. With 3,000 driver-partners, over 50,000 users, and ₹55,000–60,000 monthly income for many drivers—this startup is disrupting traditional travel in rural Bihar.
IITs, IIMs and Shark Tank Approval
RodBez is not just a driver’s story; it’s a testament to cross-sector collaboration. Dilkhush recruited talent from IITs and IIMs to build his app and systems, and leveraged mentorship to scale quickly.
In 2022, RodBez caught national attention on Shark Tank India. Dilkhush pitched for ₹50 lakh and sealed a deal: ₹20 lakh in equity from OYO’s Ritesh Agarwal and Sugar Cosmetics’ Vineeta Singh, plus a ₹30 lakh loan—valuing the startup at ₹4 crore. This endorsement enabled ambitious targets—up to 2,000 daily rides and further expansion across Bihar.
A Platform with Social Impact
RodBez boosts mobility while empowering drivers. Fare guarantees include a 100% refund policy if delays cause missed flights or trains—ensuring reliability for users. Drivers earn stable incomes far above average rural wages and gain dignity working independently yet connected to a trusted platform.
The startup also offers support beyond fares: there are plans to provide education assistance for driver-partners’ children, and a rescue fund for accident victims .
Scaling Through Local Roots
RodBez’s growth is rooted in solving local problems. It found success because it tackled Bihar-specific issues: high fares, fractured routes, and unreliable rural transport. Reddit users have praised RodBez as a “cheaper and mostly reliable” alternative to Ola and Uber for intercity travel.
With initial duties concentrated in Bihar, the startup plans to expand to cover city-to-city connections—and possibly evolve into a pan-Indian rural mobility platform.
Lessons from a Bihar Startup Success
RodBez proves that innovation can flourish outside metro centers. By hiring local talent, using smart tech, and building a lean, socially aware model, Dilkhush Kumar has demonstrated that deep local insights can disrupt legacy markets.
His journey— from rickshaw puller to startup CEO—offers lessons in resilience, learning new skills, and tapping national interest through TV shows and technology. His story inspires future entrepreneurs to harness local challenges for global opportunity.
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