Google has invested in Namma Yatri, an open-source ride-sharing application in India that is gaining traction against competitors like Uber and Ola through its no-commission model.
Namma Yatri, developed by Moving Tech, operates on the Open Network for Digital Commerce, an interoperable e-commerce initiative supported by the Indian government. The app facilitates connections between customers and auto-rickshaw and cab drivers without imposing ride fees. Instead, the platform charges drivers a nominal monthly fee, contrasting sharply with Uber and Ola, which typically take up to 25-30% of the ride fare.
Since its inception in 2022, Namma Yatri has launched in over six Indian cities, including Bengaluru and Hyderabad, and has completed more than 46 million rides, according to its public dashboard. The startup was initially incubated by Juspay, a financial services company backed by SoftBank.
India has been advancing its digitization efforts through the “India Stack,” a framework of open APIs aimed at improving identity verification, payments, and data sharing. This initiative seeks to create a cohesive digital infrastructure to enhance service delivery for the nation’s 1.4 billion residents.
As part of a broader commitment to invest $10 billion in India, Google participated in Namma Yatri’s $11 million pre-Series A funding round, co-led by Blume Ventures and Antler.
Karthik Reddy, a partner at Blume Ventures, highlighted the transformative potential of Moving Tech’s innovative approach to mobility. He expressed enthusiasm about the simplicity and effectiveness of the technology in addressing mass mobility challenges and emphasized the firm’s commitment to supporting Namma Yatri’s ambitious vision.
