Campus Bicycle Rent Startup by NIT Karnataka Students, Aims to Reduce Carbon Footprint

Here is an example to emulate set forth by students of NIT-Karnataka. The students of the institute, in a move to encourage a healthy lifestyle and reduce the carbon footprint in the campus, have launched eco-friendly bicycle rent startup.

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Named under 'Wheels on Roll' (WOR) the startup was launched on 15 January 2017 in the presence of the four core team members and other students. The four core team members who are handling various aspects related to the startup service are -

• Amartya Gupta
• Piyush Bansal
• TK Jeshwenth Raja
• Pratyush Giri

Besides the core team, there is a seven-member technical team which is helping in the development of the technology. The new startup is service oriented and is supposed to provide bicycle sharing initiative under a completely automated system to dispense the bicycles. It is equipped with the app-based system with the support of internet.

This initiative is incubated under NITK-Science & Technology Entrepreneurs Park (NITK-STEP) and is mentored by the Director, IBM Cloud Integration, Anmol Nautiyal.

One of the founders of the project said that their aim is to provide single speed and multispeed bicycles for renting purposes. It will be affordable by everyone as it is offered at nominal rates. Pratyush Kumar Giri, another co-founder of the project said that they had used 10 bicycles but from next time onwards their app-based service will be updated with more bicycles.

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To accomplish their work, the founders are seeking collaboration from various corporate companies and technical clubs. But they are not alone in this mission. They are receiving help from NITK Alumni Association and also bagged seed investment in the form of bicycles. Administration of NITK has also been helping them by allowing to set up the dock for bicycles across the campus.