“AppAlert is the first
mobile only Cloud platform with integrated roll call and real time location and
ET” Ashuvinder Ahuja, Founder, AppAlert
mobile only Cloud platform with integrated roll call and real time location and
ET” Ashuvinder Ahuja, Founder, AppAlert
 |
| Ashuvinder Ahuja, Founder, AppAlert |
ST Bureau: When did you
decide to take the path of ‘entrepreneurship’ as your career? Do you remember
any special incident?
decide to take the path of ‘entrepreneurship’ as your career? Do you remember
any special incident?
Ashuvinder Ahuja: This is my third stint as an entrepreneur.
Last summer I noticed my wife waiting for the school bus for almost twenty
minutes in the middle of the afternoon. To me this made no sense, there had to
be a better way of informing parents. Technology has revolutionized
transportation, ala Uber, and the school bus experience seemed ripe for
improvement.
Last summer I noticed my wife waiting for the school bus for almost twenty
minutes in the middle of the afternoon. To me this made no sense, there had to
be a better way of informing parents. Technology has revolutionized
transportation, ala Uber, and the school bus experience seemed ripe for
improvement.
ST Bureau: Can you briefly
tell us more about your startup?
tell us more about your startup?
Ashuvinder Ahuja: AppAlert is the first mobile only Cloud
platform with integrated roll call and real time location and ETA. The schools
don’t require any hardware like GPS/RFID or any software of install and
configure. The only requirement is a simple mobile phone on each bus that
provides the school with comprehensive roll call and fleet management. The
parents have intuitive mobile app that allows them get confirmation when their
child has boarded or de-boarded as well as real time location and precise
arrival time.
platform with integrated roll call and real time location and ETA. The schools
don’t require any hardware like GPS/RFID or any software of install and
configure. The only requirement is a simple mobile phone on each bus that
provides the school with comprehensive roll call and fleet management. The
parents have intuitive mobile app that allows them get confirmation when their
child has boarded or de-boarded as well as real time location and precise
arrival time.
ST Bureau: How big is your
team at present?
team at present?
Ashuvinder Ahuja: The total team size is fifteen
 |
| AppAlert Team Members |
ST Bureau: Did you get any
funding for your startup? Are you planning to attract funding in the near
future?
funding for your startup? Are you planning to attract funding in the near
future?
Ashuvinder Ahuja: We seed funded AppAlert with an investment
of $900K. We are planning to do an angel round in the next three to four
months.
of $900K. We are planning to do an angel round in the next three to four
months.
ST Bureau: What challenges
do you face in your daily professional life?
do you face in your daily professional life?
Ashuvinder Ahuja: Finding talent is a single biggest challenge
faced by most startups. As we gear up for further expansion we need a
larger team comprising of senior management, sales and marketing along with
brilliant tech minds. The other challenge is to further the platform we have
built. Technologically our solution is one of the most advanced, where to take
it strategically is constantly being analyzed.
faced by most startups. As we gear up for further expansion we need a
larger team comprising of senior management, sales and marketing along with
brilliant tech minds. The other challenge is to further the platform we have
built. Technologically our solution is one of the most advanced, where to take
it strategically is constantly being analyzed.
ST Bureau: How do you see
yourself in next 2 years from now?
yourself in next 2 years from now?
Ashuvinder Ahuja: We have now gone live in India and Kenya.
With current trials in Uganda, Nigeria, Rwanda, Philippines, etc. we have a
clear mandate to go global. We are now exploring additional markets like US,
Australia and Middle East.
With current trials in Uganda, Nigeria, Rwanda, Philippines, etc. we have a
clear mandate to go global. We are now exploring additional markets like US,
Australia and Middle East.
ST Bureau: What are your
hobbies in your personal life? Which is your favorite holiday destination?
hobbies in your personal life? Which is your favorite holiday destination?
Ashuvinder Ahuja: I am an avid reader and enjoy a multitude of
topics like motivation, fiction, biography, WWII and a little philosophy.
Travel is my other passion, now that my children are at an age where we enjoy
exploring and learning about different cultures and lifestyles. It is difficult
to pinpoint one favorite place as we have many more to go; however Bali was an
extraordinary experience both from the raw beauty topographically and deeply
immersive culturally.
topics like motivation, fiction, biography, WWII and a little philosophy.
Travel is my other passion, now that my children are at an age where we enjoy
exploring and learning about different cultures and lifestyles. It is difficult
to pinpoint one favorite place as we have many more to go; however Bali was an
extraordinary experience both from the raw beauty topographically and deeply
immersive culturally.
Interviewed by Startup Terminal Bureau
