Bengaluru: Bengaluru-based ride-hailing company Rapido is set to introduce a women-only bike taxi service in Karnataka by the end of 2025, aiming to recruit and train 25,000 female drivers.
Expanding Women’s Workforce in Mobility
Rapido co-founder Pavan Guntupalli announced the initiative at the Global Investors Summit in Bengaluru, stating that the service, called “Pink Rapido,” will cater exclusively to female passengers. The company plans to create employment opportunities by training women as “captains” for its bike taxi service, offering them an alternative source of income.
Ensuring safety is a key focus, Guntupalli said, adding that the initiative’s success will be measured by how comfortable female passengers feel while traveling. Rapido is also working on providing a safe work environment for its drivers, particularly for women from smaller towns and cities who lack formal education or specialized skills.
Previous Pilot and Industry Competition
Rapido has previously tested a similar initiative in Chennai, where it launched “Bike Pink” in September 2023. The program provided electric bikes to female drivers and collaborated with local nonprofit organizations for safety and driving training. Initially, the service had 100 female drivers, with plans to increase the count to 500.
Competitors are also entering the space. Uber introduced “Uber Moto Women” in Bengaluru in December 2024, allowing female riders to book rides with female drivers.
Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth in Karnataka
At the summit, Guntupalli encouraged entrepreneurs to collaborate and contribute to economic growth. Other speakers, including Edelweiss Mutual Fund MD Radhika Gupta, emphasized the role of businesses in problem-solving and economic development.
Karnataka, positioning itself as a startup hub, is witnessing increased participation from entrepreneurs beyond Bengaluru. TiE Bengaluru president Madan Padaki highlighted that the entrepreneurial drive is expanding across the state, contributing to broader economic growth.
