India, with its rich cultural heritage and thriving economy, still faces a critical issue that often goes unnoticed – the lack of proper public restroom facilities. It often gets difficult to locate a clean restroom in the country. Women have to face this problem regularly resulting in significant worries related to hygiene and safety. To fill up this gap, Woloo, a Loo Discovery platform has emerged as a crucial solution to address these pressing issues.
Woloo, a Mumbai-based startup has changed the way people discover and use public bathrooms in India. With a unique approach, it aims to enhance hygiene and safety standards while driving more customers to partner restaurants.
Woloo has remained instrumental in reshaping restroom accessibility in India, demonstrating how innovation and vision can drive positive change. Read their inspiring journey today on The Inspiring Chapters!
The Harsh Reality that Gave Birth to Woloo App
The lack of proper sanitation facilities in India poses serious safety risks to women. Moreover, the absence of menstrual hygiene facilities leads to approximately 23 million girls dropping out of school annually. Cities like Mumbai, often considered the commercial capital of India, also suffer from a glaring disparity, with significantly fewer toilets for women compared to men.
Responding to the urgent call for change, Supreet Shah, Rupali Kelshikar, and Manish Kelshikar launched Woloo, a tech-enabled loo-discovery platform app in 2019. This social tech startup which started its operations in Thane, now has most outlets in the city of Mumbai.
The journey of Woloo began with the idea of constructing toilets, but the team soon realized the potential of utilizing existing facilities. From brick-and-mortar models to a tech-driven app, Woloo evolved into an efficient, user-friendly platform with 4 years of operation.
The Woloo app helps women locate the nearest clean and hygienic washrooms when they are away from the office or home. Woloo curates, certifies, and aggregates existing washrooms in various locations like restaurants and salons across major Indian cities.
Hygiene Certification and Empowerment
Woloo’s innovation goes beyond just locating washrooms. They patented the concept of hygiene certification and collaborated with businesses willing to maintain high standards for their washrooms. These certified washrooms adhere to safety, cleanliness, and hygiene protocols, providing women with a safe and reliable option wherever they go.
Woloo’s commitment to women’s empowerment extends beyond washroom access. The platform also includes a couple of educational videos, a period tracker, a thirst reminder, and content to raise awareness related to hygiene, health, and women-centric products. By promoting a shared economy model, Woloo ensures an asset-light approach to scale its operations across India.
The USP of the Woloo App: Subscription-Based Model
Woloo stands out with its subscription-based business model, providing users access to certified and well-maintained washrooms in partner restaurants. Monthly and annual plans offer a seamless experience, eliminating the hassle of searching for restrooms. The reward point system incentivizes users to choose partner restaurants, benefiting both users and establishments.
Woloo generates revenue through subscription plans and additional redemption. Users can convert reward points into discounts at partner restaurants, encouraging repeat visits. Moreover, Woloo offers value-added services like hygiene and management technology, boosting restroom facilities for partner restaurants.
The Future of Woloo
Woloo targets urban dwellers in metropolitan cities seeking clean and accessible public restrooms. Additionally, restaurants and hotels looking to provide better restroom experiences are also part of their target market. The startup’s potential reach is vast, offering significant growth opportunities.
With a mission to expand city by city across India, Woloo aims to create a comprehensive network of hygiene-certified washrooms, making life easier and safer for women commuters. Supported by global organizations like UNICEF, IWSH, Toilet Board Coalition, IAPMO, and Aqua for All, Woloo envisions a global expansion opportunity.
Presently according to Woloo, it has over 25,000 curated washroom facilities in more than 400 cities in India.
Journey in Shark Tank India
During their appearance on Shark Tank India, the founders of the revolutionary Woloo App confidently presented their innovative business model, seeking Rs. 50 lakhs for 4% equity in the company. The investors were intrigued by Woloo’s approach and the immense potential it held. Impressed by the pitch, several investors expressed interest and made funding offers.
However, the Woloo founders, driven by their long-term vision, carefully evaluated the offers and strategically countered with their terms. Notably, one of the judges, Namita Thapar made an offer of Rs. 25 lakhs for 10% equity and Rs. 25 lakhs as debt at 12% interest. Woloo made a counteroffer of Rs. 35 lakhs for 6% interest, highlighting their strong negotiation skills and business acumen.
Despite the tempting offers, the Woloo founders made a bold decision. They chose not to accept any of the investor’s offers on Shark Tank India, standing firm in their commitment to build Woloo on their own terms. This move showcased their unwavering confidence in their business model and their determination to realize their vision.
The pressing need for a Loo Discovery platform in India is evident from the challenges faced by citizens daily. Such a platform not only addresses hygiene and safety concerns but also empowers women, supports tourism, aids urban dwellers and contributes to the India Government’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Movement) initiative.
By providing real-time information and by bridging the gap between demand and supply for clean and accessible restrooms, Woloo can be a catalyst for positive change, creating a more inclusive, hygienic, and vibrant India!
