Out goes the Indian butler, in comes a startup

Competition for the loyal butler. Photo credit: The lost gallery

A bit like the genie in Aladdin’s lamp, this company is at your service. With 5,000 requests every day, it looks like busy Indians are readily opening their doors to UrbanClap, which offers 84 types of home services that can be ordered online, ranging from yoga to guitar lessons to wedding photography.

The Gurgaon-based startup has just raised US$25 million in a Series B round led by Bessemer Venture Partners, the company said today. Existing investors Accel Partners and Saif Partners participated in the round.

With the fresh funds, the company is now valued at US$100 million, and is likely to emerge as a leader in a market that is estimated to be pegged at close to US$100 billion and has seen at least half a dozen players raising capital in the recent past.

For instance, there’s UrbanPro, which allows professionals like tutors, event organizers, photographers, and trainers to create a profile in order to get hired, while consumers post their requirements and connect with relevant service providers.

Then there’s Flatpebble, which helps people view the work of photographers, get detailed quotes, and engage with them.

But the year-old UrbanClap, run by Abhiraj Bhal, Raghav Chandra, and Varun Khaitan, seems to be taking the competition head on.

Growing demand

Photo credit: Arne Hückelheim

Traditionally, Indians have banked on tried and trusted domestic help for home services. Bollywood is famous for eulogizing the loyal old butler, often called ‘Ramu kaka’, and the matronly maid who could be left to run household affairs smoothly in the absence of the home-owners. They were even considered part of the extended family.

With a huge population ensuring a constant supply of migrants from villages to cities, a battery of helpers has typically been available to Indians for mundane affairs like cooking, cleaning, shopping, and taking care of children. That is still true of most cities, especially in homes where women go to work and where part-time helpers play a crucial role.

But the shrinking size of homes and families, and changing lifestyles that afford little time and dictate a greater need for privacy, have made live-in butlers and maids the preserve of a few. Plus, there is a growing demand for quality services.

Startups like UrbanClap and UrbanPro have stepped into this space, promising to keep both the ‘trust’ and ‘quality’ factors in mind.

Trust and reach

Given that safety is a key issue in crime-prone cities like New Delhi, UrbanClap has woven it into its tagline – “The simplest way to buy trusted services in Delhi National Capital Region.”

Winning combo