Software:Lokal App

From HandWiki
Short description: Indian hyperlocal content app catering to India’s non-English speakers

Lokal App
Original author(s)Vipul Chaudhary
Developer(s)Behtar Technology Pvt Ltd.
Initial releaseJune 2018; 5 years ago (2018-06)
Stable release
1.0.153/ 08 June 2020
Operating system
Size
Available in2 languages
List of languages
Tamil, Telugu
Type
  • News
  • Image sharing
  • Video sharing
LicenceFreeware
Websitegetlokalapp.com
Behtar Technology Private Limited
Type of businessPrivate
FoundedJune 2018; 5 years ago (2018-06)
HeadquartersBangalore, Karnataka, India
Area servedIndia
CEOJani Pasha
Key people
  • Jani Pasha
  • Vipul Chaudhary
IndustrySoftware

Lokal is an Indian hyperlocal content app catering to India’s non-English speakers. [1] Most of the existing internet was developed for an English-speaking audience and that limits the scope of local news and lokal is trying to solve that problem.[2][3] Started by Jani Pasha and Vipul Chaudhary in June 2018, Lokal provides district and constituency-level local news, jobs, classifieds and local information like weather, vegetable prices and contact information of doctors and police stations in Telugu and Tamil languages. [4]It also provides awareness content as videos and make shows to flag fake updates. [5]

History

In the early days of a startup, the local content was sourced from stringers and distributed on a WhatsApp group.[6] What started as a WhatsApp group initially became an app that provides people in far off village and constituencies a one-stop platform to have their say, to make unknown voices heard, to get a job, to list their ads, and to find a suitable match, among other services.[7]

The hyperlocal startup works through a network of on-ground reporters, stringers, and on-ground sales teams. These reporters gather information in Telugu and Tamil about local news, job openings and classifieds.[8]

Funding and investors

Lokal has raised their first funding from venture capital firm India Quotient in 2018. [9] In 2019 Lokal raised $3 million from 3one4 Capital, Y Combinator, RB Investments and SOMA Capital.[10] The organisation used the round of funding to scale further and better the current product based on user learnings from rural India. [11]

Awards and recognition

  • In April 2020, Forbes featured Lokal founders Jani Pasha and Vipul Chaudhary in its 30 Under 30 - Asia - Media, Marketing & Advertising list of young innovators.[12]
  • In November 2020, Lokal was featured in Nasscom Emerge 50 awards 2020 under Bharat category as Trusted Hyperlocal Communitites for non-english speaking users of India[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Why Y Combinator In 2019-2020: The Accelerator's Latest Startups Provide An Inside Look". 9 September 2019. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanmoed/2019/09/09/why-y-combinator-in-2019-2020-the-accelerators-latest-startups-provide-an-inside-look/#301a9b894bf3/. 
  2. ↑ "To crack India's diverse and massive local content markets, Lokal started asking users what they actually wanted". 26 June 2020. https://www.niemanlab.org/2020/06/to-crack-indias-diverse-and-massive-local-news-markets-lokal-started-asking-users-what-they-actually-wanted/. 
  3. ↑ "To crack India's diverse and massive local news markets, Lokal started asking users what they actually wanted". 23 June 2020. https://www.splicemedia.com/india-lokal-asked-users-what-they-actually-wanted/. 
  4. ↑ "Regional language-focused startup Lokal raises $3 million funding". 4 November 2019. https://tech.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/startups/regional-language-focused-startup-lokal-raises-3-million-funding/71881929/. 
  5. ↑ "Local language content cos help stem fake info". 19 March 2020. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/newsbuzz/local-language-content-cos-help-stem-fake-info/articleshow/74702503.cms. 
  6. ↑ "YC-backed Lokal wants to bring local news, classifieds to 900 million Indians in their regional languages". 16 August 2019. https://techcrunch.com/2019/08/16/lokal-news-yc/. 
  7. ↑ "Making it big in digital world: Bangalore's Lokal App". 5 December 2020. https://www.exchange4media.com/digital-news/making-it-big-in-digital-world-bangalores-lokal-app-109444.html. 
  8. ↑ "Lokal". https://www.forbes.com/profile/lokal/?list=30under30-asia-media-marketing-advertising#3ed09b237cd1/. 
  9. ↑ "India Quotient Invests In Vernacular Hyperlocal Video News Startup Lokal". 7 August 2018. https://inc42.com/buzz/exclusive-india-quotient-invests-in-vernacular-hyperlocal-video-news-startup-lokal/. 
  10. ↑ "Lokal, an assistance to non-English speaking users, getting vocal with 4.5 million users". 13 June 2020. https://ourownstartup.com/lokal-an-assistance-to-non-english-speaking-users-getting-vocal-with-4-5-million-users/. 
  11. ↑ "Hyperlocal News Startup Lokal Bags $3 Mn Funding From 3one4 Capital, Y Combinator, Others". 4 November 2019. https://inc42.com/buzz/hyperlocal-news-startup-lokal-bags-3-mn-funding-from-3one4-capital-y-combinator-others/. 
  12. ↑ "Forbes 30 Under 30 - Asia - Media, Marketing & Advertising". 2 April 2020. https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2020/asia/media-marketing-advertising/#3386e2e75d50. 
  13. ↑ "Nasscom Emerge 50 awards 2020". 11 November 2020. https://nasscom.in/emerge50-2020/pdf/Emerge50-awards-2020.pdf. 

External links



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