Mr. Phanindra Sama co-founded redBus, India's largest bus ticket aggregator, with two friends from BITS Pilani. Frustrated by his inability to purchase bus tickets for Diwali, he saw an opportunity to create an online marketplace for bus tickets. RedBus launched in 2006 and quickly became the market leader, offering services across 15 states. It was acquired by Ibibo Group in 2013. The current CEO is Prakash Sangam.
2. “Eager to spend Diwali with my family in Hyderabad,
I visited several travel agents to buy a bus ticket, but
failed to get one.”
3. Phanindra Sama
Graduated with honors from BITS Pilani.
Worked with Texas instruments.
Co-founder and CEO of redBus, India’s largest bus tickets
aggregator.
Has become the 2nd entrepreneur from India to join
Endeavor, a non-profit organization which supports what
it calls as ‘HIGH-IMPACT’ entrepreneurs.
4. All about redBus:
redBus was started by 3
friends from BITS Pilani.
1)Phanindra Sama –
Ex Texas Instruments
2)Charan Padmaraju –
Ex Honeywell
3)Sudhakar Pasupunuri –
5. redBus is the 1st player in India to launch the concept of online
bus tickets.
Founded in late 2006, it is India’s largest such service with the
highest number of routes (over 3200) and over 250+ bus
operator partners.
Later, redbus.in is a market leader in the industry with an
inventory featuring 500+ bus operators for 5000+ services
covering over 15 states in the country.
It serves customers from 7 call centers spread across South,
West and North India.
6. Consumers get some unparalleled benefits that
are unique to redBus:
They can book return tickets.
They can choose their seats.
They can get tickets home delivered.
They have access to the best-in-class bus
operator.
They can book tickets over the phone, through
their mobile, on the net or in person at its
partner outlets.
7. Phanindra as
entrepreneur:
He chose entrepreneurship to explore learning
outside technology.
He was always curious to understand and
experiment with things such as branding,
product pricing, advertising, HR activities
etc.
He says “Entrepreneurship provides
unrestricted opportunity to explore such
things.”
8. He always tries to overcome challenges by seeking
advice from mentors, reading up books on
management, leadership, biographies and psychology.
He has won accolades - being recognized as India’s
Most Promising Entrepreneurs: No#3 by Business
World, selected as Endeavor Entrepreneurs and TiE
Entrepreneurs.
This clearly shows the start of a steely entrepreneur.
9. Entrepreneurial Qualities
in him:
He most definitely have the drive to succeed which
comes from within.
He is competitive in nature, gave an inch, and took
a foot ahead.
He is self-motivated and energetic.
He is a change manager, is not apprehensive of
change, in fact he embrace it.
10. He has accepted constructive criticism, and at times
even hard core rejection.
He is confident and has a realistic approach.
A firm believer in himself.
Highly resourceful and creative in work and life.
Continuously walk on the path of self-discovery.
He is an innovator, creator, risk taker and leader.
11. Appreciation of an
innovative idea:
Thank u very much 4 support. Keep going like this n
wish u people to be d No.1 Online Bus Ticket
provider in d country. Really u r doing a good job.
Malay Kumar Jena- Wipro, Bangalore
Red Bus is doing a great job in helping passengers to
book the ticket. I really benefit from this site. Thanks
4 d friendly support n good startup in travels online
booking. All The Best. Take care.
Ramesh- Crimson Logic, Bangalore.
12. I loved d service. In d age of e-Commerce n all services
available to people at d click of their mouse button, it is of
course a very good way of having options from various
travels under a single umbrella. Cheers to redBus.in
Anil Kumar- Satyam, Hyderabad.
Excellent service. Its 1st time I booked my ticket through
redBus and I'll continue to use this one. I'll also encourage
my friends to use this.
Pradeep- ICICI, Mumbai.
Its really a very good website. Simply Superb. Hats Off to
the people behind it.
Kamlesh-GE, Hyderabad .
13. Either of these three co-founder?
If not, then who is owing this venture at present?
Then who is CEO for redBus?
14. • It was taken over (June 2013) by the Ibibo Group, a
joint venture of South Africa's Naspers and China's
Tencent in June 2013 for $138 Million (INR 800 Crore).
• The present CEO- Prakash Sangam