Biography of Abhiraj Singh Bhal: Co-founder and CEO of Urban Company-Entrepreneur
Biography of Abhiraj Singh Bhal:
Abhiraj Singh Bhal is a distinguished entrepreneur and the
Co-founder and CEO of Urban Company, formerly known as UrbanClap. He has an
impressive educational background, having completed his undergraduate degree in
Technology from IIT-Kanpur and earning an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad, two of India's
most prestigious institutions.
Early Life and Education
Abhiraj Singh Bhal's journey began in Mumbai, where he
completed his early schooling at Navy Children’s School. His academic journey
took a pivotal turn when he moved to Visakhapatnam, where he completed the rest
of his schooling. With a strong inclination towards technology and
problem-solving, he pursued a Bachelor of Technology in Electrical Engineering
from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur. This experience nurtured
his technical skills and provided him with a robust foundation in engineering.
After completing his undergraduate degree, Abhiraj furthered his education with
an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, where he honed his
business acumen and developed a strategic mindset that would later drive his
entrepreneurial ventures.
Professional Beginnings at BCG
Upon earning his MBA, Abhiraj began his professional career
as a Consultant at The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in Mumbai. During his
tenure from May 2011 to April 2014, he worked with several Fortune 500
companies across India, Germany, and Southeast Asia. His role involved advising
these large corporations on complex business challenges, which sharpened his
skills in strategic planning, operations, and management. This period at BCG
was instrumental in developing his analytical abilities and understanding of
diverse business environments, which would later be crucial in his
entrepreneurial journey. During his time there, he advised Fortune 500
companies across India, Germany, and Southeast Asia, gaining valuable insights
into strategic business operations.
Biography of Abhiraj Singh Bhal: Co-founder & CEO of Urban Company-Startup/Entrepreneur/Success story of Abhiraj Singh Bhal/ Story of Urban Company
Early Ventures and Collaborations
Before launching Urban Company, Abhiraj explored the startup
ecosystem with Cinema Box, a service designed to stream movies on smartphones
during travel. This venture, co-founded with Varun Khaitan, was an early
attempt at innovation in digital entertainment. During this period, Abhiraj met
Raghav Chandra, who was working on Buggy.in, an auto-rickshaw aggregator
startup. Although their initial projects did not merge, these interactions laid
the groundwork for future collaborations. Abhiraj’s experience and strategic
vision in these early ventures helped shape his approach to building Urban
Company into a leading enterprise in the home services industry, showcasing his
ability to leverage opportunities and navigate challenges effectively.
Founding Urban Company
Launched in 2014, Urban Company has become the largest home
services platform in India and the UAE, with recent expansions into Australia
and Singapore. The platform allows customers to book a wide range of reliable
home services, from beauty treatments and massage therapy to appliance repairs
and plumbing. Since its inception, Urban Company has fulfilled over 14 million
service orders across 22 cities, supported by a team of nearly 30,000 service
professionals.
Abhiraj Singh Bhal’s entrepreneurial journey saw him
co-founding Urban Company with Varun Khaitan. The partnership, bolstered by
their experience and vision, transformed UrbanClap into a major player in the
home services market. The synergy between their backgrounds and skills has been
instrumental in the platform’s success and expansion.
Pivot to Home Services
Abhiraj Bhal, Varun Khaitan, and Raghav Chandra initially
worked on separate start-ups before deciding to focus on the home services
industry. They saw potential in the fragmented and largely unorganized sector.
To test their idea, they began by connecting local beauticians, plumbers, and
photographers with their personal networks. They then expanded their efforts by
testing the concept with employees at their friends' companies and exploring
Facebook groups to find people seeking these services. In 2014, they launched
their website, UrbanClap, and made their first investment of ₹4,000 in Facebook
advertising.
Early Funding and Growth
During its early days, UrbanClap was bootstrapped until it
secured $1.6 million in investment from Accel Partners and SAIF Partners. This
funding was crucial in scaling the business and establishing a solid foundation
for future growth.
Evolution to Urban Company
In early 2020, UrbanClap was rebranded as Urban Company to
support its global expansion plans. Urban Company is now a leading home
services marketplace in Asia, with a significant presence in India, Singapore,
UAE, and Australia. The platform offers a range of services, including
appliance repairs, beauty treatments, massage therapy, and more, connecting
customers with trained professionals for reliable and efficient home services.
Service Model and Network
Urban Company operates by connecting users with skilled
service providers who undergo extensive training before listing their services.
The platform's algorithm matches service providers with customer requirements
based on proximity, time, and date. With over 60,000 professionals on the
platform, Urban Company serves over 5,500 customers daily and has successfully
catered to more than 5 million customers across various regions.
Role of CEO Abhiraj Bhal
As CEO and Co-founder, Abhiraj Bhal has played a crucial
role in Urban Company's growth, overseeing operations and the onboarding of
service providers. He has been instrumental in building a network of over
25,000 trained professionals and aims to replicate Urban Company's success in
tier 2 cities in India and international markets like Sydney and Singapore. His
leadership has been recognized with several awards, including Fortune’s 40
Under 40 and Entrepreneur of the Year.
Personal Life and Online Presence
Abhiraj Bhal's father, Commodore Ashok Bhal, is a retired
IITian who served as an electrical engineer in the Indian Navy. Abhiraj enjoys
activities such as running marathons, skydiving, scuba diving, and cooking for
his wife, Urvi. Although there is no dedicated Wikipedia page for Abhiraj, he
is active on social media platforms including Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Details about his net worth are not currently available, but updates are
expected in the future.
Entrepreneurial Achievements and Recognition
Abhiraj’s leadership and entrepreneurial skills have been
widely recognized. He has received numerous awards, including the IIM Ahmedabad
Young Alumni Achiever’s Award 2020, the Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2020 by
NASSCOM Technology & Leadership Forum, and has been listed in Fortune’s 40
Under 40 and GQ’s 50 Most Influential Young Indians. He is actively involved in
various policy initiatives, including serving as co-chair of the CII Ecommerce
Council and being part of the ACT Grants investment committee.
Timeline for Abhiraj Bhal's story
2011-2014: Consultant at The Boston Consulting Group,
advising Fortune 500 companies.
2014: Co-founded UrbanClap (now Urban Company) to transform
the home services industry.
2020: Rebranded UrbanClap to Urban Company for global
expansion.
2020: Received IIM Ahmedabad Young Alumni Achiever’s Award.
2020: Named Entrepreneur of the Year by NASSCOM Technology
& Leadership Forum.
2024: Listed in Fortune’s 40 Under 40 and GQ’s 50 Most
Influential Young Indians.
