)
Whizzle Mobile App Private Limited, a Hyderabad-based technology startup, has launched Whizzle, a chat commerce app that connects end-customers with local businesses. The free-to-download app is available on Android and has seen over 3,000 user downloads so far.
“Whizzle currently has over 15,000 businesses spread across Hyderabad, and is in the process of expanding its services to Bengaluru, Mumbai and New Delhi, with a listing of 100,000 businesses each, by September this year,” Hari Chava, founder and chief executive of Whizzle Mobile, told mediapersons.
Whizzle, a business-to-consumer (B2C) mobile platform, allows smartphone users to have a real-time interactive experience with businesses within three kilometres of radius through messaging. Consumers can both enquire and order food and groceries, and book appointments with spas, salons, clinics and doctors, or reserve tables in restaurants and rooms in hotels. Whizzle gets 10 per cent commission on every transaction.
Whizzle Mobile App was floated by Indian School of Business (ISB) alumni Hari Chava and Navin Kasa, and Siddhartha Kongara, an alumnus of IIM-Ahmedabad, in February 2015 through bootstrapping.
“We are in advanced talks with investors to raise $2 million (approximately Rs 13 crore) in a pre-Series-A round of funding, and we expect to close the round in the next couple of months. The fundraising proceeds will be utilised to expand our presence to other cities, as well as in marketing activities,” Chava said.
