NEW DELHI: Nawgati, India’s homegrown fuel aggregator platform, is transforming the fuel industry with its innovative compliance monitoring and congestion management solution.
Co-founded by Vaibhav Kaushik, Aalaap Nair, and Aryan Sisodia in 2019, Nawgati was developed to save time for both fuel providers and consumers, reduce congestion, and enhance overall efficiency. The New Indian had a conversation with the co-founder Vaibhav, who recently launched the ‘Nawgati billing app’ in May 2024.
Reflecting on the company’s inception, Vaibhav, who was a third-year student at BITS Pilani at the time, said, “I was interning in Noida and used to take a cab daily. The cab drivers often complained about the unpredictable traffic at fuel stations. We realized no one had solved this problem, so we pitched our idea to BITS Pilani and started working on it. With initial funding from the Ministry of Electronics and IT, we developed our first prototype.”
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The company initially focused on creating an intelligent queue management system, allowing users to monitor congestion, analyze footfall, and identify wait/serve times at each nearby fuel station for efficient decision making. Nawgati began its journey by partnering with Indraprastha Gas in Delhi and Sierra Vizag for pilot projects.
Kaushik mentioned, “We were initially hesitant about appearing on Shark Tank however, after receiving repeated suggestions from our clients, we decided to participate in Season 2. It went well and significantly boosted our user base from 2 lakh to over 15 lakh users.” The appearance on Shark Tank brought Nawgati a deal worth ₹67 lakhs for 3% equity, valuing the company at ₹22.33 crores.
Nawgati offers three primary applications: the Nawgati Fueling App for consumers, the Aaveg dashboard for B2B clients, and the recently launched Nawgati Billing App. “The Nawgati Billing App is a game-changer in enhancing transparency at fuel stations,” Kaushik stated. “By integrating with Android POS machines, it centralizes data collection and reduces discrepancies, which improves accountability.”
He further explained, “There was a lack of transparency with handwritten receipts at CNG pumps. To tackle this, we built a digital billing system that connects with POS machines, ensuring every transaction is accurately recorded. This system is particularly beneficial for fleet operators who need to track multiple transactions.”
Nawgati’s solutions also address critical safety and compliance issues. The platform automates the monitoring of compliance checks, such as hydro test validity verification for CNG vehicles. “We ensure that all safety protocols, like the proper positioning of safety stoppers, are adhered to,” Kaushik said. “This reduces the risk of accidents, such as the detachment of fuel nozzles from dispensers, which can cause fires due to CNG’s combustibility.”
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Since its launch, Nawgati has become one of the highest-rated apps on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, with a rating of over 4.5 stars. “We prioritize our customers,” Kaushik noted. “Every morning, the entire company receives an email with user feedback, which helps us improve our services continually. We also have a super user community of about 500 members who test new features before they are released.”
The company has been supported by various government schemes, including the MeitY StartUp Hub TIDE 2.0 scheme, and from the Department of Science and Technology (a govt. Undertaking of the Ministry of Science & Technology) under the NIDHI Seed Support Scheme. These initiatives have provided crucial funding, enabling Nawgati to scale its operations.
Looking ahead, Nawgati aims to expand its B2B offerings to every fuel station across India and ensure that every vehicle owner uses the Nawgati Fueling App. “Our vision is for Nawgati to become synonymous with fueling in India,” Kaushik shared.
As Nawgati continues to innovate and expand, it remains committed to enhancing the fuel station experience for both operators and consumers.