Lokal App

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]

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

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". Forbes.com. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  2. "To crack India's diverse and massive local content markets, Lokal started asking users what they actually wanted". niemanlab.org. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  3. "To crack India's diverse and massive local news markets, Lokal started asking users what they actually wanted". Splicemedia. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  4. "Regional language-focused startup Lokal raises $3 million funding". ETtech.com. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  5. "Local language content cos help stem fake info". economictimes.indiatimes.com. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  6. "YC-backed Lokal wants to bring local news, classifieds to 900 million Indians in their regional languages". TechCrunch.com. 16 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  7. "Making it big in digital world: Bangalore's Lokal App". exchange4media.com. 5 December 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  8. "Lokal". Forbes.com.
  9. "India Quotient Invests In Vernacular Hyperlocal Video News Startup Lokal". Inc 42. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  10. "Lokal, an assistance to non-English speaking users, getting vocal with 4.5 million users". Our Own Startup. 13 June 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  11. "Hyperlocal News Startup Lokal Bags $3 Mn Funding From 3one4 Capital, Y Combinator, Others". Inc 42. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  12. "Forbes 30 Under 30 - Asia - Media, Marketing & Advertising". Forbes. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  13. "Nasscom Emerge 50 awards 2020" (PDF). Nasscom. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
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