Vaibhav Kaushik, the Co-founder and CEO of Nawgati, has a vision to revolutionize the mundane task of refueling by providing a technology-driven solution to alleviate the perennial inconvenience of waiting in long queues at petrol pumps. Established in 2019 by Kaushik, Aalaap Nair, and Aryan Sisodia, graduates from BITS Pilani and VIT Vellore, this Noida-based startup aims to enhance users’ fueling experience through their innovative app.
The idea for Nawgati came to Kaushik during his daily encounters with congested petrol pumps while using cab services. Motivated to address this widespread issue, the trio embarked on a year-long journey to conceptualize a software-driven solution. Initially incubated at BITS Pilani, the startup received crucial support from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s TIED 2.0 grant, which enabled them to develop hardware installations at fuel stations.
By utilizing proprietary computer vision algorithms, Nawgati’s technology comprehensively analyzes existing camera footage to map fuel stations. This unique approach, different from conventional video-based systems, allows for the calculation of waiting times for each dispenser island and vehicle category. Kaushik highlights the real-time data access provided by their technology, setting them apart from services like Google Maps.
Nawgati’s business model caters to both fuel station operators and individual users. Their flagship product, Aaveg, offers deep congestion monitoring and routing systems for fuel stations through a monthly subscription. Additionally, the startup plans to generate revenue by providing a congestion data API targeting fleet operators. On the consumer front, Nawgati offers India’s largest fuel discovery app, which has garnered 1.5 million downloads and boasts 2.5 lakh monthly active users.
The app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, featuring listings for over 80,000 fuel pumps, including 5,500 CNG pumps. Kaushik intends to enhance the user experience through crowdsourcing, encouraging users to suggest new stations and report amenities in remote areas.
Kaushik’s startup, Nawgati, has established partnerships with major Indian oil and gas companies such as Indian Oil, Indraprastha Gas, Hindustan Petroleum, and Jio/BP. The company’s achievements were evident during a trial project with Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL), which resulted in IGL granting an additional 20 outlets. Kaushik envisions transforming fuel stations into “mobility stations” that offer a wide range of fuel options. Despite being a newcomer, Nawgati has ambitious plans for nationwide expansion, including integration into car dashboards through a collaboration with a leading auto manufacturer. With support from government entities and angel investors, Nawgati is well-positioned for growth and has initiatives in place to enhance the app’s features, such as providing car insurance information.