Ixigo: The journey from startup to India’s leading travel platform

Ixigo is a well-known company in the Indian travel industry, famous for making travel planning and booking easier with its innovative ideas. It has become one of India’s top travel search engines and booking platforms. This story explores how Ixigo started, grew, faced challenges, and achieved success. Ixigo was founded by Aloke Bajpai and Rajnish Kumar in 2007. Both are IIT graduates; Aloke has a degree in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kanpur and an MBA from INSEAD, while Rajnish also graduated from IIT Kanpur. They created Ixigo because they were frustrated with how difficult and complicated it was to plan and book travel in India.

The founders wanted to create a platform that collected travel information from different sources, making it easier for travellers to compare prices, schedules, and options. Their goal was to make a user-friendly website that simplified the travel booking process, saving users time and money. This vision led to the creation of Ixigo, a name inspired by the phrase “I explore, therefore I go.”

The early years were tough for Ixigo. Traditional travel agents and a few established online travel agencies controlled the Indian travel market. It took a lot of effort and new ideas to enter this market. The founders worked on creating a strong technology platform that could manage large amounts of data and give users accurate, real-time information.

Ixigo’s success largely came from its technological innovations. The company created smart algorithms to gather and compare travel data from airlines, hotels, and travel agencies, helping users find the best deals. A major breakthrough was Ixigo’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to personalise travel recommendations. By studying what users liked and wanted, Ixigo could offer customised suggestions, making the experience better for users. This tech-driven approach made Ixigo stand out from its competitors and attracted more users.

Ixigo has grown impressively over the years. It started by focusing on flight searches and bookings but later added hotel bookings, bus reservations, and train tickets. This helped Ixigo reach more customers and gain a bigger share of the travel market. In 2015, Ixigo launched a train app that quickly became one of the top apps for train information and booking in India. The app offered real-time details on train schedules, seat availability, and PNR status, which greatly increased Ixigo’s users and revenue.

Ixigo’s growth was boosted by important investments and funding. In 2011, it received 18.5 million dollars from SAIF Partners and MakeMyTrip, which helped the company expand its operations, improve its technology, and increase its marketing. Later, Ixigo attracted more funding from investors like Sequoia Capital India, Fosun RZ Capital, and Micromax Informatics, giving it the money needed to keep growing and developing new technologies.

Ixigo’s success is also due to its smart partnerships with major players in the travel industry. By working with airlines, hotels, bus operators, and Indian Railways, Ixigo offered a wide range of travel options and special deals. A key partnership with Indian Railways allowed Ixigo to provide easy train bookings through its app. This helped Ixigo gain more users and become known as a trustworthy travel platform.

Ixigo’s success is largely due to its focus on making things easy for users. The company always worked to improve its app and website based on what users wanted, making sure they were simple and easy to use. Ixigo also took great care of its customers by offering 24/7 support to answer questions and solve problems quickly. This commitment to good service helped build trust and keep users loyal.

Ixigo’s marketing and branding was key to its success. The company used creative strategies to reach more people and build its brand. Its ads, both online and offline, highlighted how easy and useful its platform is. One successful campaign was “Tarakki Ki Train,” which showed the benefits of using Ixigo’s train app. This campaign connected well with users and helped the app grow quickly.

Over the years, Ixigo has won many awards for its innovation and impact on the travel industry. It was named one of India’s fastest-growing tech startups and appeared on top lists like Deloitte Technology Fast 50 and Red Herring Asia Top 100. The founders, Aloke Bajpai and Rajnish Kumar were also recognised for their success in building Ixigo. Their leadership and vision were key in making Ixigo a leading travel platform in India.

Despite its success, Ixigo faced many challenges. The travel industry is very competitive, with new companies constantly entering the market. Ixigo had to keep innovating and adapting to stay ahead. It also dealt with regulatory issues and economic changes that affected travel.

The COVID-19 pandemic was a major challenge, causing a huge drop in travel demand due to restrictions and lockdowns. Ixigo responded by adding new features and diversifying its services to meet travelers’ changing needs while also working on cutting costs and improving efficiency.

Ixigo’s future looks bright as it keeps improving and expanding its services. The company plans to use new technologies like AI, machine learning, and blockchain to make its platform better and offer a great user experience. Ixigo is also looking into opportunities in international markets to earn more revenue.

The company wants to become even stronger in the Indian travel industry by adding new features and services. Ixigo’s focus on making travel easier and providing value to users is key to its growth strategy.

The rise of this Indian startup from a small startup to a top travel platform in India shows how innovation, persistence, and focus on users can be beneficial and lead to success. Founded by Aloke Bajpai and Rajnish Kumar, Ixigo has changed how Indians plan and book travel. By using new technology, forming key partnerships, and always aiming to satisfy customers, Ixigo has made a strong name for itself in the travel industry. Its story inspires future entrepreneurs and serves as a great example of building a successful tech business.