A Guwahati woman’s homegrown platform is transforming how people hire drivers while generating flexible jobs for hundreds
Guwahati, March 8: At a time when women entrepreneurs are increasingly shaping the startup ecosystem, a Guwahati-based initiative is quietly transforming how people hire drivers while creating livelihoods for hundreds of youths across the city.
On International Women’s Day, 36-year-old entrepreneur Sagarika Das, a resident of Dispur, is drawing attention for building “Driver NE”, a homegrown platform that connects vehicle owners with part-time drivers. Launched in October 2023, the initiative has already built a network of nearly 600 drivers.
What makes the story remarkable is that Das started the venture from her home without any technological background, driven simply by a practical problem she faced.
Speaking to Hub News, Das said the idea emerged when her family struggled to find a reliable driver after someone who had long been associated with them passed away.
“While searching for drivers, I realised many of them didn’t want to remain attached to one household. They preferred flexible work where they could take multiple assignments,” she said.
Her conversations with drivers revealed another important trend — many younger drivers now use smartphones and prefer flexible earning opportunities rather than long-term commitments to a single employer.
This led her to identify a gap in the market.
While taxi services can easily be booked through apps, no platform in the Northeast allows people to hire drivers for their own vehicles on a short-term or part-time basis.
The need was particularly visible among senior citizens, who often require drivers only for short errands or hospital visits.
“Many elderly people need a driver only for an hour or two, but drivers often refuse such short bookings. I started assuring drivers that they would get multiple trips in a day so their income would increase,” she explained.
Without a technical background, Das approached a software developer and began building a platform that could connect drivers and customers.
In less than two years, the initiative has grown rapidly.
Driver NE now has around 600 drivers registered on the platform, offering flexible driving services across Guwahati.
Encouraged by the response, Das now plans to launch a dedicated mobile application with improved technology to make the service easier to access.
“I don’t want to limit this only to Assam. My aim is to expand the service across the entire Northeast and connect drivers from different states,” she said.
Beyond business, the venture is also contributing to employment generation, especially for young drivers seeking flexible work opportunities.
Das believes the Northeast is witnessing a growing wave of women entrepreneurship, supported by government initiatives and increasing social encouragement.
She highlighted programmes such as the Tejaswini women entrepreneur initiative, which provide exposure, training, incubation support and financial assistance to women-led startups.
Reflecting on her journey, she emphasised that financial literacy and management skills are crucial for any entrepreneur.
“When you start a business, you must understand your finances — unit economics, bookkeeping, accounting, marketing and branding. These are essential for building a sustainable startup,” she said.
From a simple home-based idea to a growing network of hundreds of drivers, Driver NE illustrates how local innovation and determination can create both convenience for customers and livelihoods for youth in Assam.
For Sagarika Das, the journey has only just begun — with the next destination set for the entire Northeast startup map.
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