They started the business using a geolocation screen fitted on the back of an auto driver's vehicle in a busy city like Bangalore, which proved to be a worthwhile initiative. Probably a 20-minute ride provided the passenger with coupons and specific tickets, where the commission was distributed between auto drivers and the startup. This fantastic idea earned them a Harley-Davidson bike from Microsoft. From mobile kiosks, the Yaatra Smart app went on to win an iconic Harley-Davidson bike for TEBS. Finally, the B2C approach was financially criticized, leading the founders to rethink their strategy and make a B2B product, which ended up in the formation of TEBS. A visionary approach from B2C to B2B – a TEBS approach.
With a vision to provide a solution to business problems, they founded TEB Solutions. This startup was founded by Najeeb, a passionate entrepreneur with almost two decades of experience in this sector. During the initial phase, TEBS failed to hit the market in the way that was expected. Still, the founders treated TEBS like family, which helped it gain recognition through grants and awards during the initial stages. Their continuous investigation and commitment uncovered several hindrances that existed in their journey.
As they solved the first problem by building a team of experienced techies, they pivoted the strategy by not changing the product but its execution style. They understood that many times corporates want a product not for reselling but for their own betterment. The approach was very simple: "Contact them and convince them," but this was not as easy as it looked. As founders, they had to look for corporate budgets and their approval timelines and convince them about how a startup like theirs could find a solution for others. However, as a visionary, you should know where you can make a profit.
Foremost, as a startup, they ensured that they maintained business confidentiality by maintaining good respect for data privacy. The challenge they faced during the exercise was building confidence among clients to share their data with a startup like theirs. To face this challenge, they first married SaaS; it may sound sarcastic, but that was the truth. This is a perfect fit for the above scenario. Make sure custom screens and data reside under corporate control, and you can have custom algorithms. Figure out which services you can create as proprietary; believe me, it is going to help you while growing. Just explore where TEBS started and where they are now. It's evident that though entrepreneurs think that they have solutions for every problem, they should understand that they don't have time to execute all such solutions. During corporate interactions, it is very important to have a vision for your company and its growth. Just realize that once you have built confidence with a company, they will have something to solve, and everything will be urgent.
So some of you may become confused. What does TEBS do? TEBS, as the word suggests, optimizes your business pulses using Technology-Enabled Business Solutions, which delivers AI-driven solutions to optimize operations, safety, and customer engagement, particularly in the Oil & Gas (O&G) sector and beyond. Its vibrant product suite addresses supply chain efficiency, compliance, and marketing needs.
What TEBS has achieved to date is unimaginable. They currently have four products internationally. The first product is Pulz Yard, which reduces the dwell time of trucks and ships by managing 4,000+ trucks and equipment. Next is Pulz Tranz for demand prediction, planning, and deviation management for double-digit savings in downstream distribution. The third product is Pulz MOC for optimizing management change in large organizations as a rule engine and workflow management tool. The next tool they introduced was Pulz OnDemand for on-demand delivery, which is based on ready-to-deploy infrastructure. These are only some of the services that they offer. They are currently serving corporates and have expanded their partnerships with Fortune 500 companies. This B2B bootstrapped approach increased their financial stability, with four offices in India, Dubai, Kenya, and Oman.
The right choice at the right time creates a bigger impact. The TEBS approach is a perfect strategy for all budding entrepreneurs. So my advice to entrepreneurs is, what are you waiting for? Just "Wake up and run!"