Accolades

Top 50 Women in Innovation – Awarded to Manya Gupta

``Top 50 Women in Innovation`` In india covered by CII Compendium - Awarded to Manya Gupta.

The start of the journey

From an early stage in her life, Manya harbored a clear ambition to venture into entrepreneurship. Prior to starting M-truck, she was engaged in her husband’s export business where she assumed the responsibility for overseeing the marketing operations. During this period, she gleaned a critical observation: logistics posed a significant challenge within the country. Specifically, the supply chain for land transport, particularly full load truck transportation, suffered from fragmentation. The persistent scarcity of drivers emerged as a recurring issue. Even when available, drivers often exhibited reluctance to undertake delivery assignments due to the absence of return journey bookings. With the vision to address this identified gap, she started her own venture Cheval Courant Logistics Pvt. Ltd.

Opportunities, growth and challenges

Initially, the company operated primarily as a software platform akin to Uber, facilitating businesses in locating nearby available drivers for product shipping services within cities. However, this model did not achieve the anticipated level of traction. Challenges such as slow technology adoption among truck drivers and prolonged payment waiting periods from small businesses hindered the scalability of the business. Driver reluctance to embrace the platform due to concerns regarding its legitimacy compounded the difficulty in building a reliable driver network.

However, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, an opportunity emerged. Recognizing the need for inter-city product shipping, particularly within the beverages sector, the company, under Manya’s leadership, secured contracts with major players. Inter-city deliveries offered drivers a more appealing proposition, ensuring bookings for return journeys and timely payments, thus streamlining operations.

Presently, Manya’s strategic focus lies in consolidating the company’s presence in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi N.C.R, and Punjab, aiming to capture a significant market share. This strategic move aims to sustain a steady flow of orders for drivers, mitigating the issue of empty return loads. The company is embracing technology, such as Internet of Things (IoT) which facilitate real-time driver availability and truck loading information, thus optimizing supply chain efficiency.

While prioritizing technological innovation, Manya also advocates for an asset-light approach to growth. She believes that streamlined communication via platforms like WhatsApp and email expedites onboarding processes for both drivers and clients. This approach allows the company to allocate more time to integrating the driver network, establishing trust, conducting background checks, facilitating online payments, and fostering a collaborative partnership ethos for mutual benefit.

Manya aspires to propel her venture to new heights in the forthcoming years. She envisions expanding her company’s presence beyond its current confines to encompass other states within India, with the ultimate objective of establishing a commanding market position nationwide. Her strategic vision involves transitioning her company into a comprehensive third-party logistics (3-PL) entity, offering end-to-end delivery solutions not only via land, but also via air and water.

Lessons for the budding entrepreneurs

Beyond her entrepreneurial endeavours, Manya is deeply committed to advancing women empowerment initiatives. As an active member of the Young India Organization, the youth arm of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), she is the Chairperson within the entrepreneurship vertical. Within this capacity, Manya orchestrates regular leadership sessions aimed at fostering dialogue and mentorship opportunities for aspiring women leaders. By facilitating discussions wherein accomplished women from diverse fields share their professional journeys and insights, she endeavours to equip young women with the guidance and encouragement needed to pursue their aspirations.

Central to Manya’s philosophy is the notion that when confronted with daunting challenges, young aspirational entrepreneurs should refrain from asking “why?” and instead, pose the question “why not?” She advocates for cultivating a resilient mindset and proactive attitude, emphasizing that such attributes are essential for garnering the confidence and determination necessary to pursue and achieve one’s aspirations.

In a nutshell

URL https://www.getmtruck.com/
USP Technologically driven, customer-centric solution with scalable flexibility, enabling logistics operations to commence in any location within three days of contract signing, underpinned by a commitment to innovation and continuous improvement.
Mission To revolutionize logistics by providing efficient, hassle-free trucking services akin to “UBER for trucks,” enhancing driver income, optimizing routes, ensuring compliance, reducing costs, and guaranteeing the safety of goods for our corporate clientele.
Founded in 2018
Team Size 15-20
Headquarters Gurgaon, Haryana
Past Awards/ Accolades 1. Accelerator: Google for startups and 91 springboards

2. Awarded Top 10 women leaders In Logistics by Women entrepreneur India

Next big milestone Establish a commanding nationwide market presence by expanding operations to multiple states in India and evolving into a comprehensive third-party logistics (3-PL) entity, offering end-to-end delivery solutions across land, air and water transport modes.
Qualifications CFA, MBA