inDrive has been operating in Nepal since 2022 and has become one of the popular ride-sharing services. The founder and CEO of inDrive, Arsen Tomsky, was in Nepal a few days earlier for the launch of his biography, inDriver, now available in Nepali too. ApEx caught up with him to talk about his book and business. Excerpts:

How do you feel about your first book launch in Nepal?

I am delighted. The foundation and growth of inDrive is not just a professional endeavor for me, but a deeply personal and emotional journey that has shaped my life, and writing about its development has been transformative, and I am thrilled to invite everyone to embark on this adventure with me.

What was the inspiration behind writing the book?

I wanted to share my journey with readers. With this book, I seek to motivate people to develop themselves and the world around them in any circumstance. In my case, challenging injustices have become an important driver for the foundation and development of the application.

Why did you choose to publish your biography in Nepali?

The book is already available in English, Spanish and Portuguese. It is now out in the Nepali language. The book is not for any business purposes. Rather we have planned to donate these books in schools and libraries just to share my journey and motivate others.

Nepal has no legal provision for ride-sharing services. Still, you launched inDrive here. What made you do so?

We follow a common industry practice of testing new markets through research and development activities. In Nepal, we are currently offering the inDrive app to citizens without charging any fees or commissions. This helps us understand the market and its potential before we officially launch our services. We are in touch with relevant government bodies and are committed to getting the necessary documents and approvals required by the law before the official launch. 

Yes, currently there are no ride-hailing laws as this is a recent development and in most countries the laws are being formulated. However, the concept of ride-sharing is not alien to Nepal. There are different service providers providing some form of platform-based services. In addition, the rise and need for such services have been acknowledged by courts and authorities.
inDrive is dedicated to fighting injustice and upholding transparency and fairness in the mobility and transportation space. The inDrive is focused on emerging economies where there are injustices to solve. The test run conducted in Nepal has made us more confident that the people would support our service.

inDrive has gained plenty of popularity in Nepal. Data suggests that it was last year’s most downloaded ride-sharing app here. What are the company’s future plans for Nepal?

inDrive arrived in Nepal in Q2, 2022 and since then thousands of drivers have been using inDrive on a daily basis and earning money with our platform. This year we are collaborating with NRS Sports Foundation to support a new initiative aimed at developing the running culture in Nepal and nurturing long-distance runners to participate in international running championships. The training program will be conducted within the Kathmandu Valley as well as in Thimi, Hetauda, Butwal and Pokhara, with plans to expand to other cities in the future. To promote young and underprivileged runners, inDrive will support more than 300 athletes by providing slots in Kathmandu Marathon which is scheduled for Oct 14.

We also run multiple initiatives supporting startups and gender equality in the tech industry around the globe. Very soon we will be announcing next year's traditional Aurora Tech Award in Nepal and in other countries.

What is your message to new entrepreneurs who are willing to start new ventures?

To other entrepreneurs with dreams of taking a startup into the global market, my advice is: We call ourselves underdogs because we are from a remote place. We didn’t have access to knowledge, experience, technology, investments, or other professionals. We had low chances to build something, but we did it. We focused on our goals and our mission to challenge injustice. We hope our example will inspire millions of other underdogs around the world.

What is inDrive’s goal for this year?

Our main objectives are to expand our business into new countries and grow in the markets we 

currently operate in, launching new verticals including freight, courier delivery and others to offer more equitable services. Alongside this, we prioritize enhancing customer experience and ensuring safety for all users. 

We are continuing our journey of empowering communities through our inVision programs, where we support access to education, arts, sports and science. 

To uphold our commitment to safety, we have introduced the Safety Pact—an initiative empowering users with dedicated features, tips, and a code of conduct for drivers and passengers. We promote mutual respect and have a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination.  By pursuing expansion, growth, customer satisfaction, and safety, we are well-positioned to continue delivering great results and making a positive impact in the communities we serve.