Bengaluru, known as the IT capital of India, has gained notoriety for its frequent traffic gridlocks in various parts of the city over the past decade or more, leading to heightened frustration among commuters. However, there is another side to it, too. Occasionally, these traffic jams can transform into an opportunity for commuters to engage in meaningful discussions and exchange valuable business ideas.
Recently, this was evidenced when a startup co-founder, Ankit Parasher and colleague, Shivam Srivastava, found themselves stuck in traffic at the same location. Seizing the moment, they decided to use the time to brainstorm ideas for their upcoming venture. Parasher shared this interesting incident on X (formerly Twitter), which got a lot of traction from internet users.
Parasher wrote in his post, "Before moving to Bengaluru, I heard about the startup vibe and the crazy traffic. Today, they merged! Stuck at a red light, Shivam and I brainstormed our new onboarding flow. We were late for the office, but it was a productive detour." He also posted a picture capturing a scene familiar to many in the city: him seated in his car, engaged in deep discussion with Srivastava on his bike, as they awaited the green light.
The post's comment section was flooded with people sharing their opinions about the whole situation. “Being neighbours and colleagues, you both should definitely think on sharing a ride sometime. The "crazy traffic" problem may not appear that crazy afterall!”
Some X users gave solutions for the traffic problem below the post. "It hurts to see that huge suvs, muv and big cars all stuck in traffic with just a single occupant, absolutely one, full AC blowing, engine raving in standstill traffic. Why can't carpooling be a thing. Just ask, will find many college neighbours heading same direction," wrote one of the users.
Another user commented that he wanted to discuss his plan for a startup with Parasher and wrote, “Hey Ankit, Wanna discuss a potential business that could potentially be a big thing in collaboration with the likes of Swiggy and Zomato?”