Kartik Pandey, a BBA student at LSM Government Postgraduate College in Pithoragarh, has turned a tourism-related problem he observed while travelling with his taxi-driver father into a startup, Namaste Saarthi, with support from Uttarakhand’s Devbhoomi Udyamita Yojana.

Pandey, who comes from a middle-class family, noticed that tourists visiting Pithoragarh and Champawat often struggled to find reliable taxis, hotels and local guides at reasonable prices. Limited information and dependence on intermediaries frequently resulted in higher costs and a less convenient travel experience.

In 2025, Pandey participated in an entrepreneurship bootcamp organised at his college under the Devbhoomi Udyamita Yojana, an initiative being implemented with support from the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad.

The bootcamp helped him understand how to convert an idea into a business model, prepare a business model canvas, use digital platforms and websites to reach customers and systematically develop a startup.

Based on these learnings, Pandey launched Namaste Saarthi, an online platform through which tourists can access hotels, transportation and local guides at one place. The platform aims to provide transparent pricing, reliable services and a more convenient travel experience.

Mentoring helped turn the idea into a growing venture

When the startup initially struggled to reach a larger customer base, Pandey returned to experts associated with the Devbhoomi Udyamita Yojana for further guidance. He received mentoring on digital marketing, branding, customer outreach and strategies for expanding the business.

Dr Ruchita Panghariya, the scheme’s nodal officer at LSM College, Pithoragarh, also provided continued guidance through brainstorming sessions and consultations with experts, according to the state government.

Namaste Saarthi is now operating in the Kumaon region and has built a network of 15 buses. The platform is intended to reduce tourists’ dependence on intermediaries while enabling local service providers to connect directly with customers.

Continued learning remains central to Pandey’s approach

Pandey participated in another residential bootcamp under the scheme in 2026 to further improve and modernise his business. He said entrepreneurship was not a one-time achievement but a continuous process of learning and improvement.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the Devbhoomi Udyamita Yojana was aimed at helping young people convert innovative ideas and solutions to local problems into successful businesses through practical knowledge, expert guidance and continued mentoring.

Dhami said the state government would continue to encourage innovative efforts by young entrepreneurs and provide necessary support to help Uttarakhand become a state that creates jobs rather than one where young people primarily seek employment.