In a market crowded by billion-dollar ride-hailing giants, ZeroRiide is quietly rewriting the rules—with no commissions, no middlemen, and no exploitation. But behind the company’s rise is a deeply personal story of failure, grit, and redemption.
From Failure to Fuel
Before building ZeroRiide, Pratik Nilangekar wasn’t in boardrooms—he was in the kitchen. After failing in school, with few options left, he worked as a kitchen helper just to survive.
Most would have stayed stuck. Pratik didn’t. He picked himself back up, returned to his studies, and pushed through—one hour of work, one chapter of study at a time. “It wasn’t about proving anyone wrong,” he says. “It was about proving to myself that I could still write my story.”
That story became ZeroRiide.
A Ride That Changed Everything
The idea was born in the backseat of a cab in Nagpur. Pratik struck up a conversation with his driver—who, after a long day’s work, still had to hand over 30% of his earnings to a platform. The pain in the man’s voice was clear.
“He said, ‘We do all the work, they take all the money.’ I couldn’t forget it.”
That single ride became the ignition for a driver-first movement.
A Legacy of Courage
Pratik’s vision is powered by personal legacy, too. His grandmother, one of the first women rickshaw drivers in Maharashtra, defied the norms of her time. She inspired him to believe that courage isn’t loud—it’s steady. Just like the drivers he now works for.
The Business Behind the Mission
ZeroRiide isn’t just an emotional response—it’s strategically disruptive. Here’s how:
Zero Commission Model – Drivers keep 100% of the fare. Revenue is generated through low, fixed subscription plans, not per-ride cuts.
Transparent Pricing – No surge traps. Riders pay what they see.
City-by-City Rollout – ZeroRiide expands only when driver supply meets fair-demand expectations, ensuring sustainable launches like its recent move into Chennai.
Human-Centered Tech – The app is designed for low-end smartphones, making it inclusive for all driver profiles.
More Than an App—A Comeback Vehicle
ZeroRiide is more than a business. It’s a symbol. Of second chances. Of dignity in work. Of letting those who drive India forward finally drive on their own terms.
“This isn’t just about rides,” says Pratik. “It’s about paying back the hard work of people who were never paid enough to begin with.”
From kitchen floors to car doors, from dropout to disruptor—Pratik’s journey is now becoming every driver’s road to ownership, freedom, and fairness.
