Not just virtual, but reality: how startups are tapping India’s vast religious services market with technology
A new breed of religious services startups is tapping the vast, unorganised market in India by using tech-driven solutions and helping out a time-starved generation of believers.
- Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated a virtual reality stall that allowed eager followers to queue up and experience the marvels of the Kumbh through virtual reality (VR).
- The product and business model initially were focused just on VR, which meant the need for a unique VR-enabled app and also the need for good bandwidth at a customer's end,” recounts John Kuruvilla, founding member of VR Devotee , on the early days and how they pivoted their model in the following years.
- For them, a service like 27 Mantraa may not be what the doctor ordered but it was what they needed.
- A brainchild of Abhijeet Singh and Bilva Desai Singh from Ahmedabad, the startup provides end-to-end funeral management services with authentic rituals performed by well-versed priests.