“No MBA. No startup jargon": Auto driver earns ₹5–8 L/month by identifying problem of Visa applicants & solving it

In a LinkedIn post, Bengaluru-based entrepreneur Rahul Rupani, co-founder of VenueMonk, shared how an auto driver has built a thriving micro-enterprise without any formal business training or startup buzzwords, by solving a common problem faced by US visa applicants.

The problem

Hundreds of people visit the US Consulate in Mumbai for visa interviews every day. However, they face a big problem. The security at the Consulate does not allow carrying any bags inside. The building has no lockers as well, which leaves many applicants stranded with their personal belongings and important documents.

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The solution found by auto driver

“While I stood clueless on the footpath, an auto driver waved at me,” wrote Rahul Rupani.

The auto driver said: “Sir, bag de do. Safe rakhunga, mera roz ka hai. ₹1,000 charge hai.”

At first, the entrepreneur cum Lenskart Product Leader hesitated but then he took the man’s help.

“And that’s when I discovered this guy’s brilliant business,” said Rupani.

The 'brilliant' business plan

Then he explained the autowallah’s business plan.

“Here’s how it works:

- Parks his auto right outside the consulate.

- Offers bag-keeping service at ₹1,000 per customer.

- Gets 20-30 customers a day.

- That’s ₹20K–₹30K per day, or ₹5–8 lakhs a month!”

As he can’t legally keep 30 bags in his auto, the man has partnered with a local police officer who owns a small locker space nearby. The bags go there.

Rupani said, “Legal. Secure. Zero hassle. The auto just acts as the conversion funnel.”

Zero-mile, hyper-profitable, bootstrapped operation

While most people are sweating over US visa interviews, this auto driver is running a zero-mile, hyper-profitable, bootstrapped operation.

“No MBA. No startup jargon. Just pure hustle and street-smart product-market fit,” lauded Rupani.

The man understood the problem and found the solution.

Rupani remarked that it is the hustle you don’t read in business books.

He said, “Real entrepreneurship doesn’t always need a pitch deck. Sometimes it just needs a parking spot.”

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