Nexus alumna Drishti Medhi’s start-up empowers blue-collar workers with relevant skills and market access through her online platform QuickGhy.
October 2023
Drishti Medhi (left) co-founded QuickGhy to empower the blue-collared workforce by upskilling gig workers and allowing easy market access. (Photographs courtesy Drishti Medhi)
India is home to approximately 450 million blue-collar workers, and the gig economy is among the fastest-growing parts of the country’s workforce. Assam-based QuickGhy, co-founded by Nexus Start-up Hub and Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) alumna Drishti Medhi, is a service platform that empowers the blue-collared workforce. By upskilling gig workers and allowing easy market access, QuickGhy offers a marketplace for professional services—a hub where one can find vetted workers for every kind of personal homecare and blue-collar services, customized to unique needs.
Excerpts from an interview with Medhi.
How did you become interested in entrepreneurship?
My journey dates to my undergraduate days, when I was a student of electrical engineering. Since my first year of college, I knew I wanted to work in a space where I could truly make an impact. Growing up in a business family helped me think like an entrepreneur.
What do you like about being an entrepreneur? What are the challenges?
The best part about being an entrepreneur is the rush of hitting milestones and the joy of finding solutions. You are a constant learner. I would not have it any other way.
The toughest bit would be the toll it takes on you. Managing multiple stakeholders, having accountability, managing finances and educating yourself about the market dynamics can all be overwhelming. Yet, people have done it and found success.
Please share some milestones of QuickGhy.
QuickGhy was recognized as one of the top five start-ups in India by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, in 2022. We have been supported by the U.S. Embassy New Delhi’s Nexus program. Our start-up also has a partnership with the Assam Skill Development Mission, Government of Assam.
How many service partners and users does QuickGhy currently have?
QuickGhy has more than 300 service partners in its maintenance and service categories. So far, we have catered to more than 6,000 customers across Assam, and plan to expand across northeast India in another year.
What were your takeaways from the Nexus and AWE programs, and the VV Visionaries Fellowship? How did they shape your journey as an entrepreneur?
Entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey, and having the right peer network is crucial for growth. [Through these programs] I have made lifelong friends who think alike and are always open to conversations on business and innovation. Nexus, particularly, is a well-defined nine-week program that focuses on the fundamentals and encourages feedback. The peer-to-peer feedback system has been incredibly helpful. With the Vital Voices [Visionaries Fellowship], I had the opportunity [to meet] a global network of women leaders that I can always discuss my ideas with, share goals and find support.
Do you have any exciting future projects or partnerships?
QuickGhy is focused on a skill-first platform going forward for the semi-skilled workforce, and we are working on a feature to bridge the skill gap that exists today. We will unveil it in a year’s time.
Jason Chiang is a freelance writer based in Silver Lake, Los Angeles.
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