Creative startups in India

How many times have you wanted to just set off to explore a place you've never been to before?
*Mind voice*: So many times!

How many times have those plans gotten cancelled due to issues like...

• Seedy-looking hotels: This looks like one of those places where Dexter would kill people.

• Lack of money: Well, I could choose between this expensive hotel and my kidney...hmm.
• Facilities* : The asterisk should tell you what they mean. Wi-Fi that works for an hour a day, and then you have to pay for it. Over-priced laundry service. The usual suspects!

What if there was a place that promised you A/C dorms, free Wi-fi, laundry service, lockers for an affordable price? Hey, let's go a step beyond that...how about this place also offers you games, books, common rooms where you can meet awesome people...basically, unlimited ?
*Mind voice*: Next you're gonna tell me I've to take the train to this place from platform 9 3/4

Nope. This is the real deal, people. I am talking about, which is India's first chain of branded backpackers' hostels. Founded by a bunch of super-awesome and ambitious guys from IIT-IIM-MDI graduates about a year ago, Zostel is now full steam ahead in 3 cities, with many, many more on the way. They one-up themselves with every Zostel they open.

Jodhpur

Common room

A = A/C dorms (there are also female-only dorms) + Common Rooms + Wi-Fi + Library/Games + Laundry Service + Kitchen + Daily Housekeeping

Jaipur

Terrace with cool graffiti

B = A + private rooms

Udaipur

Zostel Udaipur dorm room

C = B + rooftop + first lakeside hostel in India

I wonder what Z...no, wait...\Z/ will be!

Apart from offering great accommodation, they also organize trips and treks for people who are passionate about . Plus, they make itineraries free of cost for people who want to explore their city. The service here is hard to beat. From procuring tuk-tuks/food/beer/tailors(for realsies)/information to booking train/cab/bus tickets, they will do everything to make sure that you feel at home.

They came up with the one-of-its-kind program, which offered Rs. 50000, to 4 people, to travel across India in 50 days. They received 70000 applications for it, by the way! They have won a ton of B-plan competitions including the Wharton India Economic Forum one, and they also announced an angel round of INR 5 Crores from a Malaysia-based investor, Presha Paragash.