Brands
Thunderplus, Bijliride team up to power India’s EV charging network
MUMBAI: If chai breaks could charge your scooter, India’s EV story just got its perfect plug. Thunderplus, the country’s fastest-growing EV charging network, has teamed up with Bijliride, a SaaS-powered electric two-wheeler rental platform, to supercharge urban mobility with a partnership that’s equal parts speed, sustainability, and smarts.
The alliance aims to zap away India’s biggest EV worries, range anxiety and charging delays by integrating battery-swapping and fast-charging services across all 250 plus Thunderplus hubs. Think of it as the digital-age pit stop for everyone from gig workers on the go to students zipping through city traffic.
Under this collaboration, every Thunderplus hub will now feature BijliRide battery-swapping machines, allowing users to swap batteries in seconds instead of waiting for hours. For those who’d rather top up than swap out, there’s the new “Thunder Tej” 12 kW LEVDC fast charger, which powers two- and three-wheelers to 80 per cent in just 10 minutes, the time it takes to sip a cutting chai.
“At Thunderplus, we believe in collaboration over competition,” said Thunderplus CEO Rajeev YSR. “Our hubs will now evolve into multi-activity economic centres, offering not just fast charging but battery swapping and community access points for EV users.”
Hyderabad where Bijliride first plugged in continues to lead India’s electric mobility charge. The city’s vibrant mix of professionals, gig workers, and students makes it the perfect launchpad for Bijliride’s hub-and-spoke STAR expansion model.
“Our goal is simple make sustainable mobility as easy and convenient as ordering a cab,” said Bijliride CEO and co-founder Shivam Sisodiya. “By combining ThunderPlus’s infrastructure with our rental ecosystem, we’re creating connected pickup and drop-off points with charging, swapping, and service support all under one roof.”
The result? A city where no EV user is more than a few minutes from power. Whether it’s a delivery rider racing against time or a commuter heading to college, the partnership ensures smooth, stress-free rides without the dreaded battery panic.
Thunderplus and Bijliride also see this as the start of a nationwide circuit. After powering Hyderabad, Bijliride plans to roll out its STAR model in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, expanding its 24/7 operational hubs and integrating charging, swapping, and rentals across India’s major metros.
For now, the first 24/7 flagship hub in Madhapur, Hyderabad sets the template, a connected, data-driven, user-first experience that redefines what “refuelling” means in an electric age.
“Together, we’re building not just charging stations but a smarter, cleaner, and more connected ecosystem,” added Rajeev. “The goal is simple: to make EV ownership as convenient as it is responsible.”
With Thunderplus providing the volts and Bijliride bringing the wheels, India’s EV future looks set to move faster, cleaner, and one chai break at a time.
Brands
Aman Gupta’s OFF/BEAT secures Rs 100 crore seed funding round
Bessemer backs new venture betting on AI and India’s digital shift
MUMBAI: Aman Gupta has raised Rs 100 crore in seed funding for his new venture OFF/BEAT, with Bessemer Venture Partners leading the round as it bets on a new wave of AI-led, consumer-first businesses in India.
The funding marks an early but significant push for OFF/BEAT, which is positioned to tap into a rapidly evolving market shaped by a digitally native generation and advances in artificial intelligence. The venture aims to build at the intersection of culture and technology, where brand identity and innovation increasingly go hand in hand.
Gupta, best known for co-founding boAt and scaling it into a Rs 3,000 crore-plus business, is now looking to apply those learnings to a new playbook. His focus this time is not just on building a consumer brand, but on leveraging AI and global networks to accelerate growth.
OFF/BEAT founder Aman Gupta said, “Having built from scratch before, I know what capital can do and what it cannot. This time, I was looking for partners with a global perspective who can help me leverage technology and AI, because that is where the future lies. Bessemer’s track record with companies like Anthropic, Shopify, Canva and LinkedIn says it all.”
The choice of investor reflects that ambition. Bessemer Venture Partners has backed global technology players such as Anthropic, Shopify, Canva and LinkedIn, bringing not just capital but strategic support and global reach.
Bessemer Venture Partners partner Anant Vidur Puri said, “We back founders who see around corners. Aman saw how a new India would come to think about aspiration, identity and quality, and built boAt as proof. He is now applying that same instinct to a market being reshaped by AI and by a generation with entirely new expectations.”
The investment comes at a time when India’s startup ecosystem is being reshaped by both consumer behaviour and technological disruption. Founders are increasingly expected to understand not just products, but the cultural shifts that drive adoption.
For OFF/BEAT, the journey is just beginning, but the signal is clear. In a market where attention is fleeting and expectations are rising, building something truly distinctive may be the only way to stay on beat.
