Headquartered in California, inDrive is now a global freedom and fairness-based ride-hailing platform-where riders determine fares and drivers take home 90 per cent revenue. During his recent visit to Nepal, Mark Loughran, group president at inDrive, spoke with Kiran Lama of The Himalayan Times about the company's mission, its purpose-led strategy, and why Nepal is central to its vision. Excerpts:
Where did inDrive originate, and why was it created?
Twelve years ago in Yakutsk-one of the coldest places on Earth- taxi drivers tripled their fares on New Year's Eve, exploiting the minus-60 degrees Celsius temperatures. Instead of accepting the injustice, locals started connecting directly with each other to arrange rides - riders suggesting what they could afford and drivers choosing to accept or decline. What began as a social movement was systematised into an Excel spreadsheet by Sasha Pavlov and later trans- formed into a full-fledged platform by Arsen Tomsky, the founder and CEO of what would become inDrive. inDrive has expanded to 48 countries and 888 cities, including three in Nepal.
What principles guide inDrive as a Company?
The company has remained loyal to its founding principles- fairness, freedom and social justice. We started from a concept of fighting injustice. That ethos still shapes every feature of our app today.
What makes inDrive different from other ride-hailing platforms?
The platform flips the traditional ride-hailing model. Unlike most apps where algorithms dictate pricing and drivers have limited control, inDrive allows users to propose their own fare. Drivers can choose whether or not to accept the ride after seeing the price, pickup point and destination. The driver has the freedom to decide. If traffic is bad, they can ask for more. If they're going the same way, they might even bid lower.
Moreover, unlike competitors that can take up to 30 per cent in commission, inDrive allows drivers to keep 90 percent of the fare, paid directly and immediately by the passenger. This model doesn't just benefit drivers. It helps retain income within the local economy, which is important in developing countries where capital flight is common. Every rupee that stays with a Nepali driver is a rupee that circulates in the community - buying goods, paying for services, helping others. That's economic empowerment.
What Is inDrive's long-term mission?
inDrive's ambition goes far beyond transportation. The 'mission for 2030' is to improve the lives of a billion people through technology and im- pact-driven programmes. Around half of this is expected to come via their ride-hailing operations, and the rest through education, sports, technology and the arts. In Kazakhstan, inDrive recently launched a free university programme that includes accommodation, food, and courses in entrepreneurship and social impact - making education accessible regardless of a student's financial background.
From sponsoring local marathons in Kathmandu to supporting football clubs globally,inDrive believes in the power of sports for child development. An upcoming in-app feature will redirect funds from every third ride to improve sports infrastructure in public schools. In tech field, we organised the Aurora Tech Awards spotlight female entrepreneurs globally.With over 2,000 applicants this year and mentorship from seasoned VCs, it's a major push for startup inclusion.
We've seen amazing ideas at Nepal's ICT Awards. But we need more local founders applying globally. We'll share our resources so that Nepal doesn't get left out.
In the art sector, inDrive runs a global film impact lab, believing that powerful stories can change policy. One standout example is 'Devi' by Sabina Shrestha, a Nepali journalist whose film has been screened for UK lawmakers to discuss justice for war crimes.
Let's talk about sustainability in practice. How is inDrive promoting sustainability?
At its heart, ride-sharing is a resource- efficient model - reducing car ownership, emissions and congestion. inDrive supports electric vehicle (EV) integration and plans to build a dedicated EV category in Nepal once there are enough drivers.We have launched the Almaty Air Project in Kazakhstan to monitor pollution and offer solutions, which inDrive plans to expand globally. Nepal's focus on EV and hydroelectricity is impressive. We want to complement that with action, not just words.
Now let's focus on Nepal. Why did inDrive choose to enter the Nepali market?
The answer was simple: Need. The company conducted research across multiple countries and found Nepal ripe for disruption - a place where people need affordable, fair transport and where drivers deserve to keep what they earn.
What are inDrive's future plans in Nepal?
Over the next five years, in-Drive hopes to grow its presence across Nepal and deepen its impact - from rolling out new categories like EV and comfort rides to empowering more local startups and film-makers through global platforms.
What is inDrive's broader goal in Nepal?
inDrive isn't just about a good price, it's about participating in a fairer system that supports local communities, economic justice, and a more human approach to technology. inDrive isn't just a business - it's a movement. Unlike conventional players, inDrive is driven by a philosophy rooted in fairness, transparency and community empowerment. Imagine the multiplication of impact if more companies copied this model. We're not just a business; we're a movement.
What are the initiatives that inDrive is launching in Nepal?
One is 'Ride to Support, which is a social campaign where a portion of every ride supports charitable causes. The '360 Degrees Marketing Campaign' aims to broaden awareness among potential riders and drivers. Meanwhile, 'Platinum Driver Giveaway' is a loyalty programme rewarding top-performing drivers with motorbikes, TVs, and smartphones.
How does inDrive support drivers beyond the financial incentives?
inDrive offers offline and online training modules, community events like Better Drive, and mental health sessions for drivers. We invited traffic police, talked about road rules, safety, customer service- even mental health. Because a good driver is more than just someone who knows the road.
How is inDrive addressing rider concerns like reckless driving and insurance?
With over six billion rides globally, we understand incidents happen. That's why we've partnered with Sagarmatha Lumbini Insurance Co to provide local coverage. Unlike some competitors, inDrive didn't initially require drivers to have personal coverage. Now, they are institutionalising protection as part of their evolving responsibilities.
What kind of example does inDrive hope to set? What does choosing inDrive mean, according to the company?
We're fighting injustice - not just social injustice, but also economic inequality. The kind that happens when a few companies control the rules and the wealth. Capitalism should empower everyone -not just the top. We want to be a model for others to copy -with pride. When you choose inDrive, you're supporting fair pricing, supporting your driver and supporting your community. That's what makes us different.