Revathi Roy is a serial entrepreneur who has been working towards empowering urban poor women since 2007 whether be it by pioneering Asia’s first all-women taxi service, Forsche or recently founding India’s first all-women instant parcel delivery service, Hey Deedee®.
her STORY
2019 May
2017 April
2017 March
2017 March
2016 September
2016 March
2015 December
2014 March
2014 January
2013 August
2013 January
2012 December
2012 June
2012 April
2011 October
2010 September
2010 January
2008 December
2008 June
2007 September
2007 March
2007 January
2006 December
May, 2019
Revathi Roy’s biography by Dr Swati Lodha – “Who is Revathi Roy?” – launched
April, 2017
Forsche featured as a case study in a textbook for Effectual Entrepreneurship – 2nd edition, at the UVA Darden School of Business
March, 2017
On the cover of Forbes India’s first WPower Women Trailblazers Issue
March, 2017
Was honoured with the Women Icons Award at Singapore for empowering women throughout my career. From Asia’s first all-women taxi service to the first all-women instant parcel delivery service
September, 2016
Recognised by NITI Aayog for starting Asia’s first women taxi service with the Women Transforming India Award
March, 2016
Founded Hey Deedee – India’s first all-women last mile delivery service
December, 2015
Winner of Worthiness (WOW) Women’s Award for Change by Bliss Equity for the first ever women to start an All Women Taxi Service for women
March, 2014
Women of Excellence Award by Lala Lajpatrai Institute of Management for redefining the transport service industry
January, 2014
Worked with iCare Life as Senior Associate Vice President again in the field of skilling for employability and bringing about safer drivers on the road. A division to train women drivers was set up.
August, 2013
Awarded The Uncha Maza Zoka Ramabai Ranade Puraskar 2013 by Zee Marathi for her pioneering the All Women’s Taxi Service
January, 2013
Worked on a one-year contract to set up the Tanishka Platform for the Sakal Group for their women’s empowerment initiative
December, 2012
Represented India at the South Asian Women’s Entrepreneurship Summit at Dhaka, Bangladesh
June, 2012
Exited Viira
April, 2012
Presented with the Amodini Award at the 2012 Godfrey Phillips National Bravery Awards for her trend setting work in the field of skilling women and making them financially independent
October, 2011
Awarded the Favourite Social Entrepreneur for the Year by Lions Club of Bombay
September, 2010
Was a part of the Vital Voices Asia Summit held in Delhi. Vital Voices of Asia was a regional summit for women leaders to build and strengthen their network.
January, 2010
Started Viira with hundreds of girls and about 20 cabs
December, 2008
Mobilisation and training started getting more girls to learn and then take up the job. By the time she exited in 2009 over 200+ girls had gone through the training in the FTL Motor Training school
June, 2008
Bombay Management Association felicitated Revathi Roy with the Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2007-08
September, 2007
ORIX came in as strategic partner enabling Forsche to start a back-end motor training school and they invested in the vehicles
March, 2007
Started Forsche with Anahita Mistry & Prachi Jaiswal
January, 2007
The first ad inviting women to drive the taxis and start the service
December, 2006
Conceptualized the idea of the first women’s taxi service
current work
Currently involved in Hey Deedee®, a real-time logistics platform involving an all-women fleet specially trained by Zaffiro Learning Pvt Ltd. She aims to empower underprivileged women by skilling them in two-wheeler riding and soft skills, and guaranteeing them a job on its Hey Deedee® platform. Her vision – to create the world's largest last mile delivery service logistics platform done only by women.
Awards & mentions
March, 2019
Was awarded the Sambhavaa Award for The Women of Excellence by FICCI FLO at an event in Ahmedabad.
June 2017
Was conferred The Femina Women Jury Award for Social Impact for her pioneering work in FORSCHE, Asia’s first women taxi service, Viira in Mumbai, another such taxi service, and Hey Deedee®, the India’s first all-women hyperlocal delivery start-up.
April 2017
Forsche featured as a case study in a textbook for Effectual Entrepreneurship – 2nd edition, at the UVA Darden School of Business
March 2017
On the cover of Forbes India’s first WPower Women Trailblazers Issue
March 2017
Was honoured with the Women Icons Award at Singapore for empowering women throughout my career. From Asia’s first all-women taxi service to the first all-women instant parcel delivery service
September 2016
Recognised by NITI Aayog for starting Asia’s first women taxi service with the Women Transforming India Award
May 2016
Winner of Worthiness (WOW) Women’s Award for Change by Bliss Equity for the first ever women to start an All Women Taxi Service for women
March 2014
Women of Excellence Award by Lala Lajpatrai Institute of Management for redefining the transport service industry
August 2013
Awarded The Uncha Maza Zoka Ramabai Ranade Puraskar 2013 by Zee Marathi for her pioneering the All Women’s Taxi Service
April 2012
Presented with the Amodini Award at the 2012 Godfrey Phillips National Bravery Awards for her trend setting work in the field of skilling women and making them financially independent
October 2011
Awarded the Favourite Social Entrepreneur for the Year by Lions Club of Bombay
June 2008
Bombay Management Association felicitated Revathi Roy with the Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2007-08
News
20190513
Revathi Roy’s biography by Dr Swati Lodha – “Who is Revathi Roy?” – launched
20190513
Revathi Roy’s biography by Dr Swati Lodha – “Who is Revathi Roy?” – launched
Speaking Engagements
2019
2019
Revathi Roy’s biography by Dr Swati Lodha – “Who is Revathi Roy?” – launched
“Who is Revathi Roy?” is a life story of serial entrepreneur Revathi Roy, effectively turned into a biography, by Dr Swati Lodha and published by an upcoming publishing house, Publishing Infinity (PI) was launched at Crosswords, Kemps Corner on May 10, 2019. Here’s a look at the event
2019
2019
Revathi Roy was invited to speak at The Nasik Entrepreneur Forum (NEF) on April 6, 2019.
2019
2019
Revathi Roy was invited to speak on ‘Culture of Equality Driving Innovation’ at an International Women’s Day event by Accenture on March 1, 2019.
2019
2019
Revathi Roy was invited as a guest speaker at Zone Startups taking place at BSE Towers on Thursday, January 31, 2019 to speak on ‘Entrepreneurial Stories of a Different Kind’.
2018
2018