KOCHI: Match-making web site Aisle is not even two years old but was an instant success in less than a month after the launch. Founded in June 2014 by Kochi native Able Joseph, the startup is focused on Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai and looks to extend its user base to other Indian cities and in places with a high concentration of non-resident Indians (NRI). It has raised a pre-series A round of Rs 1.25 crore from TermSheet.io and ah! Ventures in January this year.
“Aisle was conceptualised in December 2013. I started making designs, business models and thinking of ways to monetise the product. Once the engineering was half done, I moved back to Bengaluru from Dubai in May 2014 and launched the product in June 2014. The journey has been stressful but also most rewarding - even on a personal level,” Able Joseph, who is an ardent fan of Steve Jobs and musician Dr. Dre, narrates the story of Aisle.
At the time of launch, Aisle had at least three people writing to the company saying that they had met somebody interesting. Since then, the mail-box overflows with similar message.
It is eyeing 100,000 users from just over 8,000 now.
So what made Aisle a success story? “It was late in 2014 when I decided to give online dating a try and it was evident that the existing avenues could not have helped me or my immediate friends in meeting others with similar tastes. I felt like we could use a platform where we can meet people of similar mindsets, but start as friends with the objective of having long term sustainable relationships. A place where it is cool for a young independent Indian to say “I’m available”. We like to think of ourselves as the wise middle path between traditional matrimonial web sites and casual dating applications. Aisle connects urban Indians with others who lead similar lifestyles,” Able replies.
If you wish to start a startup, it is important to make friends with those who are passionate about creating things from a very young age, he advises startup aspirants.
In October 2011, Able Joseph founded CollarBone.in, India’s first online clothing store for dogs and cats that was shut down for lack of funds. He moved to Dubai and worked with e-commerce companies in the Middle East and returned to Bengaluru to start Aisle.
