Anand Mahindra Invests $1 Million in Gurgaon’s Startup Studio Hapramp
Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group, has invested $1 million in Hapramp, a Gurgaon-based startup studio renowned for its flagship product, GoSocial. This innovative social media platform merges creative expression with the information economy. Following the announcement, GoSocial experienced a surge in traffic, briefly causing the platform to crash. Designed to support budding artists across various fields—writing, photography, art, and more—GoSocial offers a virtual space to inspire creativity and challenge users with deadlines.
Founded in 2018 by five IIT Vadodara students, Hapramp represents the type of groundbreaking initiative Mahindra has been seeking. “This endorsement from Mr. Anand Mahindra, a staunch supporter of creators, is a tremendous validation of our mission,” said Shubhendra Vikram, co-founder and CEO of Hapramp. “We are committed to empowering creators with the tools they need to learn, compete, and be rewarded.”
Mahindra expressed his enthusiasm on Twitter: “It took two years, but I finally found the startup I was looking for! Hapramp is an indigenous venture, built by five young founders, combining creativity, technology, and data protection. Watch out for the GoSocial app.” His search for indigenous social networking startups, aided by former Mahindra executive Jaspreet Bindra, led to the discovery of Hapramp, which aligns with his vision of rewarding creators while safeguarding personal data.
Bindra, now an executive advisor and mentor to Hapramp, praised the startup’s Web 3.0 social network for its advanced digital technologies, solid business model, and commitment to data protection. “Hapramp’s platform is built locally in India, and it’s impressive in every aspect,” Bindra noted.
The GoSocial app, available on both Android and iOS, has quickly attracted 50,000 users within three months. The team aims to reach 100,000 users in the next three months and 1 million by year-end, with plans to expand into Southeast Asia by October.
Currently operating with a lean team of 12 in Gurugram, Hapramp plans to expand to 25-30 employees by year-end. The startup was previously incubated by Huddle, a Gurugram-based sector-agnostic incubator, which has also invested an undisclosed amount in Hapramp. “The Hapramp team has demonstrated remarkable speed, frugality, and a vision to enhance lives through their innovative app,” said Sanil Sachar, founding partner at Huddle.
In addition to GoSocial, Hapramp will soon launch 1Ramp.io, a social media platform powered by Steem Blockchain, and Asteria Protocol, which will ensure secure and private handling of public data. With its unique approach, Hapramp is poised to make a significant impact in today’s fast-paced world, offering much-needed recognition and development for diverse talents.