How this Hyd-based startup empowering women to work from home

Our main target audience is small businesses and startups, because they can't really afford an office space or a full-time employee, so such assistants are very handy and useful for them. We have a personal assistant, where you can be a personal assistant of a client but virtually taking care of basic admin tasks. Then there is a professional assistant that is for graphic designers, content writers, social media managers, HR and recruiters and many other job opportunities, says Sandeep Gandra, CEO, TingTing Angels

It's time for women across the world to take charge of their life and stand on their own feet. Whether you are skilled or are looking to improve your skills, whether you have the professional experience or are looking forward to gain it, 'TingTing Angels,' a Hyderabad-based startup company provides flexible work opportunities for women. In an exclusive interview with Bizz Buzz, Sandeep Gandra, CEO and founder, TingTing Angels, shares his experiences about his concept, struggle and challenges he faced to start a startup

What is the concept behind you starting TingTing Angels app?

TingTing Angels is based on the idea that not all women in India can go out and work full time, whether it be a student or a housewife. There aren't many part-time opportunities for women which are flexible and will bring them financial independence. We at TingTing Angels believe that it is very important for women to be financially independent. Our main concept is to create a plethora of flexible work opportunities based on the convenience of women.

Women from anywhere in the world can apply to be a virtual assistant with TingTing Angels whether you are professional, skilled, or non-skilled. We have growth opportunities for all and every woman is welcome.

How is your app different from other work-from-home organizations?

There are many other freelancing marketplaces that are my global competitors. The major USP of my app is real-time availability. We will only provide you with the VA who is online at that time. On other freelance marketplaces, there are tons of clients and freelancers to choose from, this leads to a shortage in work for the freelancers and only the top-rated ones are getting clients. As compared to our app, our algorithm is based on the proper distribution of work and clients so that everyone gets a client and a client gets a VA based on their requirements. Also, one plus point is that we are very affordable compared to any other marketplaces. Our vision is to "Make every woman financially empowered."

What are the different opportunities available on TingTing Angels for woman?

Our main target audience is small businesses and startups, because they can't really afford an office space or a full-time employee, so such assistants are very handy and useful for them. We have a personal assistant, where you can be a personal assistant of a client, but virtually taking care of basic admin tasks. Then there is a professional assistant that is for graphic designers, content writers, social media managers, HR and recruiters and many other job opportunities.

What is the idea behind you choosing work for women and not men?

I don't see it that way, coming from a stereotypical background while growing up, I always saw that my sisters and cousins never had the opportunity to really go out and work full time. And for every problem a woman faces, financial independence is the major solution that will help them.

Being a fine arts student, why did you choose entrepreneurship?

After my graduation, I started my journey in advertising, this made me interact with many clients and learn about marketing and advertising. After 10 years of working in this field, I got bored of the routine, and thought of building something of my own. I always aspired to do something different and big, and tech starup was the only doorway to reach globally and create a social impact.

Can you speak more about your app?

We have already launched our web app, in August 2021. We also have 200 women registered with us. And from the client's point of view, we have started generating revenues, and clients all over the world have enquired and visited the app. Clients are happy and satisfied with the work, affordability, and flexibility.

How should one apply to join TingTing Angels?

It's very simple. We have a website tingtingangels.com - where any woman can fill out the form and apply based on their skillset. After they fill the form and give all the required details, we will get in touch and start the onboarding process. The best part is, there are no application or subscription fees to be paid by women to join our team. All they need to have is a laptop and internet connection, to start working from anywhere in the world.

Is having a resume important to work here?

Having a resume is not important per se. They should have good communication skills or one major skill like graphic design, content writing, social media management, etc. What we have to remember is that this is not a job interview, nobody is bound to work here every hour of every day. The beauty of this work and company is its flexibility. You get paid for the hours you work, so you can choose your own hours.

How are they paid?

Well, payment is based on the skillset, experience, and its per hour basis. Based on the hours you work for a client you are paid at the end of the week.

How can woman build her career here?

Opportunities available here are great for students, housewives, and women who are planning on getting back to work and becoming financially independent. This is also for women who can't really go out for work due to their own reasons. There are opportunities to grow and learn everyday something new.

Did you face any problems in starting the company?

The idea to start this company has always been on my mind since pre-pandemic, but when the pandemic hit I finally decided to start TingTing Angels. Initially, the most challenging part was building a team and finding co-founders to work with. People use to encourage the idea of a social impact startup but nobody came forward to participate or be a part of it.

What about marketing and how did you manage it?

Based on what my company is 'virtual angel' I use to outsource my work to virtual angels. Every minor task from website content to social media, marketing to advertising everything was outsourced and that's how it all began.

Did you try for a bank loan?

No, I didn't go for loans from the bank. It was a tech business and opting for a bank loan would not have been feasible. Although, I was looking into this programme that was been started by Bank of Baroda, which is for entrepreneurs and startups. This did seem very interesting and I thought about giving it a try, but didn't go through with it. I believe, more than money it was always about finding the right people to work and engage with which is why I was looking for the right investors who had tech knowledge therefore I approached and applied to the Y-combinator accelerator programme two times but unfortunately didn't pass at it.

Do you think the banking rules and procedures should be more entrepreneur-friendly? If so then what exactly should it be?

Now-a-days, the Government of India started programmes to support startups and there are many opportunities and startup funding programs for the entrepreneurship mindset. In my opinion, the procedures and rules shouldn't be very friendly, because entrepreneurship is not easy and it's not for everyone. It requires a lot of effort and comes with a lot of roadblocks. It's a marathon and not a sprint. Only people with the right mindset can bring out the best from it.

Do you have any suggestions for those who wish to start their own business or startups?

As a founder, the most important advice and suggestion I would give is that you should not wait for the right time or have a team or even money. Today, we are living in an age of technology where there is a multitude of possibilities, such as no-code platforms, where you can develop apps, websites, and even MVPs and make your ideas a reality. You must focus on building the product, sharing it with people, taking it to market, and getting feedback from users. Continue working on improvements, re-building, and re-designing. "Fail often, fail fast & fail forward."