Komal HoraFounder & CEO of HotelCart Published On: Monday, December 28, 2015 Views 5010

"Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won't, so that you can spend the rest of your life like most people can't."

Entrepreneurs are the people who think of outside the box and find solutions to help others. This was the notion that Komal lived by, and this is what made her join the league of several other entrepreneurs. After completing, her engineering in IT, she went on to pursue her masters in international business. Thereafter she joined an IT company as a senior marketing manager. Soon she started to mull the idea of launching her own startup, after looking at the problems faced by her father in the hospitality industry.

HotelCart was her take on revolutionizing the predicaments faced by the hotel industry. The online channel focuses on proving a platform for upcoming and existing Hotels to find out the best suppliers and dealers of products used in the hotel industry.

Please provide a brief overview of your product/ service.

HotelCart is the India’s first marketplace for the Hospitality industry. HotelCart is one stop solution for the hotel industry, connecting the suppliers and dealers who cater to the hotel industry. Hotel Industry Buyers typically gain access to a wider marketplace, diverse portfolios of quality products. HotelTalks, another feature of HotelCart provides the latest trends and blogs, news updates, events and awards updates for the hospitality industry and soon coming up with the forum and digital magazine.

What inspired you to build the above product/ service?

After joining my dad’s (Balbir Hora) Hotel Business and strategizing the day-to-day hurdles, I realized the need of a one-stop solution for hotel/hospitality Industry and a focused marketplace. It is then I decided to expand the legacy in the era of digital India and take to a new level. Now I have a vision of revolutionizing the marketplace of the hotel industry.

What is your life mantra?

“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” ― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

What was the most challenging part of your journey till now?

After working in San Francisco, coming back and joining my dad’s business had put me into a confused state, I enjoyed the business culture but I always had a passion for starting something of my own, something that would keep the entrepreneurial spirit in me alive. And I started looking for problems which I could solve and it is then I realized the need of a marketplace and a one stop solution for the hospitality industry. Starting from scratch and getting on board was challenging but I loved every bit of it.

How did you overcome those challenges?

With the help of my dad (Mr. Balbir Hora) who has an experience of more than 25 years in the hotel industry, understanding the industry and getting insights on the issues faced in the industry helped me come over the challenges.

Team HotelCart

Share some details about the investments that you have been able to fetch for the business till now.

For now, I have started with my savings and some help from my dad. Looking for a funding soon.

How do you protect yourself from the problem of Brain Drain?

Being in the initial phase, we are a very close-knit team so we are well protected.

According to you, what are the three qualities an individual must have to achieve success?

Passion, Determination, and Consistency

Which online tools/ services/ apps do you use the most and would like to recommend as well?

Freelancers

Share any one habit which you think makes you more productive.

Setting measurable goals and working towards attaining them as scheduled.

Share any one habit which you wish to change in yourself.

Be more organized and patient

Answer in less than 50 words

• One tip to success:

Make your faith larger than your fear and your dreams bigger than your doubts.

• One mistake you believe every individual must avoid:

Not believing in yourself.

• One most important lesson that you have learned till now:

Great achievements come with great efforts and sacrifices.

What are your plans for next 3 years?

To make HotelCart essential for every hotel, resort, and restaurant to be more productive, and be the most trusted and reliable one stop solution for Hospitality Industry.

If you get a chance to start your career again what would you do differently this time?

For me, life is about joining the dots and I feel having a background of Software engineering and then MIB blends a perfect combination. I don’t think I would like to change anything.

What are your top three getaway destinations?

1. San Francisco

2. Maldives

3. Bhopal – My Lovely Hometown

Share a quote that inspires you the most.

“Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won’t, so that you can spend the rest of your life like most people can’t.”

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