Our Story
From hostel conversations to a platform
Khojo was conceived in 2022 during a long train journey from Delhi to Manali — a route many Indian backpackers know well. Two fellow travelers fell into a conversation about how the hardest part of solo travel in India isn't the logistics. It's finding people worth traveling with.
Facebook groups were chaotic. Random hostels were hit-or-miss. Travel apps built for the West didn't understand the texture of Indian travel — the budget sensitivities, the regional language differences, the cultural nuances of mixed-gender groups, the reality of being a solo woman in Uttarakhand.
What if the connections that make travel transformative didn't have to be left to chance? What if technology could do what luck used to do — find you your people, before you even leave home?
That question became Khojo.
Why the name Khojo?
"खोजो" — to search, to explore, to seek.
From the Hindi root khoj (खोज) — the act of searching, discovering, finding what was hidden. It's the word a child uses when they want to play hide-and-seek. It's the word a traveler uses when they stumble onto something beautiful and unexpected.
Khojo is your permission to seek — places, people, and parts of yourself you didn't know were waiting.
Our Mission
To make meaningful travel connections the default, not the exception
Authentic Discovery
Travel recommendations from real people who've been there — not curated by marketing budgets or algorithmic virality. Community knowledge, not tourism boards.
Genuine Connection
We measure success by the quality of relationships formed, not the number of matches processed. A Khojo squad that becomes lifelong friends is our product working.
Responsible Exploration
Every feature is designed with the RTI framework in mind. We build systems that reward travelers who leave places better than they found them.
Safety as Infrastructure
We are building a trust layer for Indian social travel — verification, community reputation, in-trip safety tools — so that confidence to explore is accessible to everyone, including solo women travelers.
The Team
Built by travelers who got tired of traveling alone
We're a small team of builders, designers, and travelers based in India — united by the belief that travel is best when shared with the right people.
Shashank Rohilla
Travel enthusiast and product builder. Spent years traveling solo across India before deciding the connection layer was broken enough to fix. Believes technology should bring people together, not replace the magic of real exploration.
Praful Mangal
Backpacker turned builder. Has explored over 20 Indian states on a budget and understands first-hand what it takes to find the right travel companion. Focused on building the discovery and community layer that makes Khojo different.
We're a lean team — and we're hiring. Get in touch →
Our Commitment
The Responsible Travel Initiative
RTI is our promise that Khojo will always build toward tourism that benefits the places and people it touches — not just the traveler.
Environmental Responsibility
We design features that encourage low-impact travel choices — eco stays, reduced plastic, carbon offset integration.
Local Economic Empowerment
Our partner program prioritizes local small businesses over large OTA-affiliated chains. Tourist spending stays in the community.
Cultural Preservation
Our community guidelines and Eco-Conduct Score reward travelers who engage with local culture with authenticity and respect.
Distributed Discovery
By surfacing hidden gems and lesser-known routes, we reduce overtourism pressure on popular spots and spread the economic benefits.
Press & Media
Covering India's travel tech space?
We're happy to chat — product demos, founder interviews, and company data for verified journalists and publications.
teamkhojo@gmail.com →Join the waitlist
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