Mahim Mehta: Redefining Travel through Experiential Stays and Human-Centric Innovation
In an era where travel has often become a checklist of tourist traps, Mahim Mehta is bringing the "soul" back to the journey. As the Co-founder of Funstay.in and InstaGo, Mahim is leveraging technology to connect travelers with extraordinary, experiential stays. From leaving high-profile corporate roles at Tata Steel and ITC to building multiple tech-driven ventures, his story is a testament to the power of human-centric innovation and the relentless pursuit of building something that truly resonates with people.
The Shift: From Commodity to Experience
Mahim's journey in the travel tech space began with a simple observation: travel was becoming too transactional. Most platforms focused on the "where" and the "how much," but ignored the "why." Along with his co-founder and close friend, Nitin, Mahim envisioned a platform that prioritized the experience of the stay—local food, unique architecture, and deep cultural immersion.
This led to the creation of Funstay.in, an online marketplace for experiential stays. "We wanted to move away from just booking a room to providing a full custom-built package that truly connects people with the local culture," Mahim explains. Whether it's a heritage home in Rajasthan or a forest retreat in the Himalayas, Funstay focuses on the stories behind the stay.
The First Venture: InstaGo and the Freedom to Build
Before Funstay, there was InstaGo. Coming from a traditional engineering background and working at stalwarts like Tata Steel, Mahim felt a restlessness. He didn't just want to execute someone else's vision; he wanted to create his own. InstaGo was born out of this desire for autonomy—a platform focused on resource management and transport aggregation.
The transition from corporate life to entrepreneurship wasn't about the money; it was about accountability. "In a large company, you are a part of a machine. As an entrepreneur, you are the machine," Mahim notes. This sense of ownership allowed him to build products like InstaGo and later Funstay with a level of passion that corporate roles rarely afford.
The Philosophy of 'Making it Real'
Mahim believes in building products that solve human problems, inspired by two legendary figures:
- Ratan Tata: For building a culture of trust and values. "Values and trust are the end of everything in business," Mahim asserts.
- Steve Jobs: For the obsession with user experience and building things that people didn't even know they needed.
Lessons from the Trenches: Building with Trust
For Mahim, the choice of a co-founder is the most critical decision a founder makes. He and Nitin have been friends for years, and that foundation of trust is what allowed them to weather the storms of multiple ventures. "When you have a co-founder who believes in the same vision, the challenges become easier to navigate," he shares.
Building a Resilient Brand
- Customer Centricity: Moving beyond transactions to long-term relationships.
- Agility: Pivoting from InstaGo to Funstay by recognizing the shifting demand for experiential travel.
- Team Culture: Building a workforce that is not just "employees" but stakeholders in the vision.
Overcoming the 'Copy-Paste' Culture
A recurring theme in Mahim's interview is the need for original thinking in the Indian startup ecosystem. He critiques the "copy-paste" model where founders simply replicate Western models for the Indian market. Instead, he advocates for deep market analysis and reverse engineering to find local solutions for local problems.
Mahim's Advice for Future Founders
- Believe in the Problem: Don't just build for the sake of building. Solve a problem you are passionate about.
- Build an MVP First: Don't over-optimize early on. Test your product with a small market first.
- Don't Be Afraid of Redundancy: As a founder, your goal should be to make yourself redundant in daily operations so you can focus on strategic growth.
- Keep the 'Child-like' Spark: Innovation requires the curiosity of a child. Don't lose that as you grow older.
A Vision for the Future: Independence and Impact
Mahim's ultimate vision is one of independence—not just for himself, but for his team. He wants to build organizations where everyone has the freedom to explore and innovate. By connecting people through extraordinary stays, he is not just building a business; he is fostering a global community of travelers who value depth over distance.
His message to aspiring entrepreneurs is grounded in reality: "Don't over-calculate. Trust the fundamentals, take the first step, and the path will reveal itself."