Seventy-three-year-old Baidehi Singh is planning to launch his start-up. He intends to complete all of this on his own, without assistance from anyone. Even at 73, Baideshi Singh doesn’t believe in hanging up his boots. He is planning to venture into business at this retired age and he thanks Shreya and Surbhi for making him independent. Shreya and Surbhi are sisters are empowering senior citizens through their Easy Hai by teaching them digital skills and making them independent.
“It all began when the pandemic happened. It popularised online and e-commerce services. Everything went digital, including entertainment, bill payment, and food shopping. We realised that the elderly, however, found it difficult to adjust even as the majority of us accepted the new normal. Thus we bounced on this idea of setting up Easy Hai.” said Shreya the co-founder of Easy Hai
The Bengaluru-based sisters Shreya and Surbhi Bajaj had seen how their own older relatives struggled with technology and didn’t know how to use their mobile phones for any kind of transactions.
“”When Zoom calls and chats replaced other forms of communication during lockdown, I observed that many older individuals around lacked basic technological skills. Many of the people I spoke with were hesitant to use online payment methods because they were unaware of the procedures or safety precautions, says Shreya.
This is where they began by first instructing their family members on how to utilise their phones and internet connections to place orders for groceries, chat with friends on social media, or make payments online while the country was in lockdown.
The two launched Easy Hai with an investment of Rs 5,000, a programme to teach elders how to utilise technology by using Zoom sessions, after realising that more individuals were starting to ask for help and that this was a bigger issue that needed to be solved.
“We began our venture with those over the age of 60 but gradually discovered that many people in the 40+ age range knew only some of the fundamentals but were unable to fully utilise the internet. We now provide classes to everyone who wants to learn how to use computers and the internet, according to Shreya.
Easy Hai aims to improve the lives of adults and seniors by boosting their digital literacy and teaching them about smartphone and laptop usage through simple classes and tutorials conducted over Zoom calls. What are they learning in the classes? Learn how to use Google Maps, Facebook, order groceries, run Aarogya Setu, understand Wi-Fi and data, and more. Users can also submit requests for information on topics they are interested in.
Senior citizens are also taught about the types of data that apps use.
“The platform doesn’t provide them instructions on whether or not to utilise the apps…
Our classes just teach students about the data that applications are using so they may create their own opinions, according to Shreya.
In addition, the project offers seminars to teach elders how to distinguish between fake news and typical WhatsApp forwarded communications.
Shreya adds that along with the classes, Easy Hai also helps users find companions with similar interests, ensuring mental wellbeing in these unprecedented times.
Easy Hai uses the pay-per-class business model. One lesson costs Rs 150 for users. Package discounts are also offered, though. A package of 10 lessons costs Rs 100 every session, while purchasing five classes reduces the price to Rs 120 per class.
From Monday through Saturday, there are three sessions every day with a 20-person maximum per session.
“We launched the project from Bengaluru, but today we have students all around the nation. Mumbai is where the majority of our students come from, followed by Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Pune, according to Shreya.
In the future, Shreya explains, the business might think about releasing an app for the service. “Many students have mentioned that they occasionally forget specifics and would like to go over the classes once again. I’m thinking about creating an app that would provide them constant access to videos. The software will also show to be an additional source of income for us.
Currently, Hindi and English are used in the classroom. Within the following three months, the founders intend to begin offering sessions in Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.
When asked about the future, Shreya stated that the goal was to grow Easy Hai into a successful edtech firm. They also want to enrol young people in classes, including college students. This would open up work prospects and facilitate youth interaction with senior persons. There are currently four teachers at Easy Hai.
YouTube is a great resource for video lessons and classes. When asked how Easy Hai competes with YouTube videos, Shreya responds that many seniors have trouble using the site because they frequently feel “intimidated.”
Even when they conduct a YouTube search, they may find a number of videos on a single subject, making it challenging for them to decide which is the most appropriate. In this instance, private lessons aid in their knowledge.
In order to assist seniors during this difficult period, numerous elder care startups have stepped forward. Among them is Chennai-based Alserv, which offers senior residents assisted living services like food, concierge, medical security, and housekeeping. Additionally, it enables customers to make help requests for assistance through digital services.
But Shreya asserts that Easy Hai stands out because it wants to provide elders the independence to complete activities without assistance.
We might eventually enter the concierge services market, but we will never offer medical, security, or other services, according to Shreya.
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