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Porter: Building India’s Intra-City
Logistics Backbone
For many IIT Kharagpur alumni, the instinct to solve complex, real-world problems often traces back to campus—where constraints were many, but ambition was limitless. That spirit is evident in the journey of Porter, a startup founded by Pranav Goel (2012/MS Economics) and Uttam Digga (2012/ME), which has emerged as a major force in India’s intra-city logistics ecosystem.
Founded in 2014, Porter set out to address a deeply fragmented and inefficient market: last-mile and intra-city goods transport. At the time, small businesses across India relied on informal networks—phone calls, local brokers, and uncertain pricing—to move goods. Vehicle utilization was low, transparency was minimal, and reliability was inconsistent.
Like many startups, Porter’s journey was not linear. An early attempt to expand into intercity logistics proved unsuccessful, forcing the founders to recalibrate. Beyond scale, Porter’s impact lies in formalizing a previously unorganized segment of the economy. By digitizing transactions and improving asset utilization, the company has enhanced income opportunities for drivers while providing reliability and transparency to businesses.
The founders’ journey has also received broader recognition. Pranav Goel and Uttam Digga were named among the winners of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 awards in the startup category, underscoring the significance of their contribution.
As India’s urban economy continues to expand, the need for efficient, technology-enabled logistics will only grow. Porter’s evolution offers a compelling example of how KGP alumni are not just participating in that transformation—but actively shaping it.
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The IITKGP Foundation