How TimBuckDo Is Cashing In On Gen Z’s Hustle Mindset

by · Inc42

SUMMARY

  • Founded in 2022, TimBuckDo connects college students with flexible, short-term gig opportunities tailored to their skills, availability, and interests
  • It earns via brand commissions, platform fees, and campus ambassador programmes, while scaling through partnerships and a growing student base
  • The platform currently claims to have around 5 Lakh students registered on its platform. Last month, active students made a total of ₹2.4 Cr. TimBuckDo expects to close FY26 at a gross revenue of ₹ 2.2 Cr
  • Added to Saved Stories in Login

GenZ this, GenZ that. The internet today is awash with memes and commentary about Gen Z breaking conventional workplace norms. However, this change is not limited to the workplace alone. Gen Z sees the world differently, questioning long-held beliefs and resisting being boxed. 

They have a strong desire to take ownership of their lives the day they step out of their comfort zone, either for studies or competitive exams. This is very unlike earlier generations that have been staunch believers in following a well-defined path — getting a degree, doing internships, and climbing up the ladder. 

Gen Zs, on the other hand, are turning to freelance and gig work as a way to gain financial independence on their own terms. However, the reality is not always aligned with the intent. Finding opportunities that offer meaningful income while allowing them to balance studies or pursue larger ambitions remains a significant challenge. 

Mythri Kumar’s brainchild TimBuckDo addresses this gap by acting as a bridge between employers and students looking to make a sweet buck through paid gig opportunities.

Founded in 2022, the platform allows college students to find gig projects aligned with their interests and passions.

Along with employers and students, the platform also brings in merchants with student-centric discounts, which allows students to get good deals on several brands when they shop via TimBuckDo.

“We are a part-time job portal for college students where employers can hire for need-based demand,” Kumar told Inc42. The platform offers a wide spectrum of job opportunities — from roles like supermarket staff, receptionists, and sales or accounts executives to more specialised gigs such as graphic designers, music teachers, social media managers, data entry operators, and web developers.

It competes with platforms like PickMyWork and Gig4U. However, the founder claims to have an edge, as it is a student-first platform. It offers support throughout the hiring process and helps in grievance redressal.

The startup has raised around ₹7.3 Cr in funding to date from a host of investors. Additionally, it received a grant of ₹21 Lakh from the Karnataka government.

Full Circle: From Gigs To TimBuckDo

Incidentally, TimBuckDo finds its genesis in Kumar’s own journey. During her college days between 2008 and 2012, she would pick up gig jobs at pizza shops, cafes and weddings, which helped her make some money to support her weekly expenses. 

“I couldn’t call my dad back home and say: ‘I want to watch a movie, I want to eat an extra burger’. So, I decided to work part-time.”

College ended, and gig work became a distant memory. In 2017, she founded her first company, Cosmos Renewable Energy, to offer intelligent, efficient, and cost-effective energy solutions to maximise the potential of solar power. 

Simultaneously, she started serving as a partner at Vasshin Composites, an environmental engineering company working towards the reduction and displacement of plastic from everyday use products. While Cosmos was acquired, Kumar left Vasshin amid operational challenges during the pandemic. 

Life came full circle when she found her younger brother, who had just turned 18, working as a delivery executive. 

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