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The Indian Mind Behind Where Is My Train: Founder Story & Google Acquisition
- Authors
- Name
- Javed Shaikh
Introduction 🇮🇳🚆haha
Every successful product starts with a real problem.
"Where is my Train" app reached #1 travel in app in India with 100M monthly active users and acquired by Google. Bootstrapped company to make the first ever product acquisition by Google from India.
Where Is My Train is not just a mobile app — it is the result of one Indian engineer’s desire to solve a daily travel struggle faced by millions.
This is the full story of how the idea started, who built it, and why Google decided to acquire it.
The Problem That Started It All
In India:
- Trains are used by millions every day
- Delays are common
- Internet connectivity is unreliable during travel
Passengers constantly asked:
“Where is my train right now?”
Existing railway apps depended fully on internet and official data — and often failed.
Who Is the Man Behind the App? 👨💻
The app was created by an Indian engineer and entrepreneur (*Ahmed Nizam Mohaideen***)**, known for building products focused on real-world scale and simplicity.
He had:
- Strong engineering background
- Experience working in large technology companies
- Deep understanding of Indian travel problems
His goal was not fame, but utility.
Founder’s Background
Before starting this app, the founder:
- Worked on large-scale consumer tech platforms
- Understood how millions of users behave
- Believed technology should work even with poor infrastructure
This thinking directly influenced the offline-first design of the app.
How the Idea Took Shape 💡
Instead of asking:
“How do I get better railway data?”
He asked:
“What signals already exist around a moving train?”
The answer:
- Mobile towers
- Phone GPS
- Train schedules
- Crowd movement
This insight changed everything.
Birth of Sigmoid Labs
The app was developed under a small startup called Sigmoid Labs.
Key principles:
- Build for low internet availability
- Keep the app lightweight
- Focus on accuracy, not flashy UI
Slowly, word spread among train travelers.
Massive Growth Without Marketing 📈
The app grew mainly through:
- Word of mouth
- Daily usefulness
- Trust from users
People recommended it because:
“It just works.”
Soon, it had millions of active users across India.
Why Google Took Notice 👀
Google saw something special:
- Offline innovation at massive scale
- Strong user trust
- Deep understanding of Indian conditions
This aligned perfectly with Google’s mission of information accessibility.
Google Acquisition (2018)
In 2018:
- Google acquired Where Is My Train
- The founding team joined Google
- The app continued to run independently
Google helped with:
- Infrastructure
- Scalability
- Wider reach
But the core philosophy stayed the same.
The Moto Behind the App 🎯
The guiding principles were simple:
- Solve real problems
- Work without internet
- Respect user privacy
- Keep it simple
Technology was never the goal — people were.
Why This Story Matters
This startup proves:
- Big ideas don’t need big funding initially
- Understanding users matters more than complex tech
- Indian problems need India-first solutions
Final Thoughts ✨
Where Is My Train is a reminder that:
One good idea, built with honesty and focus, can impact millions.
From a daily passenger problem to a Google acquisition — this is a proud Indian tech story 🇮🇳🚆
Happy reading and inspired building!