Peak Bengaluru: Graduate auto-driver's 'please talk to me' plea for funding start-up is viral

The message inside Samuel Christy's auto-rickshaw in Bengaluru. (Image: r/Bengaluru on Reddit)

In yet another ‘Peak Bengaluru’ moment, an auto-rickshaw driver has turned heads with his unconventional approach to raising funds for his startup. Samuel Christy, a graduate-turned-driver, is making waves online with a simple yet bold pitch displayed in his vehicle: “Hi passenger, my name is Samuel Christy. I’m a graduate who is looking to raise funds for my startup business idea. If you’re interested, please talk to me.”

This unorthodox fundraising effort came to light when a Reddit user shared a photo of Christy’s poster, captioned, “Yet another Peak Bengaluru moment.” The post struck a chord with thousands, sparking a heated online debate about innovation, desperation, and authenticity.

The viral post triggered a flurry of responses, with many lauding Christy’s initiative.

Yet another Peak Bengaluru moment!
byu/EconomyUpbeat6876 inBengaluru

Others viewed the effort with skepticism, recalling past scams involving auto drivers in the city. A Redditor shared a personal experience: “A few years back, there was an auto driver near Koramangala who scammed people using a fake JEE Advanced scorecard, claiming it was his son’s. He took money from many of my colleagues before being exposed.”

Yet, some expressed genuine interest in Christy’s idea, with one user even asking for his contact information to explore funding possibilities through an incubation program.

A few months back, a Bengaluru woman had a conversation with an autorickshaw driver where they discussed about different entrance exams such as Common Entrance Test (CET) and National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), that the latter's daughter-currently in Class 11- could attempt in a few years time.