Why TimBuckDo Is Betting Big on India's

Gen Z's relationship with work is genuinely different from every generation before it. They are not interested in waiting their turn. They want financial independence early, on their own terms, and without sacrificing their studies or their larger ambitions.

But the reality of finding good part-time work as a student is messy. Opportunities are scattered. Employers are often not set up to work with students. Pay can be unreliable. And nobody is looking out for the student when something goes wrong.

Founded in 2022, TimBuckDo connects college students with employers offering paid gig opportunities, covering everything from supermarket staff and receptionists to graphic designers, music teachers, social media managers, and web developers. Students sign up, share their location, skills, and available hours, and apply for gigs for free. The platform caps weekly working hours at 20 to 22 hours to ensure students are not overextending themselves.

On the employer side, companies and individuals go through a strict KYC and background verification process before they can list opportunities. AI tools on the platform help students build their profiles and help employers list jobs more efficiently.

"We are a part-time job portal for college students where employers can hire for need-based demand," says Kumar.

Kumar started the company as a solo founder. Former Swiggy and Jumbotail employee Apoorv Sharma Prasad joined her as co-founder in 2024.

What separates TimBuckDo from competitors like PickMyWork and Gig4U, at least in the founder's framing, is that the platform is student-first rather than employer-first. That means support throughout the hiring process and a grievance redressal mechanism when things go wrong.

It also means going beyond just job listings.

The platform brings in merchants offering student-centric discounts, giving registered students access to deals on brands like Swiggy, Domino's, and Decathlon. Brands pay to list their offers, and TimBuckDo earns a commission on purchases made through the platform. It is a retention tool as much as a revenue stream.

"Many brands today are offering exclusive student deals on our platform. We invite brands that want to engage with students to list their offers with us," Kumar explains.

Campus ambassador programmes add another layer. TimBuckDo partners with brands including Riot Games, SuperYou, and SNACC to run micro-campaigns inside college ecosystems through content creation, data collection, and engagement programmes. This gives brands a structured way to reach students, and gives TimBuckDo an additional revenue stream beyond employer fees.

On the employer side, brands pay a platform fee ranging from Rs 499 to Rs 4,999 depending on the scope of their requirements. Students pay nothing.

TimBuckDo currently claims around 5 lakh registered students on the platform. Last month, active students collectively earned Rs 2.4 Cr through gigs. On average, a student can earn up to Rs 3,200 per week, according to the founder.

The startup expects to close FY26 at a gross revenue of Rs 2.2 Cr.

To date, TimBuckDo has raised approximately Rs 7.3 Cr in funding, including a grant of Rs 21 lakh from the Karnataka government. Its most recent round of Rs 2.7 Cr came after the company was featured on Ideabaaz, a television programme, and was backed by investors including Arjun Vaidya of V3 Ventures, Shaili Chopra of Gytree and SheThePeople, Archana Jahangirdhar of Rukam Capital, Anupam Bansal of Liberty Shoes, and Turbostart VC, among others.