The Journey of Vaibhav Agrawal, Founder of Broomees

Business Remedies | Rajshree Upadhyaya |  With the aim of empowering domestic workers, Vaibhav Agrawal created a platform that built trust and convenience for customers while providing dignity and opportunities to workers. Broomees was born in 2020 in a small room in Delhi, when Vaibhav Agrawal – who had dropped out from ISB – along with Niharika Jain and Saurav Kumar, took on the challenge of organizing one of India’s most unorganized sectors: domestic help. With no initial funding or infrastructure, they began creating a platform that could connect households with verified and trained domestic workers, ensuring that these workers received more than just jobs. From the very beginning, their focus was twofold – offering trust and convenience to customers, and dignity and opportunities to workers.

The team implemented strict background checks, including Aadhaar and police verification, and went further by offering interest-free loans, affordable health insurance, skill development programs, and even child education assistance. This transformed the traditional transactional arrangement into a welfare-oriented ecosystem.

Urban families seeking reliability quickly embraced their vision. Through a simple app and website, users could book domestic helpers in just a few taps, knowing the staff had been screened and trained. By 2021, Broomees had set up five training centers to maintain quality and professionalism. What began with a modest turnover of Rs. 10,000 per month grew rapidly, reaching a monthly gross transaction value of Rs. 3 crore within four years. Investors soon took notice, and in its early funding round, 100X.VC, Wam.VC, Dholakia Ventures, Magic Fund, and others participated, giving the startup resources to expand its reach.

A Turning Point with Shark Tank India Season 2
The decisive turning point came when Broomees appeared on Shark Tank India Season 2. The founders sought Rs. 80 lakh for 2% equity, valuing the startup at Rs. 40 crore. Their confident pitch – highlighting both their social mission and business growth – impressed sharks Namita Thapar, Aman Gupta, and Peyush Bansal. The three offered Rs. 1 crore for 3% equity, valuing the company at about Rs. 33 crore, bringing Broomees a fresh wave of credibility and visibility. By then, the platform had served over 5,000 households, offering services from maids and cooks to childcare providers and elderly caregivers.

Challenges Along the Growth Path
However, the growth story wasn’t without challenges. As the brand expanded, customer experiences became mixed. Many praised the professionalism and skills of helpers, sharing stories of nannies who became like family or cooks who transformed household routines. But others expressed serious dissatisfaction, citing issues such as unprofessional behavior, late arrivals or no-shows, lack of replacements, aggressive subscription models, and poor customer support.

Some reported receiving no service or refund even after making advance payments, while others complained of misleading timelines and profiles that didn’t match actual hires. Complaints on platforms like Reddit, LinkedIn, and consumer grievance forums painted a picture far more complex than the one shown on national television.

Ambitious Targets Set
Despite setbacks, the founders remained steadfast, setting ambitious targets: to onboard over 1 lakh employees and expand to more than 100 cities within five years. Their aim was to create a reliable, standardized network of domestic helpers supported by training, welfare benefits, and tech-driven efficiency. Their mission was clear – to professionalize a sector long operating in obscurity, ensuring fair treatment for workers and dependable service for customers.

A Symbol of Resilience, Innovation, and Social Purpose
The journey of Broomees is an example of both the possibilities and pitfalls of purpose-driven entrepreneurship. From its humble beginnings to securing a Shark Tank deal and achieving crores in monthly revenue, it stands as a symbol of resilience, innovation, and social intent.
However, its future depends on bridging the gap between its inspiring mission and consistent on-the-ground service delivery. In a sector where trust is everything and services enter the most personal areas of people’s lives, the stakes are high. Broomees continues to walk this challenging path – ambitious, impactful, and still evolving in its quest to redefine domestic assistance in India.

Written & Edited By:

Rajshree Upadhyaya