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YokeTrip by Shankar Dhaku Patkare - Building A safe way to find travel partners and Travel Smart in India

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Friday, September 19th 2025 at 2:39 GMT by ThePrint
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Yoketrip Launches a New Platform to Help Indian Travelers Find Trusted Travel Partners

By ThePrint – ANI Press Release (27 Sep 2024)

In a bid to fill the gap between solo‑travel enthusiasm and the need for trustworthy companionship, Indian entrepreneur Shankar Dhaku Patkare unveiled Yoketrip, a mobile‑first service that promises to “build a safe way to find travel partners and travel smart in India.” The press release, distributed through the Asian News International (ANI) portal, details how Yoketrip’s blend of community‑driven matching, stringent safety protocols, and integrated trip‑planning tools could reshape the domestic travel landscape.

The Problem: Trust‑Based Travel in an Era of Solitude

The article opens by framing a paradox: “While over 70 % of Indian travelers say they would rather travel with a companion than alone, only a fraction find reliable partners.” Patkare points to two key pain points. First, the “trust gap”—users are wary of sharing personal details or traveling with strangers. Second, the lack of a single platform that merges matchmaking, safety verification, and trip logistics into one seamless experience.

“This is not just a social app; it is a safety‑first travel platform,” Patkare told ANI. “We want travelers to focus on exploring rather than worrying about safety or logistics.”

How Yoketrip Works

1. Profile & Preferences
Users sign up with a mobile number and a government‑issued ID (Aadhaar or PAN). After a short questionnaire covering travel style (adventure, cultural, budget, luxury), preferred destinations, budget range, and personality traits, Yoketrip populates a user profile.

2. Smart Matching Engine
A proprietary algorithm cross‑references profiles across five dimensions: travel style, budget, timing, destination interests, and behavioral scores derived from short quizzes. The result is a ranked list of “potential travel buddies” who share similar priorities. Users can review profiles, read bios, and swipe to indicate interest—much like the Tinder interface but with travel‑specific filters.

3. Secure Communication & Verification
All in‑app messages are end‑to‑end encrypted. Before a pair is allowed to chat, Yoketrip verifies both IDs and performs a quick background check against publicly available data to screen for past criminal records. The platform also offers a “Travel Circle” feature, where matched users can invite a friend or family member to view their itinerary for added transparency.

4. Trip Planning & Booking Integration
Once a match is confirmed, users can co‑create itineraries using a shared calendar. Yoketrip’s partners (including OYO, MakeMyTrip, and local travel agencies) enable users to book flights, hotels, and experiences directly within the app. The platform offers “Smart Pricing” alerts that notify users when cheaper fares become available, encouraging cost‑effective travel.

5. Safety Features
Beyond verification, Yoketrip introduces a “SOS” button that sends a pre‑set emergency message to a pre‑selected contact list. Users can also toggle a “Geofence” that alerts them when they step outside a pre‑defined boundary—a useful feature for trips in remote or unfamiliar areas.

Founder's Vision and Background

Patkare, an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur and former product lead at a Bangalore‑based fintech startup, has long been fascinated by the intersection of technology and human connection. “I grew up traveling with friends, and the friction of finding trustworthy companions kept popping up in conversations,” he said. “Yoketrip is born from that recurring challenge.”

The press release highlights that Yoketrip was beta‑tested in Mumbai and Delhi during the last quarter of 2023 with over 1,200 participants. The beta phase reported a 92 % satisfaction rate, with users citing “ease of use” and “reliability” as top factors.

Market Context and Competitive Landscape

The article places Yoketrip within the broader context of India’s booming travel‑tech ecosystem. While the country boasts platforms like Goibibo, RedBus, and OYO, none have specifically addressed the niche of socially‑linked travel planning. Competitors like Couchsurfing and Meetup offer community interaction, but lack the integrated safety and booking features that Yoketrip promises.

According to the ANI article, Yoketrip’s unique selling proposition is its “all‑in‑one safety‑first framework.” “We differentiate ourselves by putting safety at the core of every feature—from ID verification to real‑time SOS alerts,” Patkare noted.

Monetisation and Future Plans

Yoketrip remains free for basic use. The platform introduces a Premium tier, offering perks such as priority matchmaking, offline data export, and a “Buddy Match Guarantee” (a promise that if a match fails within 48 hours, users receive a travel credit). Revenue will also stem from commissions on hotel and flight bookings made through the app.

Looking ahead, the press release hints at expansion beyond domestic routes. “Our roadmap includes tapping into the Southeast Asian market by early 2025,” Patkare said. The company also plans to incorporate AI‑powered local guide recommendations and multilingual support to cater to a broader audience.

Where to Find Yoketrip

• Website: https://yoketrip.com
• Android App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yoketrip
• iOS App: https://apps.apple.com/app/yoketrip/id1234567890

Patkare encourages travelers to download Yoketrip and share feedback via the built‑in support channel. “Your voice helps us build a safer, smarter travel ecosystem for everyone,” he concluded.

Bottom Line

Yoketrip seeks to become the go‑to platform for Indian travelers who want the companionship of a travel partner without compromising safety or convenience. By marrying a robust verification system with smart matchmaking and integrated booking, it promises to simplify the planning process while addressing the trust issues that often plague solo or group travel. Whether this ambitious solution will catch on remains to be seen, but the groundwork laid by Patkare’s vision and the beta‑testing success suggests a promising start in an industry hungry for innovation.