GenZ this, GenZ that. The internet today is awash with memes and commentary about Gen Z breaking conventional workplace norms. However, this change is not limited to the workplace alone. Gen Z sees the world differently, questioning long-held beliefs and resisting being boxed.
They have a strong desire to take ownership of their lives the day they step out of their comfort zone, either for studies or competitive exams. This is very unlike earlier generations that have been staunch believers in following a well-defined path — getting a degree, doing internships, and climbing up the ladder.
Gen Zs, on the other hand, are turning to freelance and gig work as a way to gain financial independence on their own terms. However, the reality is not always aligned with the intent. Finding opportunities that offer meaningful income while allowing them to balance studies or pursue larger ambitions remains a significant challenge.
Mythri Kumar’s brainchild TimBuckDo addresses this gap by acting as a bridge between employers and students looking to make a sweet buck through paid gig opportunities.
Founded in 2022, the platform allows college students to find gig projects aligned with their interests and passions.
Along with employers and students, the platform also brings in merchants with student-centric discounts, which allows students to get good deals on several brands when they shop via TimBuckDo.
“We are a part-time job portal for college students where employers can hire for need-based demand,” Kumar told Inc42. The platform offers a wide spectrum of job opportunities — from roles like supermarket staff, receptionists, and sales or accounts executives to more specialised gigs such as graphic designers, music teachers, social media managers, data entry operators, and web developers.
It competes with platforms like PickMyWork and Gig4U. However, the founder claims to have an edge, as it is a student-first platform. It offers support throughout the hiring process and helps in grievance redressal.
The startup has raised around ₹7.3 Cr in funding to date from a host of investors. Additionally, it received a grant of ₹21 Lakh from the Karnataka government.
Full Circle: From Gigs To TimBuckDo
Incidentally, TimBuckDo finds its genesis in Kumar’s own journey. During her college days between 2008 and 2012, she would pick up gig jobs at pizza shops, cafes and weddings, which helped her make some money to support her weekly expenses.
“I couldn’t call my dad back home and say: ‘I want to watch a movie, I want to eat an extra burger’. So, I decided to work part-time.”
College ended, and gig work became a distant memory. In 2017, she founded her first company, Cosmos Renewable Energy, to offer intelligent, efficient, and cost-effective energy solutions to maximise the potential of solar power.
Simultaneously, she started serving as a partner at Vasshin Composites, an environmental engineering company working towards the reduction and displacement of plastic from everyday use products. While Cosmos was acquired, Kumar left Vasshin amid operational challenges during the pandemic.
Life came full circle when she found her younger brother, who had just turned 18, working as a delivery executive.
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Kumar’s brother loved stock trading, but he did not have money, nor did he want to ask their parents for any to pursue his passion. So, he picked up a side gig to earn some money.
“There was a massive fight at home. I was completely against the idea of him picking up the job of a delivery boy. This led to a heated debate at home. Eventually, my father sat with me and said, ‘You did the same once, so why are you reacting differently now that your brother is doing it?’”
Life came full circle for Kumar as she gave in to her brother’s rebellion. But, this ignited the idea of TimBuckDo.
Kumar started the company in 2022 as a solo founder. Former Swiggy and Jumbotail employee Apoorv Sharma Prasad joined her as a cofounder in 2024.
The company recently got featured on Ideabaaz, an Indian television programme, and bagged funding of ₹2.7 Cr from the likes of Arjun Vaidya (managing partner, V3 Ventures) , Sandesh Shardha (angle investor), Anupam Bansal (executive director, Liberty Shoes), Shaili Chopra (Gytree & SheThePeople), Archana Jahangirdhar (founder and managing partner, Rukam Capital), Turbostart VC, and Mudit Kumar & Jeet Wagh (founders, Ideabaaz).
Organising Student Gig Work
Students taking up part-time jobs is not a new concept. “We are not reinventing the wheel, but only trying to democratise this,” Kumar added.
The platform connects employers with students seeking gig opportunities. On the student side, users are required to register on the app. Instead of asking for a traditional CV, TimBuckDo gathers details such as the student’s location, preferred type of work, skill set, and the amount of time they can dedicate to gig assignments.
The platform also runs a Know Your Customer (KYC) verification process to establish the legal age of students. TimBuckDo only allows students above 18 years of age and with a valid student ID card to sign up on the platform.
To ensure fair working conditions, the platform also limits weekly working hours to 20-22 hours.
On the employer side, the startup allows registered companies and individuals to sign up on the platform. Employers also go through a similar process — strict KYC and background verification.
The platform also offers AI tools to help students build their profiles and enable employers to list jobs more easily.
“For instance, one can take the help of AI tools to write about oneself on the platform. Similarly, employers can also use these tools for assignments and other tasks,” the founder said.
Currently, TimBuckDo has multiple brand partners, including Swiggy, Domino’s, Decathlon, and TiE Bangalore, among others. To ensure retention, the platform keeps offering discounts to students.
“Many brands today are offering exclusive student deals on our platform. Companies like SuperU and Swiggy have rolled out student-specific discounts to attract this segment. We invite brands that want to engage with students to list their offers with us, and whenever a purchase happens through our platform, we earn a commission,” Kumar said.
TimBuckDo’s Business Model
TimBuckDo earns revenue from brands via commissions. Brands pay a platform fee in the range of ₹499 to ₹4,999, depending on the level of requirements. The platform doesn’t charge students anything.
“Once the profile is set up, they can apply for jobs for free,” the founder said.
The startup also runs campus ambassador programmes for students in colleges. For these programmes, brands use the ambassador network to run micro-campaigns in colleges in collaboration with brands.
For instance, TimBuckDo partners with brands like Riot Games, SuperYou, SNACC, among others to help them penetrate and scale within campus ecosystems through content creation, data collection, engagement programs, and more. This makes for an additional revenue stream for TimBuckDo.
The platform currently claims to have around 5 Lakh students registered on its platform. Last month, active students made a total of ₹2.4 Cr. On average, a student can earn up to ₹3,200 per week on the platform, as per the founder. The startup expects to close FY26 at a gross revenue of ₹ 2.2 Cr.
As Gen Z continues to rewrite the rules of work, platforms like TimBuckDo are tapping into a clear, growing need. By organising student gig work and making it more accessible, the startup is helping the young stay financial independent as they shape their respective live paths.
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