Biography of Pravin Agarwala: Founder and CEO of BetterPlace Safety Solutions
Biography of Pravin Agarwala:
A Dreamer from Assam
Pravin Agarwala began his journey in Gauhati University, where he
pursued a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Telecommunication.
He was a well-rounded student, actively participating in sports and college
management activities. Even in his early years, Pravin displayed leadership and
a deep curiosity about solving complex challenges.
Gaining Global Perspective at SAP
After graduation, Pravin embarked on a global career in technology, eventually
becoming Vice President and Global Head at SAP. This role gave him a
front-row seat to how large-scale enterprise systems were designed and
implemented. However, something was missing. Most solutions he worked on were
made for the white-collar world — not the frontline workers who formed the
backbone of many economies.
A Shift in Purpose
In late 2014, Pravin stepped away from SAP to pursue a mission closer to
his heart. He joined Flo Learning as an advisor, a platform aimed at
bridging the gap between college education and industry requirements. His focus
began shifting toward skills, jobs, and employability — particularly for
underserved communities.
Birth of BetterPlace
Later that year, in December 2014, Pravin co-founded BetterPlace
Safety Solutions Pvt Ltd along with Saurabh Tandan and Uday Singh.
Based in Bengaluru, BetterPlace set out to revolutionize blue-collar
workforce management — a sector long ignored by mainstream HR technology.
A Platform for the Underserved
BetterPlace launched officially in 2015, offering digital tools for
discovering, hiring, onboarding, and managing frontline workers. It was
designed as an end-to-end HRMS platform, helping enterprises manage
workers’ entire lifecycle — from background verification and payroll to
upskilling and credit access.
Understanding the Real Challenges
Pravin and his team conducted deep field research and discovered that millions
of blue-collar workers in India lacked visibility, opportunity, and access.
From jobs to financial services, everything was stacked against them.
Meanwhile, businesses had no structured way to manage or measure this
workforce. This disconnect became BetterPlace’s purpose: to create a bridge.
A Data-Driven Vision
BetterPlace began collecting and analyzing workforce data at scale. The goal
was to build verifiable profiles for workers, which could be used by
employers and benefit providers. This allowed individuals to be more
discoverable while enabling companies to make informed hiring decisions — a
win-win for both sides.
Solving Five Core Problems
Pravin outlined five key problem areas that BetterPlace aimed to solve:
sourcing workers, boosting productivity, tracking time and attendance,
automating payroll, and offering access to benefits like credit and insurance.
These were turned into modular solutions available via a mobile app,
accessible even to those with basic digital literacy.
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Innovation at Every Step
The platform featured AI-powered bots to help workers learn on the go —
from English and financial literacy to behavioral training. It also enabled
bulk onboarding, liveliness checks for attendance, gamified
microlearning, and tools for vendor and contractor management. The
goal was simple: make every worker count.
Scaling Up Across Regions
BetterPlace grew quickly, expanding its services across India, the GCC, and
APAC regions. By 2021, the platform had handled over $1.5 billion
in employee payroll, completed 20 million background verifications,
and delivered 300 million+ minutes of training. Over 30 million
workers and families had benefitted.
Support from the Ecosystem
As BetterPlace matured, it attracted strong investor backing, raising $96.7
million from top firms like Jungle Ventures, CX Partners, and Innoven
Capital. Its success and innovation led to a valuation of ₹2,410 crore,
establishing it as a key player in the HR tech space. Pravin also advised and
invested in startups like ConfirmTkt.
Leading a Competitive Market
Despite operating in a competitive environment with over 700 other HR tech
firms, BetterPlace emerged as a leader thanks to its deep focus on
blue-collar needs. Competitors like WorkJam and Eden Workplace existed, but few
matched BetterPlace’s full-stack approach and local market understanding.
Touching Lives Beyond the Office
The platform didn’t just provide jobs — it opened up new possibilities.
With access to credit, insurance, and upskilling, workers began experiencing
dignity, growth, and security. Pravin emphasized that the platform empowered
people “who had long been invisible to the digital economy.”
Thought Leadership and Advocacy (Present)
Pravin regularly speaks on workforce innovation and inclusion. Through
platforms like the 100X Entrepreneur Podcast, he shares his journey of
building a company for the 15–17 crore people in India’s blue-collar
economy. He reminds audiences that frontline workers are often overlooked — but
they are essential.
The Road Ahead (Future)
Today, BetterPlace stands as Asia’s largest platform for managing
frontline workers. With over 1,500 enterprise clients across 500
locations, the company continues to evolve. For Pravin, it’s not just about
business — it’s about transforming lives through data, empathy, and innovation.
His story is a testament to how one person’s vision can uplift millions.
Timeline Summary:
- 1991–1995:
Studied Engineering at Gauhati University
- 1995–2014:
Held leadership roles at SAP
- Oct
2014: Advisor at Flo Learning
- Dec
2014: Co-founded BetterPlace
- 2015:
Official launch of BetterPlace
- 2016–2018:
Built worker databases and modular HR tech tools
- 2019:
Introduced mobile apps, bot-based upskilling, automation
- 2020–2021:
Scaled to APAC, handled $1.5B in payroll
- 2021–2023:
Raised Series D funding; 30M+ workers impacted
- 2023–Present:
Continues growth and innovation in blue-collar tech
