Strathclyde Uni graduate brings successful business to Glasgow

Janani Prabhakaran has expanded her mobile luggage storage service, Unbaggaged, to the city after struggling during the pandemic.

The company ensures secure, convenient and sustainable pick-up and drop-off for its customers’ luggage, which is all provided through a fleet of electric vehicles.

The first luggage transportation service of its kind, the business delivers its on-demand system through an easy-to-use app, which allows customers to access luggage tracking, as well as the ability to follow live vehicles.

Janani launched her company in Edinburgh and is now bringing it to Glasgow (Image: Sourced)

Janani said: “I knew when I graduated that I wanted to start my own business and do something more exciting than the typical nine to five.

“When I found myself lugging a suitcase around London, my idea for Unbaggaged came to life.”

The service was founded by Janani in 2019 after she graduated from university, forcing her to navigate the challenges of the coronavirus lockdown which severely affected the travel industry.

Looking for guidance to survive the difficult economy, Janani approached Business Gateway for support.

Through Business Gateway, Janani accessed a suite of start-up and growth business services, including one-to-one guidance from a dedicated business adviser alongside advice on her business plan and marketing.

Janani also made use of a range of webinars, including one focused on bookkeeping and finance, which helped equip Janani with this essential knowledge needed for her business.

Business Gateway was also able to signpost Janani to funding from Glasgow City Council’s Business Growth Programme.

This funding was essential to help establish and grow Unbaggaged, while also helping to fund legal and financial readiness support.

The programme also funded expert help guidance which focused on company regulations and investor readiness, as well as leadership and HR advice.

Janani added: “Business Gateway supported me from the very beginning, and the guidance I received has helped me to better define my customer base, as well as helping to secure funding to expand Unbaggaged further than Edinburgh.” 

Unbaggaged was also supported by Strathclyde University’s Inspire Hub, and has recently been awarded funding from Scottish Edge, which supported the business’ growth plans to launch in Glasgow in March.

Thanks to ongoing success and demand for the service, Janani now has plans to extend Unbaggaged’s operations to other major cities across the UK.

Lisa Gibson, Business Gateway adviser, said: “Janani overcame a lot of obstacles when she first launched Unbaggaged, so it’s fantastic to see that the business is performing so well.

"I’m certain that the future for the business is bright and look forward to watching it grow further in the months ahead.”