Seva Call, which connects you to local businesses over the phone, launched publicly in the DC area today.
Washingtonians can now log onto Seva Call and submit a request for an accountant, real estate agent, computer repairmen, mover, or other professional. Based on ratings, call analytics, and other feedback, you get matched with up to 3 local businesses, who will call you (often) within 1.5 minutes.
The service is made by Seva Search (seva means “service” in Sanskrit), which raised $1.3 million last year from DC-area investors. According to president and COO Manpreet Singh, West Coast investors had showed interest, on the condition that the company move across the country. Instead, they stayed in Potomac, Maryland, and prepared to launch in DC by scouring the web for reputable local businesses and reaching out to thousands of them.
“We’re Washingtonians, born and raised in the area. Most of us went to school locally … we’ve always been here,” says Singh. “We’re staying in DC, we’re not moving.”
Later this year, Seva Call will kick off its nationwide expansion with Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston, and New York City. And the service should become even more streamlined when they launch a smartphone app.
