In 2022, as the world and Bihar reeled from pandemic-induced upheaval, a stark reality emerged in Khagaria: skilled yet underemployed workers from humble trades including plumbers, painters, carpenters and small vendors struggled to find work, and local households didn’t know whom to trust. Among them was Nirmal Dev, an electronics and telecommunications graduate from Hyderabad, working in a Delhi-based multinational.

Returning to Khagaria during the lockdown, Dev witnessed firsthand the plight of everyday workers. Their livelihoods were fragile, their visibility nil. Moved by their struggles and armed with decade-long experience in software and web development, he made a life-altering decision: he left his stable job, founded Cosmox Tech Pvt Ltd, and began developing Frogwalk, a local services directory designed to connect people with nearby help.

Fast forward to March 2022: Frogwalk was officially launched in Bihar, covering three key districts Khagaria, Munger, and Begusarai. With simplicity and functionality at its core, the app offers:

Listings for local service providers like plumbers, electricians, painters, domestic help, repair workers, and even doctors and hotels.

Direct contact details, enabling users to call and book services seamlessly.

The results? Many local workers found work, thanks to being discoverable through their phones. Households in rural Bihar finally found a reliable way to resolve day-to-day issues from fixing a leaking tap to finding a nearby electrician all within a few clicks.

Bihar’s response was swift. In 2022, Frogwalk earned the Bihar Change Maker Award, highlighting its social impact. The startup also received honors like Outstanding Work in Startup, Icons of India, and Great Honour Award, marking its significance in the regional tech ecosystem.

Moreover, its simple yet transformative model earned local media attention. Articles in Dainik Bhaskar and OneIndia Hindi highlighted how a young engineer turned job seeker into one who creates jobs. One story noted the clear link between Frogwalk’s listings and local employment growth.

The man behind the app, Nirmal Dev, is both the visionary and executor. As the Director of Cosmox Tech, he brings deep expertise in software and app development. His professional affiliations include membership in the Google R&D Community and E‑Cell at IIT Bombay, reflecting his active engagement with innovation networks. Educationally, he’s a graduate of NIT Durgapur (B.Tech) and the ICFAI Business School.

Although small in scale, Frogwalk’s traction is tangible:

6,000+ installs and modest movement in app rankings reflect growing awareness and trust among local users.

Positive early user feedback, though limited in number, showcase satisfaction:

“Very nice startup and helpful app. Thanks Frogwalk.”

“This is really good app. I booked one service satisfied with the work done.”

These testimonials reflect a core strength of Frogwalk: addressing everyday frustrations with tangible, local solutions.

What Sets Frogwalk Apart (And What Limits It)

Strengths:

Hyper-local focus: Tailored to the needs of Bihar’s semi-urban and rural communities, Frogwalk fills a gap that large players overlook.

Lean execution: Operating with fewer than 10 employees, the startup maintains agility and close community connection.

Social mission: At its core, Frogwalk is built to serve.

Limitations:

Geographic constraints: Active only in three districts; its digital reach hasn't yet converted into broader state penetration.

Modest digital infrastructure: Some listings e.g. a handful of plumbers listed, reflect early-stage platform limitations.

Minimal monetization: Currently ad-based; growth will be harder without structured revenue models.

Competition: Giant home-service directories like Sulekha (20M+ users, 200k+ service providers) and Justdial (29M+ listings across India) hold massive brand trust and data infrastructure that Frogwalk cannot match yet.

Frogwalk is part of a critical movement in Bihar: creating regional tech ecosystems rooted in social purpose. Government initiatives like the Bihar Idea Festival and backing from bodies like BECIL reflect new momentum for startups with impact. While Frogwalk is tech-first, it also answers deep structural needs like job creation, service access, local empowerment making it highly relevant in this evolving ecosystem.

What makes Frogwalk truly inspiring is its story: a son of Khagaria witnessing hardship, returning to help his heartland people with digital tools. It’s not a tale of overnight unicorns but of everyday resilience and hope-driven coding.

But realism must temper optimism. Scaling Frogwalk responsibly requires:

Resource mobilization: Seed or angel funding to expand tech, marketing, and operations.

Feature enhancement: Building ratings, categories, and reliable vetting.

Regional expansion: Entering more Bihar districts and neighboring states when ready.

Sustainable revenue: Beyond ads perhaps service tiers, local partnerships, or even government tie-ins.

With modest but meaningful buzz behind it, Frogwalk could:

Onboard thousands more service providers across Bihar. Introduce user-generated feedback and ratings, increasing accountability. Partner with local governance bodies or NGOs for rural rollout. Seek venture support, seed grants, or CSR partnerships to boost growth.

Frogwalk isn’t just code it’s a commitment: to dignified work, to locally rooted solutions, and to Bihar’s untapped talent. Its tale highlights that tech’s real power lies not just in scale, but in relevance.

If Bihar’s startup narrative is about creating businesses, Frogwalk’s is about reclaiming value, where the platform brings lost voices back into the economy.

In that sense, Frogwalk isn’t merely a local services directory. It’s a mirror to Bihar’s future: rooted in homegrown ingenuity, driven by purpose, and poised to expand if given the right tools