For Lucknow University BBA student Aniket Dubey, the idea for UNICYCLE began with a bad buy, not a business plan. After moving to Lucknow with limited funds, he purchased a second-hand study table online, only to find it termite-infested and unusable within days. “Everything is available online on platforms but there are a lot of scammers too,” he says. “I bought a study table and used it for 10 days, but it was termite-infested. Despite shelling out a decent amount, I had to throw it away.”That experience pushed him to create a safer, campus-specific marketplace where students could buy and sell pre-owned essentials with greater trust. He first launched the idea through social media, and nearly ten products were traded in less than a month. “So, I came to know that this idea can work,” he says.Unlike conventional second-hand marketplaces, UNICYCLE focuses entirely on verified student users. Every member must log in using institutional credentials and submit college identification before being allowed to post listings. “We verify each post on the website. A student logs in using college credentials and uploads a college ID proof. Only after verification do we approve the account,” says Aniket. Verification is further supported by campus ambassadors stationed in participating colleges, many of whom work as student interns.To manage the growing demand, Aniket teamed up with Shivendra Tiwari and Samriddh Niranjan to build the UNICYCLE website. “The aim of the website was automation and reach a broader audience,” he says. The platform now serves students across Lucknow University and other colleges, with plans to expand further.
