FretBox revolutionizes hostel management by streamlining operations and elevating the living experience in hostels. As a 24/7 digital assistant, it automates daily tasks, enhances communication, and fortifies security—delivering unmatched convenience for students while optimizing efficiency for educational institutions and property managers.
Since its launch, FretBox has witnessed extraordinary growth. In early 2024, it had just six paying customers. By January 2025, that number had surged to 22, including two of India’s top-ranked universities (14th and 15th). Today, the platform serves over 50,000 active daily users, with its largest university client alone onboarding 20,000 students.
Investors have taken note. In 2024, FretBox secured INR 1.93 crore in funding, raising its total investment to INR 3.43 crore. Backed by leading investors such as CXO Factor UAE, India Accelerator, JSS STEP, MeitY, Anmol Gupta (CTO, Yaantra), the founders of Vedhas Technologies USA, an ex-board member of Persistent Systems, and several high-net-worth individuals, the company is poised for even greater expansion.
FretBox’s comprehensive suite of features—smart gate entry, amenities booking, leave management, and more—is available across web and mobile applications. Its scalable model seamlessly integrates into diverse educational institutions, driving operational efficiency and enhancing user satisfaction. By simplifying communication, billing, fund collection, and reporting, it saves administrators over two hours daily, cementing its position as a game-changer in hostel management.
In an exclusive conversation with The Interview World, Ashish Gupta, Co-founder & CEO of FretBox, shares how the platform is redefining hostel management with its groundbreaking features. He delves into the company’s rapid customer expansion, fundraising success, and the challenges of scaling a high-growth SaaS platform. He also explains how FretBox leverages cutting-edge technology to enhance security and convenience for users while unveiling the next wave of innovations set to transform the industry.
Here are the key insights from his compelling conversation.
Q: How does FretBox streamline hostel management to improve the experience for both students and administrators?
A: FretBox delivers an AI-powered hostel management solution that enhances security and convenience for students while optimizing administrative efficiency for university staff. It accelerates complaint resolution, empowers students to share direct feedback with administrators, and automates key processes such as leave approvals, late entry tracking, and security alerts. By minimizing manual workload, FretBox enables wardens and administrators to operate with greater efficiency, transparency, and technological sophistication, redefining hostel management for the modern era.
Q: What are the key features that make FretBox a holistic and efficient hostel management solution?
A: FretBox revolutionizes hostel management with a comprehensive suite of AI-powered features designed to digitize and streamline operations. It ensures real-time student attendance tracking at hostel gate closing, instantly alerting security to any discrepancies. The AI-driven leave management system automates approvals while securing parental consent before students exit. Late entry tracking and discipline monitoring operate seamlessly, enforcing rules with precision. Smart room allotment empowers students to book and pay for preferred rooms and roommates effortlessly. The hostel mess management feature enables meal pre-booking, digital menu updates, and efficient food planning. Additionally, FretBox fosters direct communication between students and university administrators, ensuring swift complaint resolution and a more responsive hostel environment.
Q: How has FretBox expanded its customer adoption and user base since its launch?
A: Since launching in 2023, FretBox has rapidly expanded across 13 states, with 35 universities integrating the platform into their operations. Its user base surged from 5,000 in March 2024 to an impressive 60,000 by February 2025. This exponential growth underscores FretBox’s ability to solve critical hostel management challenges while ensuring effortless adoption by students, wardens, and administrators.
Q: What key factors drove FretBox’s successful fundraising, and how has the investment accelerated its growth?
A: FretBox’s fundraising success stems from its transformative impact on hostel management, strong university adoption, and highly scalable business model. Investors saw its potential to revolutionize student housing by solving real-world challenges while delivering significant growth opportunities. The funding has fuelled rapid product innovation, expanded university partnerships, and enabled seamless integration with biometric security and turnstile gates. As a result, FretBox continues to set new benchmarks in hostel technology solutions.
Q: What challenges did FretBox encounter while scaling its platform across diverse educational institutions, and how were they overcome?
A: FretBox faced key challenges, including resistance to digital adoption, diverse university policies, and inconsistent tech infrastructure. It overcame these hurdles with a strategic, hands-on approach—providing personalized training for hostel staff, conducting on-site onboarding, and tailoring features to align with each institution’s unique requirements. This proactive strategy drove high adoption rates and ensured a seamless transition for universities.
Q: How does FretBox enhance security and convenience for hostel residents through its features and technology?
A: FretBox strengthens student safety with real-time hostel attendance tracking, automated late entry alerts, and mandatory parental consent for leave approvals. Its seamless integration with biometric devices and turnstile gates guarantees access only to authorized residents. Beyond security, FretBox enhances daily hostel life with digital meal booking, streamlined complaint resolution, and direct feedback channels, ensuring both convenience and efficiency for students.
Q: What future innovations and expansions does FretBox have planned to further transform hostel management?
A: FretBox continues to push the boundaries of innovation, making hostel management smarter and more efficient. Upcoming advancements include AI-driven attendance tracking seamlessly integrated with university ID systems, ensuring real-time monitoring with minimal effort. Automated fee payment will streamline transactions, eliminating manual hassles for both students and administrators. Additionally, advanced analytics and predictive insights will empower universities to enhance student engagement with data-driven strategies. As FretBox expands to more Tier 2 and Tier 3 institutions, it aims to make smart campus living accessible to an even broader student base, transforming hostel management at scale.
