Rajesh Yabaji

Rajesh Yabaji
Born	1989 Andhra Pradesh, India
Nationality	Indian
Education	IIT Kharagpur (B.Tech, Mechanical Engineering)
Occupation	Entrepreneur, CEO
Known for	Co-founder and CEO of BlackBuck

Rajesh Yabaji is an Indian entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of BlackBuck, one of India’s most prominent logistics technology companies. He has been instrumental in transforming the country’s fragmented and traditional trucking industry into a tech-driven, efficient, and scalable logistics ecosystem.

Early Life and Education

Rajesh Yabaji was born in 1989 in Andhra Pradesh, India. He completed his schooling in the region and went on to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur. His early exposure to large-scale engineering problems, combined with a passion for innovation, laid the foundation for his future in logistics and entrepreneurship.

Career and Founding of BlackBuck

After graduating from IIT, Yabaji began his career at ITC Limited, one of India’s leading conglomerates. At ITC, he gained hands-on experience in supply chain operations, logistics strategy, and large-scale process optimization. This industry experience exposed him to the inefficiencies in India’s freight and transportation sector.

In 2015, Yabaji co-founded BlackBuck with Chanakya Hridaya and Ramasubramaniam B. Their goal was to digitize India’s trucking operations by creating a platform that seamlessly connects shippers with truckers. BlackBuck’s innovative approach introduced real-time tracking, paperless transactions, and automated freight matching, revolutionizing logistics for businesses and fleet operators.

Innovations and Growth

Under Yabaji’s leadership, BlackBuck has achieved several major milestones:

• Built a network of over 1 million truckers and 15,000+ businesses.
• Digitized operations for one of the most unorganized sectors in India.
• Introduced BlackBuck Plus for fleet management and BlackBuck Finance for trucker loans and fuel credits.
• Secured investments from top-tier global investors including Sequoia Capital, Accel, and Goldman Sachs.
• Achieved unicorn status with a valuation exceeding $1 billion.

The platform leverages AI, data analytics, dynamic pricing, and GPS tracking to enhance logistics efficiency and reduce idle time and fuel waste.

Challenges and Resilience

Yabaji faced numerous challenges in convincing traditional truckers to adopt technology. Trust, tech literacy, and infrastructure posed significant barriers. However, through persistent on-ground engagement, simple user interfaces, and customer education, BlackBuck gradually built credibility in the trucking community.

Vision and Impact

Rajesh Yabaji envisions BlackBuck as a global digital freight leader that not only transforms India’s logistics but sets benchmarks worldwide. His focus includes:

• Further automation in freight matching.
• Expansion into Southeast Asia and beyond.
• Sustainability and carbon footprint reduction in trucking.

Yabaji’s work has had a transformative impact on the Indian economy, empowering small fleet owners and contributing to the growth of e-commerce and industrial logistics.

Conclusion

Rajesh Yabaji’s entrepreneurial journey represents the new wave of Indian tech-led industrial innovation. By modernizing trucking and freight management, he has helped create a more connected, efficient, and inclusive logistics ecosystem. As BlackBuck continues to expand, Yabaji’s vision and leadership stand as a beacon of India's rising influence in global supply chain technology.