Student's Assam Tourism Startup Opens Northeast India to World

Higmanshu Baruah was just a second-year engineering student when he realized travelers wanted to explore Northeast India but had no reliable way to discover it. He built a website sharing everything he knew about his home region, and inquiries started pouring in immediately.

That 2016 project became FinderBridge Tourism, now a full-scale tourism platform operating across all eight Northeastern states. Word of mouth spread fast as travelers discovered someone finally understood how to unlock the region's archaeological sites, tribal heritage trails, and photography locations that mainstream tour operators ignored.

Baruah refused to build just another booking website. Instead, he positioned FinderBridge as a "tourism intelligence platform" offering experiences you can't find elsewhere: cultural immersions with tribal communities, heritage walks through forgotten archaeological sites, and photography tours timed perfectly with regional festivals.

The business model worked. Each satisfied traveler recommended FinderBridge to friends, creating organic growth that sustained the startup through its early years without major funding.

Last year, the Assam government awarded FinderBridge a Rs 10 lakh ($12,000) scale-up grant. Baruah had been sitting on expansion ideas for years but lacked resources to test them. The grant changed everything.

He immediately launched three new divisions: destination weddings showcasing Northeast venues, tourism marketing for regional destinations, and travel content creation. All three channels now operate alongside the original tour business.

The Ripple Effect

FinderBridge's growth demonstrates how tourism can benefit local communities while remaining commercially successful. The platform ensures travelers engage directly with regional cultures rather than viewing them from tour buses.

By focusing on offbeat experiences, FinderBridge creates income opportunities in remote areas that traditional tourism ignores. Tribal communities hosting heritage tours, local guides leading photography expeditions, and regional artisans connecting with visitors all benefit economically.

The startup also proves Assam's emerging entrepreneurial ecosystem can support businesses rooted in regional identity. Baruah built his company around Northeast India's unique assets rather than copying models from elsewhere.

FinderBridge now positions itself to make Northeast India a recognized global travel destination. As the platform expands, it shows how startups can scale while staying true to their cultural roots and community commitments.

One college student's website became proof that innovation doesn't require abandoning where you come from.