Kezya De Bragança is an entrepreneur and business leader with nearly two decades of experience in construction and real estate development across India. She currently serves as Founder and CEO of Bettamint, a construction technology startup that is revolutionizing construction workforce management by building the first-ever digital employment ecosystem for informal wage workers in India.
Armed with experience in large scale real estate development across residential, commercial, retail and hospitality asset classes in India has given her an in-depth understanding of the challenges faced by both informal workers and the construction companies that employ them. Leveraging these insights, she founded Bettamint to create a fairer, efficient, and secure digital ecosystem that benefits both construction businesses and workers.
Bettamint is a rapidly growing digital employment ecosystem for informal workers in the construction industry. Founded in June 2022 Bettamint meets the needs of medium and large construction companies in India to manage their informal workforce with onboarding, background verification, time tracking, muster roll, attendance, payroll, wage distribution, field notes and compliance data across their construction sites.
In an in-depth conversation with Women Entrepreneur India, Kezya speaks about her prior industry experience, the root of the idea to create Bettamint, her entrepreneurial journey and much more.
Tell us about the early days of your corporate career in the hospitality and construction sector? What were some of the most significant projects that you were a part of in the early days of your career?
Straight out of engineering school, I dove headfirst into the construction sector, an adventure that began in the early 2000s. It was a thrilling period to be in the industry; processes were less structured, and every day required a touch of creative ingenuity. It was like playing a real-life game of chess where the pieces changed unpredictably and indefinitely. From construction complications, new design adaptations, resource shortages, weather disruptions were all part of the daily narrative. I thrived, learning and growing within the industry's exhilarating chaos. I gained invaluable experience with major Indian construction and global hospitality giants, from Prestige Group, Writer Realty and Hilton Hotels Worldwide, igniting my passion for every facet of real estate entrepreneurship.
Among the numerous projects I've been privileged to work on, the development of the multi-award-winning Shillim Estate holds a special place. Spanning 3500 spectacular acres within the Sahyadris in the Western Ghats—a UNESCO world heritage site—our journey was about more than construction. It was about crafting a enduring legacy in harmony with the natural world. The learnings that come with transforming a geographically vast and remote site, topographical nuances and our mission to preserve the delicate balance of nature and the built environment made it a precipitous learning experience that has shaped my understanding of this dynamic industry. Today Shillim Estate continues to be a beacon of conservation and one of the foremost wellness destinations in the world.
You are a serial entrepreneur with various ventures under your belt. Take us through the different ventures that you built in Singapore and India?
Throughout my career I’ve gravitated towards businesses that were tangential if not directly related to real estate and construction. In Singapore, I’m currently building Bettamint a platform that connects trusted construction companies with verified frontline workers improving the way construction firms engage with their informal geographically diverse workforces.
In 2020 I had the opportunity to develop a ‘subscription living’ business model for a global VC's venture studio. The model reimagines the real estate consumer of the future in the context of the sharing economy. I believe residential living will evolve into a 'subscription-based' model that blends the best of residential, commercial and hospitality offerings. Homes will become part of our subscribed lifestyles, akin to music subscriptions, coworking spaces, club memberships, and wardrobe services. The choice of home will no longer hinge solely on location and cost, but also on the lifestyle ecosystem it offers.
In 2018 embarked upon a unique project. The restoration of a 300-year-old historical home in Goa into a luxury boutique hotel and members club, now popularly known as MansionHaus. Here we needed to carefully preserve the old with renewed form and function in keeping with the cultural and social contexts of today. We wanted to create a unique experiential offering that was as beautiful as it was ethical and responsible.
I currently also serve as Executive Director at Riviera Constructions, a family-owned business with a rich 30-year legacy. Here, I contribute to a wide variety of real estate projects and joint ventures across diverse asset classes, ranging from residential and hospitality to retail and commercial spaces.
How was the seed of the idea for Bettamint sown in your mind? What was your vision and objective while designing the digital employment ecosystem for the construction industry?
The conception of Bettamint was rooted in my experience witnessing the stark contradiction within India's booming construction industry. Despite its incredible growth, the sector's backbone - the daily wage frontline workers - face an informal labour market, inconsistent employment, unfair wages, and unsecured futures. Meanwhile, construction firms grapple with persistent labour shortages and abnormally high attrition; leading to project delays, inflated budgets, and reputational damage.
The vision for Bettamint was born out of a desire to address these pressing societal challenges while creating an operating system for the industry that was more inclusive of the people carrying it forward.
I was also acutely aware that for meaningful impact in the sector; a solution without a strong economic incentive for all stakeholders would be untenable. And our product had to have irresistible economic incentive for all stakeholders. Bettamint isn't just a business; it's a lifeline for millions. So, when we speak of building, we do not limit ourselves to structures and cities. We are really building lives, futures and dreams.
Tell us more about Bettamint. How does the platform benefit the construction industry and the daily wage construction workers?
Let's imagine for a moment. What if we could bring the benefits of on-demand service to this fragmented workforce, better yet – what if we could uberize this workforce? ensuring instant access to opportunities, fair wages, work records and avenues for career growth? And from the perspective of construction firms in need of skilled workers - what if they could instantly find the right worker for the job, in their city, as and when they needed them? Consider the potential impact on both lives and bottom lines.
We have to remember that for workers every day idle is income lost, the same is true for construction companies. What if we connected the two so that companies could have access to the best workers, hire as many as they needed, track their presence, process payroll, distribute wages to a transient, geographically diverse workforce. And workers could find lucrative work with trusted companies instantly, when and where they desired for a fair wage - all of this digitally.
We save companies hundreds of hours in administration time, costly delays from workforce shortages and manual errors. And we help workers record their work experience and income so that they could land better paying jobs, build accountability and an overall atmosphere of trust.
Well, let’s journey beyond imagination, because that’s exactly what Bettamint does. End to end temporary workforce lifecycle management, creating an environment where everyone has the tools to build better.
Highs and lows are said to be an integral part of an entrepreneur’s journey. Can you tell us about one specific moment or a particular milestone that Bettamint achieved which is the closest to your heart?
One of the most defining moments in my entrepreneurial journey with Bettamint was when we secured our first paying customer. It was not only a validation of our business model, but also a personal milestone that brought immense satisfaction. The first paying customer symbolized trust in our vision, a belief in our capabilities, and a crucial step towards our goal. It was a moment filled with immense pride and served as a powerful motivator for the team, encouraging us to push harder towards our vision. This milestone remains very close to my heart, as it marked a tangible transition from being a startup with an idea to an established business, delivering value in the real world.
Drawing from your personal experience can you tell us what goes into building a successful venture in today’s business climate? What are some pointers that aspiring entrepreneurs must keep in mind through their journey.
From personal experience I can say, knowing your 'why' helps navigate important decisions and inspires a cohesive company culture. The ability to distinguish between inspiration and insight, the ability to validate ideas early and pivot quickly are key to building a culture of innovation. Don't get too caught up in the quest for perfection at the onset, focus on problem-solving and stay close to the customer at all times.
It's essential to establish a network of supportive mentors and advisors. Their expertise can provide a unique perspective and identify potential blind spots. Embrace failure as an integral part of the entrepreneurial experience. Hard work is paramount, but also know that progress isn’t linear, it compounds over time. It is the small steps you take every day and your ability to persevere through the setbacks that will eventually get you there.
Bootstrapping is an invaluable skill. Investing time in building a solid product and user base, without external funding until your business potential is demonstrable, will make the fundraising process smoother, when the time is right. Moreover, bootstrapping fosters a mindset of agility and resourcefulness, and lays the foundation for healthy unit economics.
