West Twin Cities

The outbreak of COVID-19 has forced individuals and communities to be innovative in their response to the changes that normal life has experienced. 

According to SW News Media, a group of Wayzata High School graduates have created an app — Pikup — to allow for neighborhoods to come together and deliver groceries to one another in a simple and easy-to-use interface. 

Bharat Pulgam, the former student who envisioned the idea, said that it was a great way to make it easier for neighbors to help each other out. 

“The most important thing is we are solving a real problem,” Pulgam said. “People can’t get out, so we are able to get them what they want from people they trust. Right now, everybody wants to help each other and we’re making it easier for them to do that.”

Pikup is now being used in 70 neighborhoods throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nebraska.

Pulgam initially envisioned the concept of Pikup back in 2017 when he was asked by a friend to grab a Chipotle burrito on the way home. Pulgam said that other friends were interested in getting items picked up for them but did not have a way to inform him. 

Pulgam launched his app in February 2019 after dropping out of school to excel in his retail accelerator program. Pikup is a free app that became popular quickly after he launched it. 

Unlike delivery service apps which are quite expensive, Pikup allows for a better experience for the delivery person and consumer alike. 

“You may get free chips and guac at one place or $5 at another place for picking up items for others because those stores don’t have to pay for deliveries,” he said. “It helps everybody.”

Neighbors can notify those who live nearby that they are going to the store and make themselves available to grab extra items.

In this time of social distancing and overall lack of community, Pikup is filling a very real need as well as a gap in social interactions.