Ride-hailing platform Uber has launched ‘Uber Sustainovate’, a startup challenge targeted towards innovative solutions to fast track the adoption of sustainable mobility in India.
The competition, in partnership with Startup India and Nasscom AI, is designed to award startups that produce the best workable ideas to help accelerate the transition to sustainable mobility in the country. The winning startup would be awarded a grant of $120,000 (approximately Rs 1 crore), and the top 3 entries would be awarded mentorship sessions with the tech leadership of Uber in India in order to help them sharpen their skills and competencies.
Uber says it is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040 and has been continuously working to reduce tailpipe emissions. With the aim to promote an ecosystem where startups are incentivised to work on the emergence of sustainable solutions, Uber Sustainovate will provide a platform for startups that are eager to turn their ambition into action.
Manikandan Thangarathnam, Senior Director of Engineering, and Site Lead for Bangalore, Uber said, “We have always believed that the energy transition in the mobility sector can only succeed if industry and technology work together. Startups can be the source of new and pathbreaking solutions given the tech talent density that exists in India. Uber Sustainovate is our way to ignite these possibilities as we work together towards building sustainable mobility solutions for India and from India.”
The participating startups will have the option to choose from one of the four tracks to focus their ideas on:
- Smart infrastructure and charging solutions
- Easy discovery of charging infra – better interoperability
- Making the economics more viable for drivers/commercial fleet owners
- Improving asset utilisation
The startup challenge is open for entries till October 18, 2023. Registration will be followed by multiple rounds of shortlisting, based on overarching ideas, proof of concept, working prototypes, and overall alignment with Uber’s sustainability mission and values. The winner will be announced in January 2024, after a final jury round.
