Ride an Uber to pitch your startup ideas to investors

Taxi aggregator Uber has come up with the innovative UberPITCH, a challenge that enables anyone who aspires to be the next big sensation in the startup space to try pushing a button and getting a ride with a top Indian investor. Selected entrepreneurs will get seven minutes to pitch their idea on a ride with Uber — essentially an elevator pitch on wheels — and another seven minutes of feedback.

Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Rachel Whetstone, Senior Vice President, Policy & Communications, kicked off this year’s UberPitch challenge. With just a push of a button on their app, business hopefuls stand a chance of getting advice—and more—from top investors and venture capitalists. 3 UberPITCH finalists will feature among the top 10 startups that will be flown to the Silicon Valley to meet the leadership team at Uber as well as exchange notes with big-ticket investors.

In a press statement issued, Nirmala Sitharaman said, “We are highly supportive of initiatives like UberEXCHANGE & UberPITCH that strengthen the current start-up space through mentor led knowledge-sharing and enable entrepreneurs to realise their potential. I’m excited to see how public-private partnerships are helping catalyse conversations and investment opportunities for Indian start-ups, in pursuit of our vision around Start-Up India”

“I had an inspiring morning chatting with Indian women entrepreneurs who are coming up with great ideas and trying to solve hard problems. It was an honour to be able to share some of my experience with so many women who are clearly committed to making a difference. I’m pleased the UberEXCHANGE program is helping them unlock their potential,” Rachel added to the note.