Tag: startup challenge

Business

Uber’s Zero Emission Push – Announces Winner of Rs 1 Crore Startup Challenge

Mar 15, 2024 by Sujata Muguda 0 Comments #Manikandan Thangarathnam, #MB Patil, #Mumbai, #startup challenge, #Uber, #Zero Emission Push

Mumbai, March 15, 2024: Uber announced the winner of ‘Uber Sustainovate’, its Startup Challenge looking for innovative solutions to fast track the adoption of sustainable mobility in India. Uber awarded Gurgaon-based startup AHODS Technologies the grand prize of $120,000 (~ Rs 1 crore) for its on-demand hydrogen retro-fitment kit, aimed at helping address India’s sustainability goals.

The winner’s cheque of $120,000 was handed over to the winner by Shri MB Patil, Honorable Minister of Industries, Government of Karnataka.

Speaking at the occasion Honorable Minister for Large and Medium Industries, Govt of Karnataka Shri. MB Patil said “Uber Sustinovate is not just an event; it is a medium of hope and a testament to the possibilities that lie ahead in our journey toward a greener future. The challenge laid out today—to find the most innovative solutions that steer us towards zero tailpipe emissions—is critical. It mirrors our own aspirations within Karnataka and, by extension, India, to cultivate a landscape where sustainable mobility is not just an option but a way of life”.

The competition, in partnership with Startup India and nasscom AI, was designed to award startups that produced the best workable ideas that would help accelerate the transition to sustainable mobility in the country. The top 3 companies will receive mentorship from Uber India’s tech leadership on best practices, innovation and scaling.

Commenting on the startup challenge, Manikandan Thangarathnam, Senior Director of Engineering, and Head of the Bangalore Tech Center, Uber said, “We saw a whole host of bright and futuristic ideas from over 140 startups from all parts of the country. It’s extremely encouraging to see Indian startups lead innovation globally in terms of sustainable mobility, and we’re glad to be able to support them in their endeavour. This goes with our vision and mission to have net-zero emissions by 2040 globally.”

Pune-based Govidyouth Mobility Pvt Ltd, with its innovative EV range extender was second, while Gurgaon-based Metz Energy Pvt Ltd’s e-trike (tricycle) with a dedicated loading bay was adjudged as the third-best solution around sustainable mobility. Uber Sustainovate received applications from over 140 startups in the country, which went through 3 rigorous jury rounds with founders fielding questions on vision, profitability, practicality, and the uniqueness of the solution, among others.

As the leading ridesharing company, Uber is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040 and has been continuously working with Governments, partners, think-tanks and others to address global sustainability challenges. With the aim to promote an ecosystem where startups are incentivised to work on emergence of sustainable solutions, Uber Sustainovate was designed to provide a platform for visionary startups that are eager to turn their ambition to action.

Uber has taken various steps over the past years in its push to net-zero emissions, including placing India’s largest ever EV order, with Tata Motors, for 25,000 Xpres-T compact sedans to be delivered by 2025, while also signing MoUs with EV financing companies, and charging infrastructure companies.

Business World

Five young teams win Block Covid, a global startup challenge. Indian Edtech startup Kidzpreneur gets roped in to bring their ideas to reality

Nov 18, 2020 by Gouri Achary 0 Comments #Amit Mishra, #Block Covid, #Global shapers community, #Kidzpreneur, #startup, #startup challenge

The pandemic has revolutionized the education ecosystem globally. The current generation is witnessing an unprecedented event which has caused staggering economic and social challenges globally. This new normal calls for an urgent need to equip students with not only basic education but also life skills to embrace themselves with challenges in the real world. Kidzpreneur, an Indian Edtech startup, with its unique transformative learning mechanism aims to develop a more aware and conscious future, thought leaders. This has caught the attention of global groups such as BLOCK COVID Initiative which recently ran a global program for children to solve challenges for the new world in times of the current pandemic. They sought partnership with Kidzpreneur for supporting their winners whilst helping them understand and create viable businesses out of their selected ideas.

Since its inception, Kidzpreneur is working on providing a unique and transformative learning platform for students from age 10 onwards, enabling them to understand the current global crisis and to foresee future challenges in their lives. The idea is to make them self-aware of their thoughts, choices and how they can impact others while imbibing qualities like empathy, creativity, teamwork, design thinking etc. and not fear failure.

Kidzpreneur through its innovative programs has created quite a buzz in the global startup arena. Block Covid, a startup challenge run by Global shapers community partnered with Kidzpreneur to coach their 5 winning teams and support their ideas to spread awareness and bring in change about Covid19.

“We, at Kidzpreneur, believe that young minds should get opportunities to work on global problems. Sometimes, we need a fresh start and an idea to drive that change. The youth today is more aware and positive to make their mark. We also strongly believe in the youth taking charge, coming up with solutions to deal with problems and playing an active role in shaping the future. Our programs are designed to help the young entrepreneurs create their footprint with their ideas while making them more feasible. Therefore, we were approached by the BLOCK COVID Initiative for support in achieving their goals to bring their ideas to reality,” said Amit Mishra, Co-founder, Kidzpreneur.

“Kidzpreneur believes in hands-on learning and creating an environment which is important to implement simulations or real-time scenarios coupled with gamification of critical management lessons for effective learning. This is achieved with a sound amalgamation of technology and creative ideas to improve on learning that students can practice in the real world too. There would many more such global partnerships with us in the new normal period,” he added.

Kidzpreneur learnings are a blend of activity-based hours including real interaction with entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, and ecosystem players to help learn from industry stalwarts at a young age. Kidzpreneur team crafts the ideas of students into more validated business plans with training, mentoring, insights and provides any other additional entrepreneurial assistance to bring ideas to life. With a wide sphere of influence, Kidzpreneur has students from India, Taiwan, HongKong, USA and the Philippines.

Projects such as an Online Museum for Cultural Exchange and Online Tutoring for students with special learning needs by the students, for the students, were among the winning ideas. Kidzpreneur primarily focuses on transformative development in education using an entrepreneurial mindset and technology. The founders believe that development of life skills and cognitive thinking is important at an early age.

As Kidzpreneur focuses on transformative development in education, the Global Shapers were in perfect alignment with it for training support. The community of Global Shapers comprises of a network of young people who have the desire to drive dialogue, action and change.