Uber Partners with LSETF, Provides Support to Start-Ups

Uber on Friday announced its strategic partnership with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) aimed at creating business and economic opportunities for individuals and providing support for SMEs and startups.

The Campaign which is Tagged Uberpitch is an initiative that creates opportunities for entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas, learn from highly successful business leaders and potentially get capital to effectively run their business.

Lola Kassim; Uber General Manager, West Africa, Commenting on the partnership, said “In line with Uber’s clear commitment to Africa and our goal of continually creating business and economic opportunities for all.

“The Uberpitch campaign sees us supporting entrepreneurs by creating a platform for them to pitch ideas, leverage on relevant advice from business mentors, and potentially receive capital from the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund to run their businesses.

“Our partnership with the LSETF indicates that we are focused on ensuring that these entrepreneurs build viable and successful businesses.”

Speaking on the initiative and the collaboration with Uber, Akintunde Oyebode; Executive Secretary/CEO of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), said “LSETF’s mandate of job creation by supporting entrepreneurship and employability, is a vision we share with Uber.

“Since its inception two years ago, LSETF has provided funding worth N6 billion to 8,000 businesses; and trained over 3,000 unemployed Lagos residents, with a view to place them in jobs.

“Through these activities, the Fund has enabled jobs for over 25,000 people, improved productivity of small businesses statewide, and ensured Lagos State remains on a path of sustainable economic growth.”

Sharing additional details on the Uberpitch campaign, Margaret Banasko; Country Marketing Lead, Uber, West Africa said: “The campaign is divided into two phases. The first phase is where Uber Riders who run tech-enabled businesses submit or “pitch” their ideas; and shortlisted candidates stand the chance of winning Workspace vouchers of up to N1.8 million.

“The second phase involves business owners to pitch their ideas to a panel consisting of the LSETF and globally recognized entrepreneurs, receive mentoring from highly successful business leaders and potentially get capital to effectively run their business.”

As part of activities to reward driver-partners, Uber Nigeria recently presented two brand-new cars and other consolation prizes to driver-partners who participated and came out tops in the uber Freekick campaign.