• inDrive has called for innovative ideas that make ride sharing more accessible and safer.
• Teams ranging from one to six members are invited to present ideas in three categories for a chance to win cash prizes.
• Entries open today and close on 4th June.

Despite its many problems, there is no denying that Uber has made a mark on the global economy. Where once booking a taxi was a painful process that involved pre-booking, today there are a wealth of apps that allow you to request a ride on demand.

With that having been said, the industry could do with some improvements. In a bid to drive those improvements, mobility and urban services platform inDrive has announced a hackathon, or at least, that’s what they are calling it.

The hackathon looks more like a pitching contest as opposed to the marathon concept and software development events we know as hackathons. Dubbed inCode 2023, the so-called hackathon is the firm’s first.

As per a press release, inDrive is giving away €16 000 (~R318 000) to teams who present great ideas in one of three categories that are designed to improve ride-hailing platforms.

These categories are:

• Improve safety: Discover ways to make ride-hailing safer and more secure for all, so both riders and drivers have complete peace of mind.
• Advance accessibility: Propose methods to make ride-hailing a more inclusive option for people with disabilities, as a lack of viable and comfortable transportation options currently hinders many from participating fully in their communities and lives.
• Dream big: Determine what factors or features are currently missing from inner and inter-city trips and the delivery of goods, and discover ways to use technology to improve these services and solutions.

“Ride-hailing platforms owe their very existence to the creativity and technical expertise of software developers and coders’ ability to dream up, design, and build global products, reliable algorithms, and user-friendly interfaces,” senior vice president of engineering at inDrive, Alexander Lobashev said in a statement.

“inCode is a way for inDrive to recognize the tech innovators who invest their time and talent to make ride-hailing safer, more inclusive, and better to use. We at inDrive are excited to see what ideas emerge from our first annual hackathon,” the SVP added.

The hackathon will take place over two phases:

• Phase 1: 20th April to 4th June – Participants submit ideas and general concepts in the format of PowerPoint/ Keynote presentations.
• Phase 2: 19th June to 9th July – Participants should deliver their prototypes to compete for the prizes. The best prototypes in each of the three categories will win prizes of €750, €1 500, and €3 000 respectively.

To be clear, there is a first, second and third prize in each category.

Teams can be consist of one to six members and you can register a team here.