Enroute was a one-time startup challenge run in Bengaluru by Villgro, WRI India and Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI). It asked technology ventures to build Mobility-as-a-Service products on the open data feeds of the city bus operator BMTC and the metro operator BMRCL.
The aim was a single platform where a rider plans, books and pays for one journey that crosses bus, metro and last-mile modes. Selected teams were offered pilot funding, technical mentorship and Villgro incubation, with the pilots running alongside the two transit operators themselves.
Applications closed on 15 July 2024 and the challenge has since named its winners, Namma Yatri and Tummoc. Villgro lists the program as running from 2024 with applications closed, and no further round has been announced.
Benefits & funding
- INR 30 lakh in pilot funding, listed by Villgro as the challenge’s headline incentive.
- A pilot deployment with Bengaluru’s public transit operators, BMTC and BMRCL.
- Technical mentorship for scaling both the product and the company.
- Hands-on, customised incubation support from Villgro.
- Measurement and evaluation of the pilot’s impact.
- WRI India states that the two startups it went on to support, Tummoc and Namma Yatri, were backed by INR 90 lakh in seed funding.
Eligibility
- Technology startups holding a working minimum viable product (MVP) software solution for Mobility-as-a-Service.
- Enterprises able to build technology for MaaS applications.
- Solutions had to run on the open data published by BMTC and BMRCL, and the pilots take place in Bengaluru, India.
- No nationality, residency, age, degree or work-experience requirement is published.
Can you apply?
Open to all applicants
No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.
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Application process
- 1Build an MVP addressing one of the three focus areas: an integrated trip planner, online ticketing, or live bus and metro tracking.
- 2Apply through the challenge site at enroute.villgro.org before the deadline.
- 3The organisers select the top three solutions for seed funding and incubation support to run a pilot; the stages between submission and selection were never published.
Program timeline
Application deadline — the last date to apply.
Jul 15, 2024
Date not published
winners announced, Namma Yatri and Tummoc.
The organisers did not publish info-session, interview, decision or pilot start dates.