Uber celebrates 10 years Down Under

Written by Uber Australia-Media Release 

 

• Celebrating the people who power the platform 

• Lucky driver or delivery partner to win electric vehicle worth $70,000 

• New program to help Uber-preneurs build their businesses with training, mentorship and funding of various amounts up to $50,000

   

Uber is celebrating 10 years in Australia by paying tribute to the hundreds of thousands of driver-partners, delivery people and restaurant partners that have transformed the way Aussies move, share meals and earn.

Since the first Uber ride in Sydney in 2012, Aussies have taken more than 700 million Uber rides and ordered more than 450 million meals via Uber Eats – and the platform has provided flexible earning opportunities for more than 725,000 drivers and delivery partners.

At a special awards ceremony today in Sydney’s Centennial Park, we celebrated the people across our Uber community who have played an important role in our journey over the past 10 years. Twelve drivers partners, delivery people and merchants in particular were recognised across a range of categories – from highest rated to longest tenure with the platform – with many having flown into town for the celebration. Each award winner received a $5,000 honorarium in recognition of their achievements.

“It’s humbling to be here alongside so many from our Uber community as we celebrate 10 years in Australia. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has been a part of our journey so far – from the inspiring driver partners and delivery people to the millions of Aussies who’ve chosen to ride with Uber,” said Dom Taylor, General Manager of Uber Australia and New Zealand.

“Importantly, this milestone is an opportunity to acknowledge the hundreds of thousands of earners that have helped Australians reimagine how our cities can and should move. Together, we’ve laid the foundation for an exciting future, and I’m confident our next 10 years will be even better than the last.”

Lucky driver partner or delivery person to win electric vehicle

Taking the celebrations one step further – and in line with our commitment to becoming a zero-emissions platform – we are excited to give away an electric vehicle to one lucky driver partner or delivery person. In a lucky draw running from 23 September through 3 October, any driver partner or delivery person who completes a trip or delivery on the Uber or Uber Eats platforms will automatically be entered to win the grand prize. Next month, Uber will randomly select one trip or delivery that was completed during the period 23 September through 3 October, and the person who completed it will win a new Polestar electric vehicle, valued at more than $70,000.*

Accelerating opportunity for our earners

Many of the people driving and delivering on the Uber and Uber Eats platforms have other small businesses of their own, and they turn to Uber for flexible earning opportunities and supplemental income. In recognition of the entrepreneurial spirit of our earner community, today we also announced the Business Booster program, a new incubator-style program designed exclusively for Uber earners.

Developed and delivered in partnership with Inspiring Rare Birds, the inaugural Business Booster program will give 100 drivers and delivery people the opportunity to enroll in a bespoke business development and mentorship curriculum designed to enrich their business acumen across a number of disciplines, from sales and marketing to culture, capital raising, cash flow and more. Earners who complete the program will receive 12 months’ of one-to-one bespoke mentoring, an initial $2,500 cash injection grant to support their other business and the opportunity to pitch to a panel of industry leaders for additional funding of up to $50,000. Applications for earners will open later this year.

“This is all about investing in the people that have made Uber tick over the last decade. If there’s one thing we know about earners, it’s that they are entrepreneurs at heart and Uber provides flexible earning opportunities for many who also run other small businesses of their own,” said Bec Nyst, General Manager of Uber Eats Australia and New Zealand. “At Uber, this is something we celebrate, and with the Business Builder program, we aim to discover and empower some of the aspiring business owners that we know that are already driving around our cities.”

Jo Burston, Founder and CEO of Inspiring Rare Birds said, “This program is such an incredible and generous gesture. We are so pleased to be partnering with Uber to create real impact for its drivers and delivery people. Our combination of masterclasses, mentoring and networking provides the knowledge, confidence and connections that entrepreneurs need to build successful businesses. I can’t wait to see the results from the inaugural Business Booster program.”

Uber Australia fast facts:

• Uber launched in Australia in Sydney in 2012
• 725,000+ people have earned through the platform over the past decade (driver partners and delivery people)
• Uber – rides
  • Operating in 43 Australian cities
  • 3.8 million active riders
  • 700+ million rides taken in Australia since launch in 2012
• Uber Eats
  • Operating in 30 Australian cities
  • 30,000+ restaurant partners on the platform
  • 11+ million Australians have ordered via Uber Eats
  • 450+ million deliveries made since launch in 2016

 

*Full details of competition and T&Cs to be shared next week with driver partners and delivery people.