Three entrepreneurs get MBA ‘scholarships’ at INTI via #MyUberPitch

• Aspiring entrepreneurs pitched their ideas during an Uber car ride
• INTI also offering Uber drivers a chance to further their studies

THREE aspiring entrepreneurs are getting fully paid entries into the Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme at INTI International University as winners of the #MyUberPitch pitching competition.
 
#MyUberPitch was an initiative by Uber Malaysia and INTI International University & Colleges (INTI), in collaboration with YTL Communications, held last December in the Klang Valley.
 
During the competition, entrepreneurs got to pitch their ideas to Malaysian business leaders and other figures of note during an Uber car ride. More than 100 business ideas were pitched, Uber Malaysia said in a statement.
 
Those hearing the pitches included AirAsia cofounder Tony Fernandes; Fugee School founder Deborah Priya Henry; and FashionValet founders Fadzarudin Anuar and Vivy Yusof.
 
First place winner was Vas Ramanujam, whose idea Ola Bola – not to be confused with the locally-produced movie – is a web-based platform that brings together casual league players for competitions and recruitment.
 
He had pitched his idea to Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah, Secretary-General of Treasury in the Ministry of Finance as well as chairman of the Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativity Centre (MaGIC).
 
In second place was Tan Wei Yong, who pitched the idea of RunningMan.my, an on-demand hawker food delivery service, to Sulin Lau, head of marketing at Maxis Malaysia.
 
In third place was Parivash Jafari, who pitched her idea to YTL Communications chief executive officer Wing K. Lee. Her ‘Soul-Cycling’ is a 45-minute workout on a stationary bicycle, whilst listening to upbeat music and having people dancing and cheering at the same time.
 
“We’re delighted that Malaysians have shown much enthusiasm in #MyUberPitch as we had also witnessed a major success in other various cities around the world such as Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Lagos and Sydney,” said Uber Malaysia general manager Leon Foong.
 
“It’s not just about winning this competition as we hope that this platform eventually opens more doors for aspiring entrepreneurs in terms of funding or other operational resources,” he added.
 
The three winners also won Huddle XS 4G mobile hotspot devices and 12 months of Yes 4G internet subscriptions.
 
INTI specials for Uber drivers
 
To further extend their partnership, INTI is offering Uber drivers the chance to further their studies by offering them a suite of programmes that they can pursue, while maintaining their current occupation as an Uber driver.
 
These programmes are INTI MBA-Learning Simplified, Diploma in Business Management – Flexible Learning, and 3+0 Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (in collaboration with University of Hertfordshire) – Flexible Learning.
 
Uber drivers will be the first to enrol onto the Diploma and Degree programmes, which gives them a head start to upskill and progress in their careers, INTI said.
 
“We realise that many who are currently working, such as the Uber drivers, may want to upskill but are not able to do so because of work and family commitments,” said Timothy Johnson, senior vice president of marketing, product and partnerships at INTI.
 
“This is why we have developed a suite of programmes, with greater access and flexibility being the key focus,” he added.
 
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