Daimler India launches online competition for global mobility startups

Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), the wholly-owned subsidiary of commercial vehicle major Daimler, has launched a global online competition for startups in the mobility sector.

Additionally, the Stuttgart, Germany-based company said that it has transformed its internal innovation platform into a startup incubator called The Farm.

The online competition, named StartUp Sparks, looks to support early-stage startups, SMEs and entrepreneurs, a statement said. Startups in electric vehicles and alternate mobility, connectivity and servitization, future mobility, and customised applications and industrial products segments can pitch their ideas till January 29, 2021.  

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The results of the first edition of the competition will be announced in February, the statement said. The shortlisted startups will participate in a pre-incubation module, followed by a nine-month incubation programme. They will receive mentorship from academia and domain experts, besides infrastructure and funding support from DICV to take their ideas to the proof of concept stage.

The competition, the statement said, is supported by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the government of India and the national investment promotion and facilitation agency, Invest India. 

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“As the inventors of the first passenger car, omnibus and truck, innovation is a part of Daimler’s heritage. We’re excited to continue that tradition by launching The Farm, an incubator platform to drive innovation that offers early-stage entrepreneurs and inventors the chance to turn ideas into reality,” Satyakam Arya, CEO and managing director of DICV, said.

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DICV is a full-fledged commercial vehicle player in the Indian market and the only Daimler entity worldwide with a brand -- BharatBenz -- dedicated to its home market. DICV produces and sells in India above 9 to 55 tonne trucks as well as BharatBenz buses, Mercedes-Benz coaches, and bus chassis. The unit produces Daimler truck brands FUSO, Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner. Products and parts from the arm are exported to more than 50 markets in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. DICV represents an overall investment of more than Rs 9,560 crore.