This India-first Uber referral app pays up to Rs. 5k for every driver you refer

UberDOST (Hindi for ‘friend’) is an India-first initiative for anyone to act as Uber affiliates. It’s an app where anyone can sign up on Uber and refer drivers to join the platform, and this can get them anything from $15 to $75.

The app developed in San Francisco in collaboration with operations teams in Bengaluru (previously Bangalore) started off in India almost a year back, and has picked up in some cities in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The one-time payout for referrals varies as per average fares and pricing in each city. There are no limits to the number of referrals, and you don’t have to be a driver-partner yourself.

“Several tour and travel companies are suffering because everything’s moving online. These people have a network of professional commercial drivers, and with this new platform they can refer them to us. That’s how the idea came around. It”, Bhavik Rathod, General Manager, Uber South and West says.

Interestingly, there are no plans of launching UberDOST in the US, Uber’s native market. “The use-case may or may not exist there (in the US). Indian driver-partners often need assistance to sign up. It’s too early to comment”, Rathod says.

This comes amidst media reports of stiff competition among cabs that’s resulted in a rougher ride for Ola and Uber drivers in India. A report even claims this year has seen a slump of over 70% for most.

Uber refused to share the exact number of UberDOSTs in India, but agreed the figure’s in a ‘couple of thousands’.

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