(L-R) Xorge Hernández, co-founder of Speak2Day and Chad Mastagh, founder and CEO of Rides2U
Elevate Ventures, a leader in U.S. venture capital, announced the 14 winners of its 2023 Elevate Nexus spring pitch competition, which resulted in $640,000 in investments in Indian-based startups. Two companies associated with the University of Notre Dame, Speak2Day and Rides2U, won the Northern Indiana division. Both companies received an investment to propel them as they built high-growth businesses.
Speak2Day, a B2B English education company focused on teaching migrants in the United States the vocabulary necessary for specific jobs and purposes, has successfully secured a $20,000 pre-seed investment. The company is spearheaded by CFO Xorge Hernandez, who was not only a dedicated student at the University of Notre Dame but also an active participant in the ESTEEM graduate program. Furthermore, Hernandez is actively involved in the IDEA Centers at Notre Dame, where he is part of the prestigious Race to Revenue summer startup accelerator. This program provides aspiring student entrepreneurs and founders with a fully-funded internship, enabling them to work full-time on their business ideas.
“I am excited to have this early validation and vote of confidence from Elevate Ventures, said Hernandez. “Speak2Day aims to bring language learning to multiple communities in the area, and this investment will allow us to start that process. This award will help us settle ourselves in the region and create content alongside ELL (English Language Learners) educators for our educational platform.”
Rides2U, a rideshare company catering to college students and the community, has successfully secured an $80,000 seed investment. Founder and CEO Chad Mastagh leads the company with a strong focus on safety, reliability, and top-notch service. Setting itself apart from other rideshare services, Rides2U places a premium on trust and safety, ensuring its drivers are trustworthy and reliable. The company adopts various measures to achieve this, including conducting personal interviews, conducting yearly vehicle inspections, and maintaining a steadfast commitment to upholding a high standard of service. With an emphasis on trustworthiness, Rides2U aims to provide a safe and dependable transportation solution for its users. In addition, Mastagh is a firefighter for South Bend, Indiana. He has served for over 20 plus year for his community.
“We are excited and honored to win the Elevate pitch competition. This funding will allow us to finish the conversion of our app from a web-based application to an iOS/Android product. It will allow us to expand our footprint into Purdue University this fall!”
View the press releases from Elevate here: