The YourMechanic team accepting the winner's cheque for $50,000 The YourMechanic team accepting the winner’s cheque for $50,000
Amid all the hullaballoo about the iPhone on Wednesday the TechCrunch Disrupt conference came to an end on Wednesday with start-up YourMechanic taking the prestigious top prize and a cheque for $50,000.
Seven finalists pitched their businesses to a panel of expert judges that included Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, one final time before the winner was chosen.
A mechanic right to your door
YourMechanic simplifies the often complicated task of fixing your car. Using either the website or mobile app, users can quickly describe what the problem is, find a local mechanic, and work out the payment details. It allows you to get a number of quotes quickly so that you can avoid any possible rip off merchants. The mechanics then come to you whether at home or at your office.
According to the YourMechanic team, the service’s independent, insured mechanics are able to handle about 80% of car issues without having to lean on the expensive amenities found in shops. That ultimately means lower prices for the consumers that use the service, and more money going into the pockets of the mechanics that actually do the work.
The start-up is a graduate of Y Combinator’s Winter 2012 class and has already raised $1.8 million in seed funding from some of Silicon Valley’s biggest names.
The six other finalists were Expect Labs, Gyft, Lit Motors, Prior Knowledge, Saya, and Zumper.
See the full winning presentation below.
