35 minutes to Porsche

Walking into a building from the metro station, sweat all over us and the person in the reception asking us to rush to the second floor. We had to pitch at the Porsche office for the Porsche Everyday Challenge and being the last startup to present, we were right on time for it.

I was still recovering from the mesmerizing, jaw dropping, mind boggling and heart throbbing visual from the basement. A white Porsche on display, on which one can see their own reflection on its shiny hood. All these in less than 12 seconds and we were now on the second floor catching our breath and sipping water from a tiny bottle with the Porsche logo inscribed on it. The entire ambiance and the next 30 minutes felt like a ride in a super-car.

Being the last startup, we could sense the restlessness in the audience and the jury members, as they have been here from the last three hours and us just five minutes. But when the screen lit up with HomyHub’s logo and Enzo started his pitch, I could see the last strand of hair upright on guy in front if me. For eight minutes and thirty five seconds everyone pinpointed their eyes on Enzo presenting and ears on each word he spoke.

Few questions and thirteen minutes later, the pitching session was over. I just gave a glance of smile and thumbs up to Enzo because what came next to me felt like an elixir. Cold beer in a crystal clear glass and served with some really delicious tapas. Precisely twenty minutes later we were asked to move to the next room. Among all the pitches only one was supposed to make it to the finals.

“We need to click a picture with the car downstairs”, Enzo whispered in my ears and we both were looking towards a young guy at the center of the room. He congratulated all the startups who pitched and exactly thirty four minutes from our arrival to the place, we heard “ the startup which is selected for the finals is HomyHub”. Thirty fifth minute, there were tears in my eyes and I could see the moistness in Enzo too. We were emotionally shocked and proudly emotional at that moment.

Now february awaits, when fifteen finalist startups will pitch and from which eight will be selected for the Porsche Acceleration Program.

Most importantly, we did get the picture with the new white Porsche Mission E and you can see the happiness bouncing in us.