One of those introductions was to UbiRider. While UbiRider first connected with Mastercard through a cold call more than three years ago, Ferreira dos Santos says it quickly turned into something more, “Despite our small size, we felt like if the idea aligned with Mastercard’s vision, Mastercard was genuinely interested in hearing it. That was the beginning of our relationship.”

By joining Start Path, UbiRider gained access not just to support but also to the kind of technology partnerships that could bring their vision to life. “We felt like innovators, finally in the right kitchen to cook something really delicious — really, really priceless,” Ferreira dos Santos says.

As a frequent traveler, Ferreira dos Santos became increasingly frustrated with the disconnect between transit systems and payments. “You travel to London and want a receipt — you need to open an account with Transport for London. Then you go to Manchester and have to do it all over again. Every city, every operator — despite using your contactless card — you need a new account. It’s time-consuming and bureaucratic,” he says. “We had the idea to create a unified mobility account.”

But UbiRider lacked the payments infrastructure to build it. That’s when he learned that Episode Six was a Start Path alumnus and asked Mastercard to make the connection: “We realized Episode Six could provide the missing piece of the puzzle.”

As it turned out, the timing was right. Episode Six was already exploring urban mobility and saw potential in collaborating with a company that understood what both riders and transit operators needed. “UbiRider provides the interface and use case that’s critical to all this,” Mitchell says. “We provide the foundation.”

This collaboration is focused on simplifying urban mobility — removing the need for multiple transit accounts, easing payment frustrations and making daily travel more seamless. It’s a clear example of how Start Path brings the right ideas together at the right time to deliver real-world impact, says Mastercard Chief Innovation Officer Ken Moore, who oversees Start Path, guiding Mastercard’s innovation agenda and startup partnerships. 

“By creating the conditions for partnerships like this, Mastercard Start Path proves it’s more than an engagement program, it’s a connector,” Moore says. “Companies like Episode Six and UbiRider aren’t just scaling innovation; they’re solving everyday problems in ways consumers will feel directly.”