📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

Lyft Gets a Serious Lift: Uber Competitor Expands to 24 More Cities Fresh off of a $250 million round of funding, the ride-sharing company is venturing into new markets.

By Catherine Clifford

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

At the beginning of 2013, Lyft was operating in one city. By the end of today, it will be in 60.

That's a lot of pink mustaches.

The San Francisco-based ride-sharing company announced it is launching in 24 cities over the next 24 hours. Before today, the company operated in 36 cities across the country.

In each of the 24 new cities, Lyft will provide free rides for two weeks, according to a company statement.

Related: This Startup Aims to Be the Tesla of Mattresses

Lyft, whose drivers affix fluorescent pink mustaches to the front of their cars, also announced it is lowering its prices by 10 percent, marking the second price cut this month.

While the Uber competitor is donation-based in many cities -- meaning riders can pay drivers what they want -- the company does provide an estimate of what a reasonable fare should be based on time and distance. In some cities, including all the cities in California, prices are set.

The expansion plans and lower pricing come just weeks after Lyft announced a $250 million Series D round of funding, which included funding from the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. The move also trails rival Uber's recent announcement that it is getting into the courier business.

Here's a list of the new markets Lyft is moving into today:

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Buffalo, NY

Colorado Springs, Colo.

Corpus Christi, Texas

Fairfield County & New Haven, Conn.

Fresno, Calif.

Jacksonville, Miss.

Kansas City, Mo.

Lexington, Ky.

Lincoln, Neb.

Louisville, Ky.

Memphis, Tenn.

Modesto, Calif.

Northern New Jersey

Oklahoma City, Okla.

Omaha, Neb.

Raleigh-Durham, N.C.

Rochester, NY

San Bernardino, Calif.

Spokane, Wash.

Toledo, Ohio

Tulsa, Okla.

Virginia Beach, Va.

Related: 5 Must-Watch San Francisco Tech Startups in 2014

Catherine Clifford

Senior Entrepreneurship Writer at CNBC

Catherine Clifford is senior entrepreneurship writer at CNBC. She was formerly a senior writer at Entrepreneur.com, the small business reporter at CNNMoney and an assistant in the New York bureau for CNN. Clifford attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. You can follow her on Twitter at @CatClifford.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

These Coworkers-Turned-Friends Started a Side Hustle on Amazon — Now It's a 'Full Hustle' Earning Over $20 Million a Year: 'Jump in With Both Feet'

Achal Patel and Russell Gong met at a large consulting firm and "bonded over a shared vision to create a mission-led company."

Business News

These Are the 10 Most Profitable Cities for Airbnb Hosts, According to a New Report

Here's where Airbnb property owners and hosts are making the most money.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Side Hustle

How to Turn Your Hobby Into a Successful Business

A hobby, interest or charity project can turn into a money-making business if you know the right steps to take.

Starting a Business

This Couple Turned Their Startup Into a $150 Million Food Delivery Company. Here's What They Did Early On to Make It Happen.

Selling only online to your customers has many perks. But the founders of Little Spoon want you to know four things if you want to see accelerated growth.

Branding

All Startups Need a Well-Defined Brand Positioning Statement. Here's a 3-Step Framework to Help You Craft One.

Startup founders often lack time but they should invest resources in identifying a winning brand position that will then drive all their strategic decisions.