With car service startups like Uber and Lyft exploding, bus startup Chariot is turning to crowdfunding to finance more Chariot van lines. Based out of San Francisco, Chariot is planning new routes from the Marina, Cow Hollow and Russian Hill to 'Western SOMA.' They are hoping to launch the route if 120 passengers can commit in advance and purchase monthly passes ahead of time. These passes will be discounted.
The new Chariot van lines will join its existing two routes. Aiming to provide service that is fast and affordable, Chariot prices typically are around $4 a ride or less if they have a monthly pass. The new venture also recently launched a smartphone app that allows users to check-in to their buses and see where their ride in real time.
What's Driving This Trend
- Crowdfunding for Transportation Startups
- Crowdfunding can help transportation startups like Chariot finance new ventures and expand their business by allowing individuals to invest in their success.
- On-demand Bus Services
- On-Demand bus services like Chariot provide an affordable and convenient transportation option for commuters in urban areas.
- Real-time Bus Tracking
- Real-time bus tracking through smartphone apps like Chariot's allows commuters to better plan their routes and helps bus services monitor and optimize their operations.
Who This Affects Most
- Transportation
- Transportation is a rapidly changing industry, with numerous opportunities for innovators to disrupt the market by introducing new on-demand services, vehicle technologies, and sustainable transportation solutions.
- Mobile App Development
- Mobile app development is a growing industry with many opportunities for developers to create innovative and user-friendly apps for transportation services like Chariot and other on-demand startups.
- Crowdfunding
- Crowdfunding is a disruptive innovation that has transformed the way entrepreneurs and startups can finance their ventures and engage individual investors and supporters in their success.
