FemiRides, a Vishakhapatnam-based startup offers exclusive ride services with women drivers for female passengers, aiming to provide a safer and more comfortable travel experience. The initiative aims to empower women drivers and create job opportunities in the transportation sector. FemiRides plans to expand its fleet to 25 vehicles and operates a women-instructor-centric driving school. The startup draws inspiration from similar initiatives in other states.
Founder & Managing Director of FemiRides, Radhika Behera mentioned, "When women can excel in fields like submarine operations and space travel, why not in transportation services? Founded in December 2023, our startup's key objective is empowering women and ensuring their safety." She further added, "Despite our best efforts on social media, finding women drivers was quite a challenge during the initial few months. To address this, we started a driving programme, which has been successfully increasing our female staff count."
In order to expand its services, FemiRides is launching an app and increasing its fleet to 10 cabs and 10 bike taxis. At present, it involves 15 women in cab driving, driving instructors, and bike riding. The company is also preparing to apply for airport services and promoting its services through an app and social media. FemiRides has enrolled a former head nurse as a health support professional.
Founder Radhika says that the app is being redesigned for launch in October and is receiving inquiries from metro cities like Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Mumbai. The company has seen a significant increase in women taking driving lessons, with 50 women already learning from national-level athlete instructors. FemiRides plans to expand its electric fleet to promote environmental sustainability and cost savings.
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