September 28, 2021
With a Group and Need a Ride? How About an On-Demand Vehicle That Can Fit Everyone? A New Austin-Based Rideshare Service Has You Covered
The beauty of ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft is that they provide convenient transportation for individuals, however groups have been left behind. With only sedans and SUVs available, groups are forced to split up and take multiple vehicles. Austin-based startup Fetii has a solution.
Fetii’s platform and network of 15-passenger vehicles delivers on-demand transportation for groups of riders. The world’s first group-focused rideshare service, Fetii aims to keep people together and help solve two of the world’s most pressing problems: CO2 emissions and traffic congestion.
“Many people don’t realize that the $85.8 billion rideshare industry is only a decade old,” notes Fetii CEO Matthew Iommi, “and as with all industries, we’ll begin to see verticals arise that provide specialized rideshare solutions. Fetii has done exactly that, we set out to bring group transportation into the digital age with a specialized platform tailored to groups, for our riders’ sakes and for the sake of the planet.”
[Image: Fetii]
Like other ride-hailing services, Fetii lets users order on-demand rides or schedule transportation in advance. But its flexible group check-in system automatically splits the bill, and allows riders to pay their share via a convenient QR code. The group rideshare platform is less expensive than other ridesharing apps such as Uber and Lyft, averaging a trip fare of just $5 per person.
Fetii’s drivers must pass the industry’s most stringent screening process, but owning a properly sized vehicle is not a prerequisite. Drivers who do not own a vehicle that meets Fetii’s standards can lease one at reasonable rates. That’s just another way that Fetii seeks to make the most out of every vehicle on the road.
Fewer cars mean less traffic congestion, which translates into good things for both riders and the environment. Nearly three hundred million vehicles are registered in the US, and more than 100 million of those are driven each day. Vehicles contribute nearly 27% of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 75% of all CO2 emissions in the US.
By gathering more people into fewer rides, and helping existing vehicles do more, Fetii hopes to do more than just move people from one place to another. Its core mission is to benefit society and safeguard our future by reducing road traffic while getting people where they need to go.
“We have created a platform that allows groups to affordably ride together, thus greatly enhancing the transportation experience while also significantly reducing congestion and emissions,” Iommi says.
Some big names have taken notice. Sharky Laguana, CEO of groundbreaking van-rental firm Bandango, recently joined Verizon veteran Ashok Kumar and RideScout co-founder Joseph Kosper on Fetii’s board of advisors. Laguana’s involvement with Fetii is part of a broader partnership with Bandango that will support Fetii’s expansion into new markets.
As Fetii has taken hold in its native Austin, it has built its fleet up, completed over 50,000 miles, and serviced over 125,000 passengers. Visit fetii.com to learn more.