Kimberly Evans had always been cautious of using rideshare apps. When she continued to read news articles about women being victims of crimes while using popular rideshare platforms, she felt a call to action to create a safe alternative.
In 2020, after research confirmed that other women were also eager to see a safer ridesharing option, Evans founded Just Her Rideshare. She hard-launched the startup in 2023.
Just Her Rideshare provides an app that enables passengers to book rides with vetted female drivers. The app has a similar user interface to other rideshare software such as Uber or Lyft, but comes with enhanced safety features to protect both riders and drivers.
Pairing female riders with female drivers helps mitigate risk factors associated with crimes, Evans said. Riders and drivers alike are required to upload photos, and can choose to opt out of a ride if there is not a photo uploaded.
Evans said properly vetting drivers is especially important to Just Her Rideshare’s mission of helping create a safe space for riders and drivers. While many leading rideshare companies process background checks in just a few hours, Just Her Rideshare partners with a small business to conduct more thorough and comprehensive background checks. These background checks take between three and five days and examine driving records and other potential criminal history.
Additionally, while other rideshare apps offer features that allow female users to indicate a preference not to be matched with men, Just Her Rideshare distinguishes itself by making connecting with female drivers the standard, rather than just a feature.
More than just a ride
Beyond providing a safer ridesharing option, Just Her Rideshare is also a community mobility company. The startup works to build community among riders, drivers and locals, and this mission is a unique aspect that distinguishes it from other rideshare apps.
“We’re not trying to be another Uber and Lyft,” Evans said. “We’re trying to offer something different, and what we do really well is offer community.”
The startup has created “Just Her Hub,” an extension of the rideshare app where passengers and drivers alike can connect and support each other beyond the ride. Just Her Hub functions as an open forum where users can talk with each other, share recommendations and give advice.
“We offer our customers a safe space to not only ride, but to build community with us after the ride,” Evans said.
Just Her Rideshare also partners with local nonprofits to provide transportation to people in need, regardless of their gender.
“Our ultimate goal is more than just a ride to the airport,” Evans said. “We are also solving transportation problems that impact not only women in marginalized communities, but sometimes male [or transgender] passengers as well.”
Building community in business
Just Her Rideshare’s commitment to community extends to the startup’s business model. Drivers receive 70% of ride fees, and the startup receives the other 30%.
“We wanted to treat our drivers like they’re more than their vehicle to us and build community with them,” Evans said.
The startup’s partnership with local nonprofit organizations, meanwhile, functions as a business-to-business opportunity. Nonprofit organizations generally pay the same rate for rides as other customers, but Just Her Rideshare does occasionally offer discounts when there will definitively be a large number of rides requested by a given nonprofit organization.
Over 15,000 riders and 2,000 drivers are currently registered for Just Her Rideshare; that number is anticipated to grow as the startup expands service. The app has an 88% retention rate for riders.
QUICK BITS
Startup: Just Her Rideshare
Founder: Kimberly Evans
Founded: 2020 (Hard-launch 2023)
Team size: 10
Location: Charlotte
Website: www.justherrideshare.com
Funding: Bootstrapped; raising pre-seed
As of this writing, Just Her Rideshare’s app is available in Charlotte, Greensboro and the Raleigh-Durham metropolitan area, but the startup is already working on expanding to new cities. Evans next plans to launch service in three South Carolina cities—Columbia, Charleston and Greenville—and already has a waitlist of drivers in each city.
“We’re super proud that we can be known as more than just a ride or more than just a number, that we are truly building community,” Evans said.
