HopSkipDrive
HopSkipDrive is a ridesharing company that provides service to children and older adults. It has operations in 13 states in the United States. It is mostly aimed at school aged children who have IEPs, those that fall under the McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act or are in foster care, who are legally restricted to use other vehicle for hire services. It is often used as a supplement to traditional school buses.
 HopSkipDrive logo | |
| Type | Privately held company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Vehicle for hire |
| Founded | May 2015 |
| Founder | Joanna McFarland Carolyn Yashari Becher Janelle McGlothin |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles |
Area served | Los Angeles San Francisco Bay Area San Diego Sacramento Seattle Spokane Phoenix Las Vegas Denver Dallas-Ft. Worth Houston Austin Midland, TX Detroit Milwaukee Madison Indianapolis Philadelphia Tampa Brevard County DMV |
Key people | Joanna McFarland, CEO |
| Website | www |
The service can be accessed by school districts via the Ride IQ platform and by parents via a mobile app. The service employs mostly female drivers who have at least five years of experience in childcare.[1]
History
In 2013, Joanna McFarland and Janelle McGlothlin met at a children's party where the idea about "hiring moms and babysitters to drive kids around" originated. Later, they teamed up with Carolyn Yashari Becher, a former real estate lawyer, and founded the company.[2]
The service launched in May 2015.[3]
In January 2016, the company raised $10.2 million in a Series A round.[4]
In August 2018, the service launched in San Diego.[5]
In March 2019, the service launched in Washington, D.C.[6]
In August 2021, the company raised $25 million in a Series C round.[7]
In September 2022, it was announced the company raised $37 million in a Series D round.[8]
Safety Report
Each year, the company publishes a Safety Report highlighting their safety data and the safety investments made to the platform. In the fourth Safety Report for 2022, they highlighted 16.5 million miles driven across 22 markets and 11 states (and Washington D.C.).[9]
References
- Brown, Bruce (August 29, 2016). "HopSkipDrive is a California-based Uber for Kids". Digital Trends.
- "HopSkipDrive, a Ride Start-Up for the After-School Set". The New York Times. June 28, 2015.
- LIEN, TRACEY (May 1, 2015). "L.A. start-up introduces on-demand transport... for kids". Los Angeles Times.
- Tepper, Fitz (January 26, 2016). "HopSkipDrive, The Ridesharing Startup for Kids Grabs $10.2 million". TechCrunch.
- "HopSkipDrive: rideshare service for kids launches in San Diego". KFMB-TV. August 23, 2018.
- Clabaugh, Jeff (March 25, 2019). "HopSkipDrive, a kid-friendly ride service, comes to Washington". WTOP-FM.
- Bellan, Rebecca (August 11, 2021). "Student rideshare service HopSkipDrive raises $25M to expand and invest in electrification". TechCrunch.
- "HopSkipDrive Raises $37M Series D to Continue Transforming School Transportation". September 13, 2022.
- "HopSkipDrive Safety Report 2022". June 28, 2023.