The Rideshare Guy Podcast

In this episode, Hansu Kim, CEO of Flywheel Technologies, shares insights on the evolving taxi industry, Flywheel's innovative partnerships, and the impact of autonomous vehicles (AVs). With over 20 years of experience in transportation policy, Kim discusses Flywheel's rebranding, its strategic Uber partnership to integrate taxi services, and the regulatory changes required. He highlights the mutual benefits of the Uber-taxi collaboration, including increased ride efficiency and higher driver incomes. Kim also explores the future interplay between traditional taxis, AVs, and the rideshare industry's continuous transformation. 0:00 Intro to RSG268 with Hansu Kim, CEO of Flywheel Technologies 0:32 Who Is Hansu Kim and What Is Flywheel Taxi? 1:08 How Are Flywheel and Uber Partnering? 2:03 How Does This Partnership Affect the Taxi Industry? 2:42 What Regulatory Changes Shape the Consumer Experience? 4:00 What Are the Economic Benefits for Drivers and Companies? 5:31 How Is Technology Being Adopted in the Taxi Industry? 6:32 What Is the Future of Taxi and Rideshare Collaboration? 8:32 How Does Flywheel's Business Model Work? 11:30 What Are the Challenges and Benefits of the Partnership? 19:57 How Do Consumers Choose and What Influences Safety Perception? 24:12 What Is Uber's Strategy for Autonomous Vehicles? 24:51 How Is Waymo Partnering with Ride-Sharing Services? 26:14 What Are the Main Criticisms of Autonomous Vehicles? 26:58 How Are Partnerships Supporting Riders With Disabilities? 28:16 What Does the Future of the Taxi Industry Look Like? 29:38 How Will Autonomous Vehicles Impact Taxi Services? 36:08 How Can the Industry Prepare for an Autonomous Future? 40:11 What Innovations Are Shaping Taxi Technology? 42:45 What Are the Final Thoughts on Waymo and Autonomous Vehicles?   Flywheel: https://www.flywheel.com/ Flywheel's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flywheeltech/ Hansu Kim's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hansu-kim-b6b30b2/

In this episode, Dawood Milan, founder of Auto Marketplace, discusses the intricacies and the significance of New York City's Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) market. He provides insights into his career transition from finance to managing a successful Uber Black fleet and eventually founding Auto Marketplace. Dawood explains the unique regulations and economic value of the NYC TLC market, the challenges and opportunities it presents, particularly with regard to vehicle caps, insurance, and driver pay. He explores the future of autonomous vehicles (AV) in this competitive and complex market, touching on regulatory hurdles, potential business models, and the challenges posed by New York's unique urban environment. Dawood emphasizes the importance of regulatory acumen and market adaptability for new entrants like Waymo. 0:00 Intro 00:32 Who is Dawood and what is Auto Marketplace? 01:23 What makes the NYC TLC market unique? 04:50 How did Uber and Lyft impact NYC taxis? 07:21 What's the current state of NYC rideshare and taxis? 13:22 How do business models work in NYC rideshare? 16:30 What is Dawood's fleet and strategy? 18:40 What challenges and opportunities exist in the TLC market? 23:02 Why are TLC plates valuable and transferable? 24:29 How does TLC plate value change over time? 24:43 Is Waymo entering the NYC market? 25:25 What are the regulatory and business model hurdles? 26:49 How are drivers and medallion owners affected? 30:23 How do fleet management and real estate intersect? 37:08 What are the key tech and environmental challenges? 39:54 What's the future of autonomous vehicles in NYC? 43:14 What are the final thoughts?   Dawood's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawoodmian/ Automarketplace: https://automarketplace.substack.com/ X: https://x.com/automarketplc

In this episode, Harry interviews Daniel and Andres Munoz, co-founders of Tower Mobility. They discuss their extensive backgrounds in global strategy, operations, and last-mile logistics, as well as how they launched Tower Mobility during the pandemic with a focus on wheelchair accessible vehicles. The conversation delves into Tower Mobility's operational model, including its fleet of over 600 vehicles, primarily electric, and workforce of 2,000 W2 employees. Key topics include their partnerships with Uber and Waymo, the advantages and challenges of managing a large EV fleet, and how they are preparing for an autonomous vehicle future. The episode wraps up with insights on safety training, driver coaching, and the potential for human-powered services in the evolving mobility market. Check out Terawatt here for more information: https://www.terawattinfrastructure.com/   0:00 Who are the founders of Tower Mobility and how did the company begin? 02:59 How did Tower Mobility get started during the pandemic? 04:13 What is the W2 driver model and how does it work? 06:43 What types of drivers does Tower Mobility recruit and how do they find them? 13:27 How does Tower Mobility partner with Uber? 20:00 What safety and insurance measures are in place? 21:38 Why is adhering to speed limits so important? 22:16 How does the hourly pay model compare to being an independent contractor? 23:16 What are the main challenges of managing a fleet? 26:28 How are electric vehicles being used in fleet operations? 28:41 What cost benefits come with electric vehicles? 32:18 What does the charging infrastructure for EV fleets look like? 34:07 How might autonomous vehicles shape the future of fleet management? 39:20 What are the final thoughts and takeaways from the discussion?   Daniel's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-munoz-gmvp/ Andres' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andres-munoz-0278926/

In this episode, Harry interviews Jeremy Bird, Executive Vice President of Driver Experience at Lyft, about Lyft's recent global expansion and the strategic acquisition of Free Now. Bird discusses Lyft's growth into international markets, beginning with Canada and Puerto Rico, and highlights the benefits of partnering with Free Now, a prominent taxi app operating in nine European countries. They delve into the regulatory differences between the US and European markets, the similarities in driver ethos between Lyft and Free Now, and the potential synergies from combining their technologies and experiences. The conversation also covers the significance of Lyft's operations in Canada and its micro-mobility solutions, such as bike and scooter sharing, and how these ventures align with Lyft's overall strategy, including the future integration of autonomous vehicles.   00:00 Introduction to Jeremy Bird and Lyft's expansion 01:05 How has Lyft's expansion into Canada and Puerto Rico been? 02:33 What is Lyft's strategic shift to global markets? 05:19 What is Free Now and what are its operations? 07:34 How do Europe and US taxi industries compare? 10:34 What are the synergies and future plans for Lyft and Free Now? 14:33 What is Lyft's global expansion strategy? 15:38 How is Lyft's market penetration in Europe? 15:52 What are the regulatory challenges and labor relations? 17:17 What are the opportunities in the European market? 21:15 How is Lyft's growth in Canada? 23:50 How has Lyft been integrating micro-mobility solutions? 27:32 What are Lyft's plans for autonomous vehicles? 29:20 Conclusion and Future Prospects   Jeremy's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-bird-6a03aa11

In this episode, Harry speaks with Will Coleman, CEO and Co-Founder of Alto, an innovative rideshare and delivery service emphasizing safety, hospitality, and consistency. Will discusses Alto's operations in multiple U.S. cities, their unique business model involving employed drivers and owned vehicles, and their strategic focus on fleet management as a foundation for electric and autonomous mobility. Most importantly, the conversation delves into Alto's newest partnership with Uber, the complexities of fleet management, and the differentiation factors contributing to their success, such as lower insurance costs and high service quality. Will also touches on the benefits and challenges of scaling, and shares insights on the future of autonomous vehicles in the rideshare industry. 00:00 - Introduction to Will Coleman and Alto 01:09 - Will's alternate bio and podcast introduction 02:57 - Alto's unique business model 04:06 - Challenges of fleet management 08:54 - Partnership with Uber 16:18 - Benefits of Alto's model for Uber 21:56 - Unique experience in the rideshare industry 23:30 - Challenges and solutions in fleet management 27:14 - The Alto Fleet and electrification 29:25 - Potential Downsides of the Partnership 34:00 - Alto's Place in the Autonomous Vehicle Market 38:25 - Alto's reaction to the Waymo Business 40:46 - Future Plans and Closing Remarks Alto: https://ridealto.com Will Coleman's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-coleman RSG179: Redefining Rideshare with Alto RSG203: An Update on Alto Harry's Newsletter: The Driverless Digest

In this episode, Harry speaks with Jeremy Bird, the Executive Vice President of Driver Experience at Lyft. They discuss Jeremy's role and responsibilities, including his focus on autonomous vehicles (AV) and their integration into Lyft's services. Jeremy emphasizes the importance of having an open and honest conversation about the impact of AVs on human drivers, highlighting the potential for a hybrid future where both AVs and human-driven cars coexist. He mentions Lyft's upcoming partnership with May Mobility to introduce AVs on the platform and stresses the need for economic mobility and support for drivers. The conversation also covers Lyft's commitment to driver earnings, transparency, and new initiatives like an enhanced rewards program and opportunities for drivers to advance or transition in their careers. Jeremy asserts that while AVs may bring changes, the goal is to grow the overall market and improve the driver and rider experience. 00:30 Intros 2:13 What is Lyft's main focus right now? 5:00 Should drivers be worried about AVs? 7:07 What has Waymo's growth been like? 10:04 How will Lyft assist drivers with the rise of AVs? 13:15 Will humans be an option in the future? 17:40 Are humans in competition with AVs? 25:06 Will drivers earn less money because of AVs? 29:29 Will driving for Lyft get better or worse in the future? 31:20 What is causing Lyft's success? 34:53 How does Lyft compare with Uber? 38:48 Where to find Jeremy https://www.lyft.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-bird-6a03aa11/ https://x.com/jeremybird  

In this episode, Harry speaks with Justin Pappan, founder of EV Access, who discusses the inception and growth of his electric vehicle rental service based in Phoenix, Arizona. Three years since its founding, EV Access caters to both visitors and Uber drivers, offering flexible rental options and a focus on customer service. The conversation covers Justin's experiences as a Tesla owner, the operational challenges and strategies of managing an EV fleet, and the company's future plans, including preparation for autonomous vehicle integration. Justin also delves into the insurance and financial aspects of fleet management, the advantages of Tesla's technology in tracking and maintenance, and innovative marketing tactics. Lastly, he touches on the potential for partnerships and the importance of being prepared for the shift to driverless vehicles. EV Access: https://evaccess.io/ Justin Pappan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-pappan/ 00:30 Introduction to Justin Pappan and EV Access 00:51 Personal Connection and Tesla Experience 01:40 Challenges and Solutions in EV Rentals 02:34 Business Model and Future Plans 03:42 Fleet Details and Market Strategies 06:27 Operational Insights and Customer Education 17:25 Financial Strategies and Vehicle Partnerships 24:47 Advice and Industry Insights 26:18 The Challenges of Creating Authentic Content 26:45 The Value of Real-World Experience in Online Courses 29:06 Navigating the Car Rental Market 30:45 Effective Marketing Tactics for Fleet Owners 33:51 The Importance of Diversifying Platforms 41:17 Tools and Strategies for Fleet Management 42:21 Insurance Challenges in the Ride-Share Industry 45:57 Preparing for an Autonomous Vehicle Future 50:06 Conclusion and Contact Information Listen to these podcasts mentioned in the show: RSG261: EV Fleet Charging With Bluedot - Martin Hamedani: https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/therideshareguy/id/32888257 RSG139: Ed Walker on Managing Insurance for Shared Mobility Operators: https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/therideshareguy/id/15512057

In this episode, Harry interviews Garrett Wood, the founder and CEO of GetScale. Garrett discusses how GetScale uses one-on-one conversations combined with proprietary data and technology to recruit and motivate individuals for gig economy roles. He shares his extensive experience from his time at Uber, where he helped build and scale the first driver recruiting team. The conversation delves into the challenges and strategies of driver acquisition, onboarding, and conversion, including the importance of motivation and real conversations. Garrett also covers the operational details of GetScale's services and how they enhance recruitment processes for large gig economy businesses. Garrett's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrettscottwood/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/get-scale/ https://www.getscale.com/ 00:32 Introduction to Garrett Wood and GetScale 02:51 Garrett's Journey at Uber 05:06 Challenges and Strategies in Driver Recruitment 07:43 The Role of Motivation in Driver Conversion 12:50 GetScale's Approach to Recruitment 19:42 Tactical Insights for Gig Economy Companies 34:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode, Harry interviews Martin Hamadani, Vice President of Partnerships at Blue Dot. Martin discusses his role in leading the commercial and growth efforts for Blue Dot's B2B fleet business, highlighting his extensive experience in scaling startups and business development. They delve into Blue Dot's solutions for public and home charging for EV fleets, focusing on the integration of various public chargers into a single platform for ease of use. Martin also explains Blue Dot's value propositions for corporate fleets, gig drivers, and rental companies, emphasizing the importance of a unified EV charging experience. Topics include the benefits and challenges of EV adoption, the impact of Tesla's supercharging network, and strategies for fleet management. Martin concludes by sharing insights on the company's engagement at trade shows and future plans. 00:32 Introduction to Martin Hamadani and Blue Dot 01:14 The Evolution of Blue Dot's EV Solutions 03:53 Addressing Public Charging Challenges 06:34 Home Charging Solutions for Fleets 9:22 EV Charging for Rideshare Drivers 17:06 Tesla vs. Non-Tesla EVs in Fleets 22:33 Charging Flexibility and Costs 24:21 Fleet Owners and Corporate Partnerships 26:47 Exploring Car Sharing and Rentals 36:18 Challenges and Best Practices for Fleet EV Adoption 40:50 Conclusion and Contact Information Martin's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinhamedani/

In this episode Harry speaks with Kathryn Webster. Kathryn is an associate at KKR, a global investment firm investing across private markets in every asset class all over the world. She is also the founder of Together Achieving Dreams Foundation, bridging the gap between potential and possibility for the blind and low vision. 0:00 Intros 3:48 How should riders refer to blind passengers? 5:33 What is it like calling a ride as a blind person? 12:09 How should service animals be referred to? 16:58 What questions can you ask regarding service dogs? 22:37 What should a driver do if they are scared of dogs? 28:11 What does Kathryn think of fake service dogs? Links/references from the show: Kathryn's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryncornellwebster/ Lyft's Anti-Discrimination Policies: https://help.lyft.com/hc/en-us/all/articles/115012923767-Anti-Discrimination-Policies Lyft's Service Animal Policy: https://help.lyft.com/hc/en-us/all/articles/115013080048-Service-animal-policy Downloadable Policy Copy Service Animal FAQ and Policy: https://assets.ctfassets.net/ecaxsf5u3xse/37rxua7DcxdyiAPFyVNN2s/3acbe37181e66fe3744f98ef1d3853c2/Service_Animal_Policy.pdf 3-Minute How-To Service Animals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SppA9cmanfY Service Animal Hotline: 1-844-554-1297 for direct phone support

In this episode Harry speaks with Maria. Maria is the VP/MG of Gig at Getaround, the world's leading connected carsharing platform, on a mission toward empowering people to carshare everywhere. Maria's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-briskman-ba7802138/ 0:00 1:30 What is the joint between Getaround and HyreCar? 7:49 How can this partnership benefit drivers? 10:11 What markets is this available in? 14:57 What has Maria observed about successful drivers? 21:00 What's it like to be a renter or an owner? 23:40 What are some new things coming? 27:00 Are renters or owners more in demand?

In this episode Harry speaks with Nikhil Goel. Nikhil is the Chief Commercial Officer of Archer. Archer is designing and developing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for use in urban air mobility networks. Archer's mission is to unlock the skies, freeing everyone to reimagine how they move and spend time. Nikhil is also the co-founder of Uber Elevate, which will bring aerial rideshare to a large scale. 0:00 Intros 4:40 What was the inflection point for aerial rideshare? 11:10 What is the main advantage for aerial travel? 19:45 How can the price be reduced? 23:00 How far away is mass adoption? 31:55 What are some of the challenges? 34:40 Will aerial rideshare benefit everyone? Links: Nikhil's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ngoel1/ Archer: www.archer.com Uber Elevate: https://www.uber.com/us/en/elevate/vision/

In this episode Harry speaks with Jose Carlos Aguilar. Jose is the Director of Operations at MI NAVE. MI NAVE has the best vehicles to work with all Mobility Apps such as DiDi, UBER, Cabify and many more. MI NAVE: https://www.nave.mx/ Jose Carlos - Director of Operations at MI NAVE Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josecarlosaguilarb/   0:00 Intros 2:30 What is rideshare like outside the US? 6:25 Why is Latin America exciting for Uber? 10:00 How do take rates compare? 13:15 How is it different for drivers? 21:10 Why is Brazil a good market? 23:49 How does InDrive fit into the market? 26:51 How does a cash economy affect the industry? 30:50 How does the negotiation model work? 37:37 What does Jose think of regulations?

In this episode Harry speaks with Tomer Kashi. Tomer is the CEO of VOOM: VOOM is an InsurTech pioneer, crafting cutting-edge, usage-based insurance solutions for the future of mobility. Tomer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomer-kashi/ Voom: https://www.voominsurance.com 0:00 Intros 2:20 What is VOOM? 7:30 What makes VOOM unique? 11:00 How does insurance work with Uber? 12:29 What is it like launching in new states? 14:00 How is VOOM priced? 15:55 What is VOOM's ideal customer? 21:51 What makes a safe rideshare driver? 24:32 How would Tomer like the industry to change?

This episode is from a panel about DeliverZero from Curbivore 2024. DeliverZero delivers food to your door in reusable containers that are returned and reused. 0:00 Intro 3:36 Panel 8:05 Why doesn't DeliverZero use its own couriers? 12:22 What inspired DeliverZero? 20:24 How are the containers returned? https://www.deliverzero.com/

In this episode Harry talks with Jonah Bliss. Jonah is the founder of Curbivore. Curbivore was created out of a shared passion to help technologists, restaurateurs, retailers, local governments, and interested individuals navigate the challenges of the post-pandemic economy. Their hope is that by bringing together all sides of the table, theory can foster a productive dialogue that helps create more equitable and sustainable cities, communities, startups and small businesses. 0:00 Intros 1:25 What is the Curbivore event? 8:40 What will be going on this year? 18:50 How can you attend? Curbivore: https://curbivore.co/ Jonah's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonahbliss/

In this episode Harry speaks with Rilwan Lawal. Rilwan is the founder and CEO of GigEasy, which provides insurance for the gig economy. Before that he was the cofounder and COO for Neu. 0:00 Intro 2:25 What is GigEasy? 5:30 Who would use GigEasy? 7:30 What does it include? 9:20 What partnerships does GigEasy have? 16:30 Does GigEasy have any specialty insurance? 22:00 What is the government doing related to gig insurance? 29:00 Where can you find Rilwan? GigEasy: https://www.gigeasy.com/ Rilwan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rilwanlawal Rilwan's Email: rilwan@gigeasy.com

In this episode Harry speaks with David Risher. David is the CEO of Lyft. David is on to talk about the slew of new driver benefits that were announced in the early 2024 driver release. Some of the new announcements are drivers earn 70% of rider fares after fees, guaranteed, See where every dollar of riders' fares go, Earn more for waiting during scheduled rides, Find more ways to choose rides at the airport, Access new earning and navigation opportunities for EVs, Appeal deactivations easily in the Lyft app 0:00 Intros 1:53 What did Lyft improve? 3:08 What did Lyft change for fees? 14:05 How can drivers trust Lyft's transparency on fees? 17:01 What did Lyft change for deactivations? 23:10 How is Lyft addressing the problem with scheduled rides? 24:35 Why should you use Lyft's maps? 28:50 How much does David think drivers should make David's X(Twitter): https://twitter.com/davidrisher David's Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrisher/

In this episode Harry speaks with Rob Flessner. Rob is the founder of Vugo, an Al-Powered Mobility Media® Platform that places media and advertisements on digital displays in vehicles to create interactive and engaging passenger experiences. Before that he co-founded Rideshareinsurance.com which was later acquired. 0:00 Intro 2:25 What is the biggest change with Vugo over the past few years? 4:55 Why did Vugo shift to an embedded system? 7:10 What does Rob think about the competition? 9:40 What does Rob think of outside-of-car ads? 14:55 What is a fleet owner? 16:44 What do fleet owners gain? 17:57 How much can you earn? 21:25 How will AV impact Vugo? 23:05 What are Vugo's recent partnerships? 25:08 Where can you learn more?   Rob's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robflessner/ Rob's Twitter: https://twitter.com/robflessner?lang=en

In this episode Harry speaks with Andries Smit. Andries is an experienced entrepreneur and investment professional, and has recently taken on the role of Vice President of New Ventures at inDrive. In his capacity, Smit leads the New Ventures unit, focusing on investing in companies that challenge injustice, show potential for global expansion, and are in the post-seed/pre-Series A stage. 0:00 Intro 2:40 What is inDrive? 6:15 How did Andries discover inDrive? 8:30 What is the mission of inDrive? 10:49 What are Andries thoughts on mobility ventures? 13:34 How does Andries view the different arms on inDrive? 15:10 What are some of the details of inDrive's ventures? 16:30 What value does inDrive get from its ventures?  23:30 What are inDrive's plan for future markets?  34:34 Where can you learn more?   Andrie's LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/andriessmit Andrie's Twitter: https://twitter.com/driessmit?lang=en