HERide, The Black Woman-Owned Rideshare Company Transforming Safety and Equity in Transportation

They’re redefining what transportation can be!

HERide, a trailblazing, Black woman-founded rideshare service, is setting the stage for a safer, more equitable rideshare experience for women and non-binary individuals. Jillian Anderson, a skilled computer science engineer, established HERide in 2020 along with her co-founder DeVynne Starks. Together, they are steering the industry in a new direction as the pioneering female-friendly ridesharing platform. Unlike other big-name competitors, HERide provides women-only driver options, ensures an impressive 80% payout to its drivers, and integrates cutting-edge biometric safety measures, signaling a bold evolution in the rideshare industry.

Source: Heride

“[It is] a major shift in an industry that has historically overlooked women’s safety and earning potential. Despite being a small player in a space dominated by giants, we’re proving that innovation and impact don’t require billion-dollar budgets,” shared co-founder DeVynne Starks with Because Of Them We Can.

Marking Milestones in Five Years

Since its launch, HERide has achieved notable milestones that reinforce its mission. One major breakthrough occurred in 2023 when HERide became just the second rideshare platform approved to operate at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the world’s busiest travel hubs. This exclusive opportunity underscores HERide’s ability to compete with long-standing industry leaders. Operating at such a pivotal location emphasizes how HERide’s innovative model is proving both sustainable and scalable.

Built on Safety and Equity

HERide remains steadfast in its commitment to both passenger safety and equity for drivers. While giants like Uber and Lyft are recently experimenting with women-only ride options, HERide has championed this initiative from the outset. A rigorous 1:1 driver onboarding process ensures only properly vetted drivers join their platform, significantly enhancing passenger safety.

Adding to its future-forward approach, HERide introduced innovative biometric safety tools as early as 2022. These safeguards reflect the brand’s dedication to rider security, ensuring passengers feel protected from the moment they request a ride. The company also enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy against sexual assault, impersonation, and driver misconduct. “Other companies often follow trends—we set standards,” the company’s community proudly asserts.

Scaling Despite Funding Challenges

HERide’s growth story is as inspiring as its mission. Despite the grim statistic that only 0.34% of venture capital funding reaches Black women founders, the team has taken a resourceful approach to scaling. Creative strategies like forging essential partnerships and leveraging community support have helped HERide gain traction.

A $80K Family and Friends funding round in 2024 brought their annual funding for that year to $155K. These efforts have fueled the company’s continued expansion. HERide is currently undertaking an ambitious $2.5 million pre-seed funding round in 2025, aiming to enhance operations and broaden its market presence.

Since facilitating its first live ride in March 2022, HERide has witnessed exponential growth. With a driver base exceeding 300 and a loyal community of 20,000 users, the app has already surpassed 50,000 downloads. Impressively, HERide has achieved this growth purely through earned media and grassroots community engagement. This lean and intentional strategy has allowed the company to reinvest every dollar into refining the app, improving the ride experience, and incentivizing drivers and riders.

Exciting Next Steps for HERide

While HERide is currently available in Atlanta and Athens, Georgia, its sights are set on nationwide expansion. The upcoming release of HERide 2.0 will further elevate the user experience, introducing premium features such as corporate dispatcher accounts and UX enhancements.

For founders Jillian Anderson and DeVynne Starks, the ultimate vision is to ignite a movement toward safer and more inclusive transportation systems for women and non-binary individuals across the globe.

Join the Movement

HERide isn’t just a ridesharing service; it’s a call for change in the transportation landscape. Want to be a part of this growing community? Visit www.heride.com today to learn more about HERide’s mission or to join as a driver or rider.

HERide is proving that even in an industry dominated by billion-dollar competitors, bold ideas and a commitment to equity can make an undeniable impact.

Source: Because of Them We Can