Remember that ride-hailing startup designed only for women that got tons of press last year? Well, the Boston company called Safr is finally launching in Boston in March, and an invite-only service is already underway.
The company, previously called Chariot for Women, announced its March launch in a press release on Thursday, saying it plans to expand beyond Boston into other major U.S. cities later this year. The ride-hailing service is designed to connect "female drivers exclusively with female riders," with the mission of empowering women in the ride-hailing economy.
Safr's forthcoming launch comes after some civil rights lawyers last year raised concerns that a service just for women would violate Massachusetts' antidiscrimination laws.
Stephanie Sonnabend, former CEO of Sonesta Hotels and a Safr board member, said in a statement that women have been held back from becoming drivers for ride-hailing services in the past because of concerns about safety. While the ride-hailing industry is a $9 billion market, women only comprise one-quarter of drivers and make 34 percent less than male drivers, the company said, though it did not provide any citations from where the statistics came from.
"Safr wants to change the paradigm in ride-sharing with a platform of women driving women, creating a safe and empowering opportunity for all women," Sonnabend, also co-founder of 2020 Women on Boards, said.
For drivers, Safr appears to be offering a unique financial benefit in the ride-hailing industry: actual equity in the company. The company said drivers will gain "an increased stake in the company commensurate with their hours of driving and number of driver referrals." In addition, the company will take a 10 percent commission for the first 1,000 drivers. The company said it will also provide a "package of financial planning and other supportive services to drivers that will further empower them to maximize their financial freedom."
Safr's system will include "best-in-class" safety features, including a prominent SOS feature for both passengers and drivers, a system to help passengers and drivers confirm they have connected with the right person and a "Command Center that tracks rides in real-time to guard against deviation from a designated route," the company said. It will also require "the most thorough and comprehensive driver background checks as permitted by law."
When the company first unveiled its plans last March, its founder was identified as Michael Pelletz. Pelletz, a former Uber driver, had been running the company with his wife, Kelly Pelletz, who was listed as its president at the time. The two people were not mentioned in the press release issued today.
This article will be updated.
