Pop-up bus service Bridj announced Thursday it has raised $4 million in seed funding. Along with the funding, the company has named Gabe Klein, the former vice president of Zipcar, its new chief operating officer.
The round was led by Atlas Ventures, NextView Ventures, Suffolk Equity and Freshtracks Capital. Angel investors Jill Preotle, Andy Ross and Peter Aldrich also participated in the round.
Just last week, BostInno reported Bridj secured $1 million, the filing of which listed Perotle and Lee Bouyea of Freshtracks Capital as directors of the company.
Klein comes to Bridj after working at the Department of Transportation in Chicago under Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Prior to his position there, he served as the director of Washington D.C. DOT and as the VP of Zipcar.
“I am excited to join Matthew George, Bridj’s founder, Dr. David BlockSchachter [Chief Scientist] and the rest of the team at Bridj to continue to make a consequential, quality of life change in cities," said Klein, who has over two decades of transit and managerial experience, in a statement.
Klein added:
If we can save people from all walks of life time & money, and fill the tremendous gaps in the public transit system currently filled by cars, we will be successful. This is the most exciting time in transportation in the last 100 years, since the industrial revolution. Technology is enabling massive shifts in the way we live, move, and share and save resources. At the same time the world is urbanizing fast and you can only fit so many cars in our built environment no matter what type. Bridj has the potential to help the world meet the needs of a 21st century urban life.
Bridj noted in the press release that the addition of Klein and the $4 million will help bolster their plans for national expansion.
Currently, Bridj is trying to determine what the best route is for a bus line the terminus of which is located in South Boston. One option ends in the Longwood Medical area by way of the Prudential Center and Copley Square, the other ceasing at the Charles/MGH red line MBTA stop by way of the Seaport and Downtown Boston.
BostInno reached out to founder and CEO Matt George directly, but he was not immediately available to comment.
