A new partnership between Strip District-based startup Gridwise and Germany-based engineering technology firm The Bosch Group is looking to create smart dashcams for vehicle drivers.
Gridwise offers a mobile app platform for gig workers of different occupations so they can track and maximize their earnings while on the job. The startup claims it has amassed an industry expertise and understanding of gig drivers, which is information it used in collaboration with Bosch's technical know-how to help build a dashcam system called RideCare that looks to aid in offering safety and security to vehicle drivers and fleet operators.
In addition to video recording a trip, Bosch claims its RideCare offering is capable of automatically detecting if damages have occurred to the vehicle or if the driver is participating in potentially dangerous driving maneuvers. It can even detect if a driver is smoking inside a vehicle, the company said.
And while some of these features are more designed for a system that's installed by fleet owners to monitor their vehicles' use by hired drivers, Gridewise believes its self-employed gig drivers could also benefit from such a product.
According to Brian Sigal, the director of partnerships for Gridwise, the Pittsburgh startup conducted a variety of user research studies and interviews of its users to better understand potential pricing and product positioning metrics for such a product as it relates to being competitive against already existing dashcams for sale. Sigal said Gridwise has been able to test the product with its user base in several cities across the country, yielding the startup live product feedback.
"Our goal is to support drivers in all aspects of their gig driving both on and off the road," Sigal said in an email statement. "Gig driving can’t exist if drivers don’t feel safe — dashcams exist to create a safer work environment particularly for rideshare. Through partnerships like this, we are able to directly contribute to pushing the dashcam market forward, which in turn improves driver safety."
Gridwise's latest partnership with Bosch follows the one it made previously with the company as it sought to develop windshield wiper blades capable of withstanding snow and ice buildup. Sigal said Gridwise users received an "exclusive discount" on this product due to the partnership.
In the spring of 2022, Gridwise announced it raised a $12.7 million Series A funding round. It employs 38 workers total, up from the 20 it had during its Series A announcement.
