67. RideTandem

Founders: Alex Shapland-Howes, Tatseng Chiam, and Huw McLeod
Year founded: 2019
Website: ridetandem.co.uk

For one-in-five Britons, using public transport to get to work simply isn’t viable. Combine this with the rising cost of commuting, and the portion of Brits who face barriers travelling to work is likely to be much higher. 

This reality dawned on Alex Shapland-Howes, Tatseng Chiam, and Huw McLeod in 2019, after talking to a group of fathers in Rochdale who had to pass up work opportunities a 30-minute car journey away due to lack of access to transportation. Their solution? RideTandem – a mobility-as-a-service startup that matches passengers to shared vehicles in their area, in a similar way to apps like Uber or Bolt. 

RideTandem pairs employers, agencies, and schools with local transport companies, allowing them to subsidise commutes for their communities. The startup’s proprietary dispatch system includes fleet management features, a drivers app, and a bespoke customer app that lets passengers book their seats, make delayed payments, and track the location of their vehicle all within a couple of taps.

Not only does RideTandem make commuting more accessible to passengers, but the company is also actively contributing to environmental sustainability by offsetting more than 150 metric tons of CO2 every month. The average RideTandem vehicle carries over 20 passengers, a stark contrast to the average British commuter car with only 1.16 passengers.

Despite facing challenges throughout COVID-19, the company’s achievements are nothing short of remarkable. In their third year of business, they reached £4.4 million in gross revenue, representing around 10x year-on-year revenue growth.

The company is currently working with household names like Lidl, Next, and Royal Mail and has recently secured an extra £5 million in funding, which will be used to expand the service into Germany. 

RideTandem’s journey showcases their dedication to solving real-world problems, driving sustainability, and making a positive impact on both the workforce and the environment. At a time when transport inaccessibility is still stark, this is definitely something we can get on board with.