Women-Only Ride-Hailing App Hibernates Operations, Plans to Relaunch with Improved System

In a surprising move, HerRyde, a Nigerian ride-hailing startup that caters exclusively to women, has decided to "hibernate" its operations after a year of providing services. The company, which aimed to bridge the gap between men and women in the male-dominated transportation sector, had facilitated over 2,000 rides for more than 500 passengers with a network of 200 registered women drivers.

The decision to "hibernate" was made to allow the company to re-strategize and improve its financial capacity. According to the company's co-founder and former CEO, Monsurah Oluwafuyi, "We found that it was important for us to go back to the drawing board to re-strategise. We are only hibernating so that we can improve our system and get more money".

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HerRyde was founded by Oluwafuyi alongside two of her friends, Muhammad Muazu and Kamaldeen Ibrahim. The company had plans to expand its operations to Lagos State, with a waitlist of 300 female drivers eager to join the platform. Despite the setback, the founders remain optimistic about the future of the company, with Oluwafuyi assuring that HerRyde would return to the transportation space within a "few months".

The need for a women-only ride-hailing service is underscored by the challenges faced by female commercial drivers in Nigeria. According to Nkechi Abiola, the founder of the Ladies on Wheel Association of Nigeria, "people, both female and male, don't really like women driving them. Even the rate of acceptance for us as commercial drivers is low. We are still fighting for that".

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HerRyde's decision to "hibernate" is a strategic move to improve its system and financial capacity. The company's focus on women's safety and inclusion in the ride-hailing space is crucial, especially in a country where women face significant challenges in the transportation sector. As the company prepares to relaunch, it will be interesting to see how it addresses the challenges it faced and how it plans to evolve to meet the changing needs of its customers.

Will HerRyde's relaunch be successful in addressing the challenges faced by women in the transportation sector? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Citations:

Women's only ride-hailing platform, HerRyde, launches in Abuja 

Nigerian ride-hailing app aims to put women at ease | Reuters

HerRyde: Women Driving Women – Apps on Google Play

HerRyde Driver - Apps on Google Play

#003: HerRyde's vision for women in the ride-hailing industry - LinkedIn

Women surviving by driving in Lagos chaotic transport sector