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TRANSFORMING URBAN TRANSIT WITH THE NEW ORIGINAL RIDESHARE

Posted on by foundersunfound

 

Listen in from yourfavorite podcast spots or read the full transcript here.

OUR SPONSORS FOR THIS EPISODE:
VertueLab, a nonprofit fighting climate change by providing funding and holistic entrepreneurial support to cleantech startups.

This September their annual summit, Fuel 2020, is going digital. At Fuel 2020 you’ll connect with future-focused entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and more.
Founders Unfound listeners: Use code FOUNDERSFRIEND for 20% off your ticket.
Learn more at 2020fuel.org

The Plug  Check it out tpinsights.com; Use code UNFOUND to save $10 on annual subscription.

 

Tackling Transit Deserts in
New York…AND around the world

Growing up, Su Sanni thought he was going to be a doctor. Once out of college, it was music entrepreneur. Then the world of sales came calling. Su believes all these experiences and aspirations led him to where he ended up…a tech startup founder. His first company: folded. The second, WeDidIt: acquired. So now he’s back at it for a 3rd time, with his biggest vision yet.

Su (short for Sulaiman) Sanni is Co-founder and CEO of Dollaride, a mobility company for communities that are under-served by public transit. Su points out that there are over 100 Billion trips globally every year facilitated by informal transit systems. These informal alternatives arose to fill the ‘transit deserts’ left under-supported by formal, public transportation options.

Yet, within the informal transit ecosystem, there aren’t tools to efficiently match rider demand with the supply of drivers and vehicles. Dollaride wants to change that with their new app. They are starting in Su’s backyard – the boroughs of New York City. And they are working with the well-known dollar vans who canvas the areas ‘between’ the subway stops. Guess where the company got its name?

Su is our second founder in a row who is crushing his fund-raise using crowdfunding!

Listen in to hear his story.

 

“I realized that there was a solution to this transit desert issue”
~ Su Sanni

In this episode Su and Dan discussed:

  • His baby son (who joined us in the background)
  • Going from Brooklyn to the CA coast for high school
  • Having dollar van entrepreneurs in his family
  • Agency v. serendipity (aka making it happen vs. luck)
  • What he learned from startups #1 and #2
  • Why he chose crowdfunding

 

Episode Shout Outs:

Cate School
Boy’s Club of New York
43North
WeDidIt
Republic

 

“over 100 billion trips are taken annually through informal transit systems.”
~ Su Sanni

 

MORE on SU AND DOLLARIDE

SU:

@TheSuSanni [TW]
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sulaimansanni/
Startup Grind Fireside Chat

DOLLARIDE:

@Dollaride [TW]
@Dollaride [IG]
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dollaride/
https://republic.co/dollaride

 

“…and then that’s when the acquisition offers started to come in.”
~ Su Sanni