Boston witnessed a surge in transportation startups in 2014. From parking apps to customized bus routes, it seems that almost every facet of the transportation sector is getting an infusion of new tech-enabled ideas. Now, Skeddadle, a bus-sharing service that launched earlier this month, is already expanding out of New England.
Skeddadle’s service differs from the likes of pop-up bus Bridj. Whereas Bridj’s main focus (at this point in time, at least) is on carrying commuters in and around Boston, Skedaddle allows users to reserve charter buses and invite as many fellow passengers along as the bus will allow. Think of it as a party bus, but on a larger scale.
The launch of Skeddadle coincided with the AFC Championship game for which the company offered free rides to and from Foxboro for those who signed up first.
Now, co-founder and CEO Adam Nestler told BostInno that Skedaddle is moving serving into the Mid-Atlantic – specifically Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Washington D.C., Virginia and North Carolina.
“Our aim is to bring efficiency to group travel outside of cities,” Nestler told BostInno. “We want to connect areas that aren’t served by public transportation or frequent bus routes. There is a tremendous gap in America’s transportation network that isn’t served due to a lack of consistent demand. We think we can solve that problem by capturing the demand through our site and matching it with supply.”
Skedaddle works by partnering with local charter companies that ensure high-quality, safe and reliable transportation. They also leverage technology so users can create custom trips with as many travelers as possible, and split the bill equally among them (assuming the primary user didn’t pitch in more beforehand). They make their money by taking a percentage of ticket sales, as well as through advertising.
Seats can be reserved more than 48 hours in advance and trips can be canceled with the same amount of notice.
Nestler said Skedaddle has raised just shy of $100,000 in funding to date and is now working on raising a larger seed round, the amount of which he said he can’t disclose at this time.
A recent article by the Boston Business Journal reports that Skedaddle wants to raise at least $500,000 in seed funding to “double [Skedaddle’s] headcount to eight and ramp up sales and marketing efforts.”
But Nestler is also working to incorporate a crowdsource feature that would allow people to discover and coordinate bus trips with strangers heading to the same destination.
“That will be live in Q2 of this year,” said Nestler. “We will be rolling it out with some of the largest concerts, music festivals, and sports venues nationally.”
