GoKid – The Complete Carpool Solution
GoKid is the complete carpool solution for schools, teams and active families, helping parents carpool with families they know and trust. We are raising funding to further develop the features on our mobile web platform, making GoKid available to iPhone and Android users alike.
Project Description
Who We Are
GoKid is a complete carpool solution for schools, teams, and active families, helping parents to carpool with other families that they know and trust.
Our app is live in the App Store and available on iPhones now, and we're raising money to build out a version which will be accessible to Android and other smartphone users as well as on desktops.
What We Do
GoKid provides a platform for parents to easily set up carpools and invite other parents they know and trust to join and share the drives.
There are no hired drivers, just parents collaborating with other parents they already know. Users simply register a family account, set up a carpool schedule, and invite other parents they know to join. Our technology does the rest.
We set the schedule, optimize the route, and notify the parent whose turn it is to drive. We show the driver where and when to pick up the other kids.
For a later premium version of GoKid you will also have live-tracking so you will know when to send out your child and when he or she has been picked up and dropped off at the event.
Why should you use GoKid?
If you already carpool, you know that carpools can get very complicated with long chains of emails and text messages. We simplify and manage the process for you–taking the stress out of carpooling.
If you don’t already carpool, you could be saving yourself several hours of driving each month if you share your child’s rides with one or two other families.
This is a problem faced by millions of families around the US: In the US, 50% of all schools do not offer buses to get students to school. In fact, 32 million kids are being driven to school by their parents every single day. This means long lines in front of the schools at pick up and drop off times, causing traffic and emissions. Not to mention the added stress as active parents try to juggle their work-life balance.
What We’ll Use this Funding For
We're raising money to build out a mobile web version which will be accessible to Android and other smartphone users as well as on desktops. Your money will be used to:
- Fund the design and technology implementation
- Test with live users
- Launch the application to all users by the end of 2016
Why You Should Care
- Teaching kids values: Going green starts with your own behavior – For every gallon of gasoline burned, 17.68 pounds of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere. With just one extra person in the car you substantially reduce your own carbon footprint–and you’re setting a good example for you own child.
- The driving adds up–an estimated 80 billion hours of time is spent by parents driving their children to and from school and activities. We help families to win back time.
- Driving can become expensive quickly. It costs about 49 cents per mile to own and operate a car, and about 12 cents for gas, oil, and other maintenance. Splitting the cost with other drivers by only having to drive once or twice a week can quickly make a difference!
- Carpooling creates friendships and communities.
Thanks for being a part of our journey to redefining how children get to school and activities. With your help we can offer this solution to even more active families!
Updates
The Campaign FAQs
Why is the GoKid team the best one to solve this problem?
Our team has a combined 50 years of experience building technology enabled businesses. We have already garnered attention as a finalist in the Women Who Tech Challenge in 2015 and a semi-finalist in NextChallenge: Smart Cities 2016. In June 2016, GoKid was accepted as one of twelve companies (out of over 500 applicants) into Techstars Mobility in Detroit, Michigan. Techstars is one of top accelerator programs in world; it has a less than 1% acceptance rate, and provides world-class mentors and investors.
Who else has funded your project?
GoKid received its first round of funding via Techstars and Fontinalis VC, a venture fund founded by Bill Ford (Ford Motor Company). GoKid has piloted its technology at 9 schools in the US and is planning to start licensing its technology as software as a service to US and international schools, teams, municipalities, corporations, and organizations. We are also working with Ford and Magna to fund school pilots, and have secured a collaboration partnership with Verizon to offer GoKid’s premium version as an employee perk.
How long will it take you to have the mobile web version fully operational?
Our goal is to have this publicly available and free of major bugs by January 2017.
Who will be able to use GoKid?
The basic version of GoKid will be available to all users for free; however we are launching some additional features in our premium version that will only be available to those with premium accounts.
Is GoKid safe?
GoKid simply facilitates carpool organization and management. We do not provide drivers or cars, and we don't share your information with anyone else. You decide who you know and trust and would like to carpool with, GoKid just helps to make it happen.
Access to our premium features for one year, once launched (one account).
A GoKid branded aluminum water bottle + previous level rewards
A GoKid children's t-shirt + previous level rewards
GoKid will donate $25 on your behalf to the National Forest Foundation to fund the planting of 25 trees in US forests + access to our premium features for one year, once launched (one account).
All previous level rewards: one year access to premium features, a GoKid water bottle, GoKid t-shirt, and 25 trees planted on your behalf.
A Graphic Image genuine goatskin leather agenda in silver + previous level rewards
"Sponsored by" your name for one month on our website + all previous perks including FIVE premium GoKid accounts for one year.
"Sponsored by" your name for one month on our website + and in web app + all other previous level rewards.
Receive 3 years of GoKid’s premium features, free (+ all previous level perks)
Your name will be featured on the GoKid website Partners + Supporters page (+ all previous level perks)
Rewards
Access to our premium features for one year, once launched (one account).
A GoKid branded aluminum water bottle + previous level rewards
A GoKid children's t-shirt + previous level rewards
GoKid will donate $25 on your behalf to the National Forest Foundation to fund the planting of 25 trees in US forests + access to our premium features for one year, once launched (one account).
All previous level rewards: one year access to premium features, a GoKid water bottle, GoKid t-shirt, and 25 trees planted on your behalf.
A Graphic Image genuine goatskin leather agenda in silver + previous level rewards
"Sponsored by" your name for one month on our website + all previous perks including FIVE premium GoKid accounts for one year.
"Sponsored by" your name for one month on our website + and in web app + all other previous level rewards.
Receive 3 years of GoKid’s premium features, free (+ all previous level perks)
Your name will be featured on the GoKid website Partners + Supporters page (+ all previous level perks)