Nelisiwe Shoba

What does your company do?

AsanteNdalo Rides is at the forefront of transforming urban mobility in South Africa, providing safe, reliable, and uniquely empowering transportation solutions exclusively for women and children. We identified a critical gap in secure, trusted transit for this demographic, and our solution is groundbreaking: an all-female driver network, meticulously vetted and trained, ensuring unparalleled peace of mind for every passenger. In just under 1000 days, we've rapidly established ourselves as a rising star, demonstrating significant traction in a number of safe rides completed and an impressive 90% repeat booking rate. Beyond the innovative service, AsanteNdalo Rides is a powerful social enterprise. We are deeply committed to economically empowering women by creating meaningful employment opportunities for our drivers, fostering their independence and contributing to stronger communities. We leverage technology with AI-powered geo-fencing for enhanced safety and offer seamless, cashless bookings. Ultimately, AsanteNdalo Rides isn't just about getting from point A to B, it's about driving social change, creating opportunities, and building a safer, more confident future for women and children across our nation.

What is your biggest success?

AsanteNdalo Rides' most significant success, especially as a burgeoning enterprise, lies in its rapid and resounding validation of market need and business model, demonstrated through exceptional customer loyalty and successful network establishment. This isn't merely about completing rides; it's about proving that our unique, safety-focused, all-female model deeply resonates with our target audience. The 90% repeat booking rate on over 15 safe rides is a powerful testament to the immediate trust and satisfaction our service inspires. In an industry often plagued by safety concerns, achieving such high retention within our initial "less than 1000 days" speaks volumes about the quality and necessity of AsanteNdalo Rides. Furthermore, the successful onboarding of interested female drivers is a cornerstone of our success. It confirms the viability of building a dedicated, all-female network, which is central to our mission of both empowering women economically and providing unparalleled safety for our passengers. This early traction and validation are the strongest indicators that AsanteNdalo Rides is not just a concept, but a much-needed, rapidly growing solution with immense potential for nationwide impact.

What has been your biggest hurdle?

As a rising star navigating rapid growth, AsanteNdalo Rides faces key strategic hurdles. Our primary challenge is Driver Recruitment Velocity and Quality Assurance. While we have interested drivers, consistently recruiting our target of trusted, verified female drivers at pace, while maintaining rigorous vetting and training standards, is crucial for scaling our core all-female network. Secondly, Market Adoption and Navigating Competition in pilot cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban presents a significant hurdle. Despite our strong USPs—an exclusive all-female network, unparalleled safety features, and AI-powered geo-fencing—we must employ adaptive marketing to ensure rapid user acquisition and retention amidst competitive landscapes. Finally, Operational Scale-Up and Maintaining Exceedingly High Client Expectations as we grow from initial rides to 5,000 users and 50 drivers demands meticulous process refinement and continuous attention to detail. We are proactively seeking mentorship to strategically overcome these challenges, ensuring sustainable growth and solidifying our leadership in safe, empowering mobility.