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]]>Stacey Doss
[email protected]
949-285-2362
SEE JANE GO ANNOUNCES NEW CEO, CELEBRATES ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY
All-female ride hail app looks forward to more expansion
LAGUNA HILLS, CALIF. (SEPT. 13, 2017) – See Jane Go announced today the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer, Cassandra Miller, to the nation’s first women-driving-women ride-hail platform. Miller is one of the company’s founders and served as Chief Operating Officer for See Jane Go since the company’s inception.
This exciting announcement comes on the one-year anniversary of See Jane Go’s beta launch in Orange County, CA. Since its launch 12 short months ago, See Jane Go has differentiated itself from the other ride-hail providers with its service and offering that has been built with a focus on the needs of an exclusively female audience. See Jane Go has spent the first 12 months of operation maturing its mobile application, and developing unique programs that focus on how women prefer to operate, with advanced planning, relationships with regular drivers, and a focus on community.
As See Jane Go looks to the future, it plans to expand to Los Angeles County in the first quarter of 2018 and shortly after, into the rest of Southern California and beyond. Orange County and Long Beach markets currently have 1,000 women drivers ready to serve ladies looking for another option in ride-hail services.
Miller, who spent the last year leading the product management, finance, marketing, regulatory affairs, and overall company operations, is now responsible for leading the entire organization. To people close to the company, it is no surprise that Miller was chosen as the company’s new CEO, as she has consistently been a powerful force moving the company forward, with innovative solutions and a tireless focus on execution. She has become well known to all in the See Jane Go community as a leader, advocate, and supporter of the women that the company serves.
Miller is a serial entrepreneur who has spent her career building, developing and growing a variety of service businesses, translating the corporate vision into an intricate structure of technology, service, operations, and innovative customer experiences. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from UC Irvine and graduated with honors from UC Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business, Executive MBA program. Her transition into the role of CEO was a long time coming. Her commitment, determination, impressive skill set and attitude have created the foundation on which See Jane Go is now built.
“The first year for any new company is a bit of a beta phase; I’m happy to say that See Jane Go is now transitioning the early lessons of the beta phase into the execution and growth phase,” said Miller. “I am so excited to put everything we’ve learned in year one into making the coming years a huge success.”
“Cassandra is uniquely qualified for this position, not only because of her business acumen, but because of her personal life experiences as well,” said Mark Theissen, president and board member for See Jane Go. “She has a passion for helping women and compassion for their challenges at a very personal level. You can’t be any more committed than that.”
Miller is an example of determination and grit as she has risen from personal experiences of being a teen mom, surviving domestic violence, homelessness and poverty to her current role as the leader of this promising mission-driven company, providing freedom and safety to women in transportation. She brings the same tireless persistence and drive to succeed to her position at See Jane Go.
About See Jane Go
See Jane Go is the first women driving women ride hail service to successfully launch and operate in the US. Like Uber and Lyft, See Jane Go gets people from Point A to point B by utilizing an app, but that is where the similarities end.
Miller explains, “Ride-hail services are by nature high tech and efficient, but the focus on technology and efficiencies have taken away some of the old-fashioned values that women cherish. See Jane Go includes these cherished values into our service offering and company culture; simplicity, long term relationships, scheduling ahead, contractors who value their business beyond just a “gig” or “side hustle”, and deep connections to your local community.”
See Jane Go gives women the freedom to access the benefits of ride-hail without the fear and discomfort associated with being alone in a car with a man you don’t know. Interested drivers and riders can join Jane’s tribe online at seejanego.co.
Learn More about our new CEO:
http://www.socsci.uci.edu/newsevents/news/2017/2017-06-29-miller-see-jane-go.php
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]]>Los Angeles, CBSLocal News
SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — Police are warning women traveling alone to be careful if they use Uber or Lyft. This comes after an arrest of an Uber driver from Costa Mesa who police say sexually assaulted a female passenger who fell asleep in the back of his car.
The woman, from Santa Ana, managed to escape. Police arrested a 37-year-old man in connection with the assault last weekend.
As detectives suspect more victims are out there, social media is buzzing with concern.
A father and daughter business team from San Juan Capistrano hopes to put an end to that anxiety for female riders. See Jane Go, launched last year, has only female drivers who only pick up female passengers. The founders William and Savannah Jordan say the more women worry about their safety when they travel alone, the more they are finding out about the company and signing up for the ride app.
“A lot of people talk about incidences like this and express a lot of gratitude,” Savannah Jordan said. “We’re glad we are here for them.”
See Jane Go is expected to expand to Los Angeles and San Diego soon.
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NPR asked See Jane Go to join the conversation on today’s show entitled Uber Drives into Big Trouble.
]]>LAGUNA HILLS, CA–(January 17, 2016) – See Jane Go, Inc., the nation’s first operating women-driving-women ride-hail service, today announced its partnership with Laura’s House, the only state-approved comprehensive domestic violence agency in South Orange County. “Since inception, it has been our intention to give a percentage of each ride to a charitable cause,” says See Jane Go Founder William Jordan. “We surveyed our entire female driver base to see which causes resonated with them and Laura’s House emerged as the clear choice for a non-profit alliance.”
The connection between providing transportation and empowerment was a clear fit according to Laura’s House CEO and Executive Director Margaret Bayston. She stated, “The fight to break the cycle of domestic violence requires the efforts of many, which is why Laura’s House remains so grateful to all its partners, particularly those like See Jane Go, who share our commitment to empowering women. See Jane Go is providing much more than safe and comfortable transportation for women in our care; it’s helping to provide the strength to rebuild lives.”
Like all See Jane Go riders, Laura’s House program participants will enjoy a customized and comfortable atmosphere. Two additional perks of riding with See Jane Go are the inherent safety of female drivers, and the fact that See Jane Go is gifting Laura’s House with cost-free and easy to access rides for their women by using their profits to absorb the cost of the rides.
Amy Borst, Clinical Director of Laura’s House comments, “It is not always the safest or most convenient venue when traveling with young children, to utilize public transportation in Orange County – and is oftentimes the greatest hindrance to a survivor following through with admission to shelter. It can be viewed as their first ‘failure’ to making a positive change in their lives given the many obstacles they would encounter in their attempts to do so. The relationship between Laura’s House and See Jane Go will greatly assist in the provision of safe, convenient transportation, which will in turn break through those initial barriers in seeking help and ultimately a change in their lives. See Jane Go is providing a positive option to those who oftentimes feel ‘stuck’ in their situation and option-less.”
With plans to expand to cities across the country, See Jane Go will continue to seek non-profit alliances nationwide to realize our vision of empowering female drivers and passengers to reach their goals and destinations.
To become a See Jane Go driver or rider, register today at seejanego.co. Interested investors are encouraged to visit the website to learn more about the investment opportunity.
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About See Jane Go
See Jane Go was conceived during a conversation between Founder William Jordan and his daughter, Savannah, while driving home from an L.A. Lakers game. Savannah expressed interest in driving for an existing ride-hail service and William was adamantly opposed due to concern for his daughter’s safety. The idea for See Jane Go, the first women-driving-women ride-hail app, was born. Today, See Jane Go meets the specific needs of female drivers and passengers in Orange County and Long Beach, Calif., with plans to expand nationwide. It is steered by a female-majority executive management team and committed to providing women the opportunity to earn an income on their terms and a trusted ride-hail alternative for female passengers. Interested drivers and riders can join Jane’s tribe online at seejanego.co.
See Jane Go, the new “women-driving-women ride-hail app” will host its third onboarding event in Long Beach (its first in Los Angeles County) at Gaslamp Music + Bar + Kitchen on Saturday, December 3 from 9:00AM to 11:00AM, where over 200 pre-registered See Jane Go drivers are expected to attend, along with Long Beach City Councilmembers Stacy Mungo and Suzie Price.
The company was founded by William Jordan and his daughter Savannah as a safer alternative to ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft.
“She and I were both uncomfortable with the thought of her getting into a car with a man she didn’t know and we wondered if there was a way to provide similar services exclusively for women,” Jordan told the Post.
While the majority of ride shares occur without incident, See Jane Go’s CEO Kimberly Toonen told Forbes that among the incidents that do happen in rideshare vehicles, 97 percent of assaults are by men.
Toonen also told Forbes, in light of See Jane Go’s Orange County debut in September, that women make up 25 percent of drivers for traditional rideshares.
“Some have told me they feel anywhere from mildly harassed to downright threatened by some of their male passengers,” Toonen told the magazine. “One in a resort area told me that she stops driving after about 10:00PM, when passengers are likely to have been drinking.”
The new platform is planning to expand across the country, and eventually worldwide, “creating a movement to provide an alternative vehicle for women to earn an income on their terms,” according to officials.
See Jane Go also offers rides to men, as long as they’re accompanied by a woman.
The Driver Onboarding Event in Long Beach is See Jane Go’s first soft launch in the Los Angeles market, said Jordan, who said they’ve already had requests from prospective drivers and future passengers to come to the seaside city.
“Long Beach is a thriving city with restaurants, clubs and universities,” said Jordan. “We look forward to providing a new and trusted riding alternative and for creating new jobs for women in Long Beach who want to work as independent contractors, set their own hours and be part of a movement of women helping women.”
For more information, or to register as a driver or a passenger, visit the website here.
Gaslamp Music + Bar + Kitchen is located at 6251 East PCH.
]]>AUTOMOBILITY LA’S 2016 TOP 10 AUTOMOTIVE STARTUPS
The LA Auto Show has merged its Press & Trade Days with the Connected Car Expo to become AutoMobility LA – the first trade show converging the technology and automotive industries to discuss the most pressing issues surrounding the future of transportation and mobility.
Selected from more than 100 applicants, the finalists for AutoMobility LA’s 2016 Top Ten Automotive Startups competition span everything from women-only ride sharing to foam-covered cars. The grand prize winner, chosen from the 10 companies below, will be announced during AutoMobility LA 2016, which takes place at the Los Angeles Convention Center Nov. 14 through 17.
EverCharge
Electric vehicle charging can be challenging for drivers living in apartments and condos. EverCharge aims to make EV ownership accessible to all through affordable and intelligent scalable vehicle-charging systems designed for multifamily homes.
see Jane Go
Addressing rideshare safety concerns for female passengers, See Jane Go is a ride-hail app created by women, for women. With only female drivers, it also creates income opportunities for women previously uneasy about letting unknown male passengers into their car.
Spira4u
Designed as a safer, more efficient driving alternative, the Spira4u is a three-wheeled electric vehicle covered with soft foam outside and in. Aimed at reducing deaths and injuries from collisions, especially with pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists, this minuscule marvel is also eco-friendly.
Spatial Al
Empowering people to “navigate like a local anywhere on earth,” Spatial builds interactive, dynamic social layers into maps through data analysis of social media. Harnessing a combination of ethnographic research and data engineering, it infuses maps with local culture and flavor.
YourMechanic
YourMechanic is a peer-to-peer auto repair marketplace that brings vetted mechanics to your home or workplace. The California startup offers house calls in more than 700 U.S. cities and claims up to 30% savings compared with traditional repair shops.
That was evident in this week’s AutoMobility LA conference, an event held by the organizers of the Los Angeles Auto Show, which will continue over the next two weeks.
AutoMobility is an apt name, because much of the innovation seems to involve making the car ever more like a giant smartphone on wheels. But social mobility is a factor, too, as carmakers confront the surging popularity of ride-hailing services, which means fewer people see a need to own a car, while the push toward autonomous vehicles portends a time when many cars will not need people to drive them.
Maybe this auto convention should be renamed the Los Angeles Technology Show, given the presence of companies like Intel, Cisco and Garmin here, all intent on making digital, internet-connected vehicles even more so. Digital security companies, like Argus Cyber Security and QNX, were also here, promising to protect networked cars against hackers.
Automakers, including BMW, Ford, Hyundai, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz, promoted their digital bona fides and extolled services like Android Auto or Apple CarPlay that are meant to allow the safer, hands-free use of smartphones in the car, even though safety experts say such features may be contributing to the sometimes fatal problem of distracted driving.
Hyundai announced a partnership with Amazon that would enable the South Korean automaker’s cars to be remotely started, and the heater or air-conditioner to be turned on, by speaking to an Amazon Echo device inside the home. It was only the latest in a series of car-related apps that Amazon has introduced through Echo and the Alexa personal assistant. Other apps include one that enables Alexa to hail Uber rides.
Uber, of course, and other ride-hailing services like Lyft, are potentially big disrupters of the automakers’ conventional business model of selling cars to individual consumers. And new variants are coming along, including See Jane Go, which had a booth at the conference. The company addresses a concern of many women by recruiting only female drivers and accepting only female passengers.
Mark F. Fields, Ford Motor’s chief executive, spoke here of the opportunities he saw in selling vehicles to the ride-sharing industry, including, eventually, ones that would drive themselves. But optimism requires the car industry to reimagine itself. Instead of the worldwide automobile industry thinking of itself as the $2.3 trillion business it is now, Mr. Fields said, it should see itself as part of the much bigger global transportation industry.
General Motors is already hedging itself in ride hailing, having taken a $500 million stake in Lyft. Under G.M.’s separate Maven car-sharing service, which offers by-the-hour rental to consumers, the company is also renting cars to Uber drivers. G.M. considers Maven a way to expose consumers to its various models, even if the people are not in the market to buy one.
BMW has its own car-sharing venture, ReachNow, which operates in Seattle and Portland, Ore., and will soon be in Brooklyn. It allows members to drive a BMW or Mini vehicle for 41 cents a minute of operation.
ReachNow’s chief executive, Steve Banfield, in an interview here, compared the concept to Netflix, the video service that has helped render ownership of DVDs superfluous. That might seem like a threat to BMW’s business of selling cars, but Mr. Banfield described it as more of a get-acquainted marketing approach.
Some ReachNow members sign up simply for extended test drives of BMW cars like the electric i3, Mr. Banfield said. And younger members who cannot afford a vehicle early in their careers can become familiar with BMW’s products, making them more likely to become buyers once their salaries catch up with their tastes, he said.
For people who do own cars but who would not mind some help paying for them, there are mobile-app services like Turo, which enable car owners to rent out their cars. By renting their vehicles for nine days each month, owners could probably cover their entire car payments and maybe even turn a profit, David Stewart, Turo’s chief business officer, said in a presentation here.
Turo is good news for automakers, Mr. Stewart said, because it might help someone wary of owning a vehicle to afford to buy one, or to move up to a more luxurious model as the rental income made it affordable.
But the question of who does or does not own a car now might one day seem a quaint distinction when cars start driving themselves. And when that time comes, the companies with the biggest identity crises may be ones like Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche that have persuaded the public to spend big money on the thrill of taking the wheel.
Detlev von Platen, executive board member for sales and marketing at Porsche, views it as an evolution.
“Our cars will always be about the driving experience because that’s what we sell — experiences,” Mr. von Platen said. “But we must provide options for our owners, and self-driving technologies that can be activated when desired must be considered.”
And a self-driving Porsche might be more than a robotic tram. Imagine experiencing the throttle, braking and steering inputs of a professional driver on a racetrack. That could be programmed into the car, said Oliver Blume, Porsche’s chief executive.
Porsche might also experiment with new types of sales or leasing options to cultivate loyalty. Mr. von Platen said the company might consider a “flex lease,” under which someone leasing a two-seat 718 Cayman would gain access to a Cayenne S.U.V. for seven days a year, which could be handy for when five seats are needed.
The other big technology topic was electric vehicles, which all carmakers have been pursuing as a way to address concerns about the climate, as well as government-mandated rules and targets for lower emissions and higher fuel efficiency.
Jaguar announced its I-Pace all-electric S.U.V., a concept car that the company said would be available in 2018.
And yet the election of Donald J. Trump, a climate-change skeptic who is widely expected to scale back automotive emission and fuel-efficiency regulations, could alter the industry’s planning for environmentally friendlier cars. The possible relaxation of those regulations was an undercurrent here.
And the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents a dozen of the biggest car and light-truck makers, recently wrote to the Trump transition team urging a reassessment of emissions rules that the group said posed a “substantial challenge” to the industry.
Mr. Blume of Porsche said his company would stay on its current technology track, even if fuel-economy and emissions standards were relaxed.
“When we think of new technology, we don’t concern ourselves with political changes,” Mr. Blume said. “We think electrification is a technology of the future, and we have a responsibility to the environment.”
That debate simply reinforces a characteristic that was fully apparent at AutoMobility LA: The automotive business is not just about moving vehicles; it’s about moving targets.
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