Ford’s initiative, The Ford Urbanite Challenge, aims at developing community-based mobility solutions. They have chosen Memphis as their 10th project destination with Start Co. as the local anchor and 12 local partners. We are uniting to bring a vision of mobility innovation that can spark change in our community. We are providing $600,000 in pilot funding and other support to create a Memphis with safe and accessible transportation, opening new opportunities for all.
#TheMemphisChallenge application went live in April, inviting solutions that addressed critical areas identified in the Explore Phase of the challenge: Safe Access to Transportation, Safety throughout the entire mobility journey, Personal Vehicle Use, and Understanding the Total Cost of Mobility and Car Ownership. Following independent scoring and group discussions, the steering committee selected 10 semi-finalists from the 64 applications received.
The demographics of our applicants are 40% men and 60% women, with 30% White, 50% Black, and 20% Asian. We received an equal number of applications from within and outside of Memphis.
Here are the applications that stood out as semi-finalists (in alphabetical order):
- Asha’s Refuge: Asha’s Refuge is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting refugees and court-approved asylees. These individuals, new to the country, often face significant resource shortages and language barriers. AR aims to empower these vulnerable individuals by providing access to a private vehicle, facilitating their ability to obtain legal services, jobs, food, and healthcare. In turn, these individuals assist future incoming refugees in integrating into society.
- Bhadala: A fintech-enabled Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platform like Uber and Lyft, customized to locate the nearest transportation options. It supports payments through existing cards and digital wallets, helping riders connect with service providers equipped to meet their needs, ensuring accessibility for all users.
- Boom: Medtronic and Codecrew collaborated to host a 2-day workshop called Codetronic, where young coders developed ideas and competed to join the semi-finalists of #TheMemphisChallenge. The winning team, Boom, consists of students working on an application to detect and report potholes in Memphis, aiming to improve the city’s road conditions.
- Daughters of Zion: A poverty-fighting organization is launching the Neighborhood Driver program, which screens volunteers to provide rides within a 1-mile radius, creating a peer-to-peer transportation network.
- Koza Energy: A platform enabling the capture, storage, and distribution of energy to support micromobility solutions and EV charging. Users can locate the nearest Oasis Station via an app, with payments handled based on usage.
- Kudzukian Media Group (KMG): Kudzukian Media Group is a non-profit organization focused on transforming digital communications in the Mid-South. They enable institutions to engage with diverse audiences through modern digital platforms. KMG proposes a product suite called “Memphis Moves Together” to tackle key issues such as message resonance, misinformation, and mistrust among citizens. This suite includes a branded podcast, social media content (both paid and organic), and longer-form content. KMG leverages its expertise to educate, engage, and empower residents, particularly those in underserved and economically disadvantaged communities.
- MedHaul: A digital health platform providing non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) for those with special needs. MedHaul manages ride scheduling, connecting users to nearby drivers with appropriate amenities and communicating with stakeholders throughout the ride.
- Mobility IQ: Utilizes data and technology to enhance safety across daily commute routes in Memphis. It provides real-time insights to city government, educational institutions, employers, and parents, enabling informed route decisions and addressing transportation challenges.
- MyCityRides (MCR): A workforce mobility program for those working at least 20 hours a week or full-time students. For a reasonable monthly fee, MCR provides a motorcycle with insurance, training, maintenance, license, and safety gear, offering additional transportation options for Memphians.
- Pollen Studios: A software development agency creating a ridesharing platform that connects residential neighborhoods to business centers, starting with restaurants struggling with staffing and revenue losses.
- PT Carrier Group LLC: Building a network to connect people living away from the transit system with job opportunities, helping businesses tap into a previously inaccessible workforce, starting with communities like Orange Mound and South Memphis.
- Tappy Technology: A smart city transportation initiative assisting seniors and those with disabilities, improving their quality of life by enabling independent commuting. Tappy Technology helps users travel the first and last mile of their journey.
- SplitEV: An electric vehicle charging platform connecting EV drivers with private property owners who have charging outlets, alleviating charging anxiety for EV owners and allowing property owners to monetize their charging outlets.
These innovative ideas have the potential to transform the mobility landscape in Memphis, bringing significant benefits to the community. We are currently in the Refine phase of the challenge, where we are assisting semi-finalists in refining their ideas and pitches, enhancing their chances of securing funding for project pilots. We eagerly anticipate the pitches, the announcement of the paid pilots, and celebrating the innovation and entrepreneurship flourishing in the Memphis region.