Latest news with #urban transportation
Forbes
7 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
The Kayak of Rideshare: Obi's New CEO Bets on Pricing Transparency
The rideshare boom reshaped urban transportation, bringing millions of riders and drivers into a new kind of mobility network. Today, the U.S. market is dominated by a handful of players—Uber and Lyft in particular—while autonomous vehicle (AV) operators begin to carve out early footholds. Fares have climbed, competition has thinned, and new entrants often struggle to survive. In this environment, Obi, a global rideshare aggregator often called 'the Kayak of rideshare,' is betting that rideshare transparency can shift the balance—giving riders more choice, enabling providers to reach new customers, and preparing the market for the complexity that comes when AVs scale. From Revel's Exit to Obi's Rideshare Opportunity The latest shake-up came on August 11, when Revel, an electric rideshare operator, announced it would exit New York City, the country's largest and most expensive ride-hail market, to focus on EV charging. For Obi, it was both a market signal and an opportunity. When the company added Revel's pricing to its app, 10 percent of all Obi rides in NYC shifted to the electric upstart—a clear indication that when riders can see all their options in one place, behavior changes. As Revel departs, Obi is doubling down on its mission to make that kind of transparency available everywhere. New Obi CEO Bets on Rideshare Pricing Transparency On the same day Revel exited New York's ride-hail market, Obi appointed Ashwini Anburajan as CEO. Since joining as Chief Revenue Officer in 2023, Anburajan has driven global expansion, revenue growth, and headline-making data products, including an AV-pricing analysis that revealed Waymo charges $3.50 per km versus Uber's $2.90 and Lyft's $2.60—yet still draws riders willing to pay the premium. Her résumé blends worlds rarely seen together in mobility leadership—crypto fund co-founder, startup operator, venture investor and NBC political reporter. That combination of storytelling, deal-making, and data strategy now fuels Obi's push to open a market where opacity has long been standard. She steps in as AV adoption accelerates, pricing transparency gains attention, and both riders and providers look for more sustainable economics. Founder Payam Safa, who built Obi into a platform with over 1 million users in 175 countries, moves into the roles of chairman and president. An Industry Built on Rideshare Consolidation Rideshare is projected to grow from roughly $190 billion in 2024 to $480 billion by 2032, according to Fortune Business Insights. But in the U.S., the industry reality is consolidation. Uber and Lyft control the vast majority of rides and often move in parallel on pricing and policy, while augmenting their rideshare businesses with subscriptions (Uber One, Lyft Pink) and delivery services (Uber Eats, Lyft Delivery). Billions in venture capital once poured into the rideshare industry to break up entrenched taxi monopolies, but in the U.S., the market ultimately consolidated around two dominant players. AV entrants like Waymo and Tesla remain niche players in limited geographies, more a signal of the future than a competitive force today. Why NYC's Rideshare Prices Could Shape the Future of Mobility New York City isn't just the country's largest rideshare market—it's also one of the most expensive in the world. According to Obi's Global Rideshare Report, $10 gets you just 1.8 km (1.1 mi) in NYC, compared to 2.3 km in London or Paris, and 27 km in New Delhi. Base fares average $24.19 before tips and fees, pushing many trips past $30. Public-data laws make NYC one of the few cities where fare data is transparent in real time, allowing researchers and regulators to see the patterns: riders paying more, drivers earning less. Half the drivers surveyed in Obi's 2024 report said rides have become too expensive for passengers—a statistic that underscores why rideshare pricing transparency is gaining urgency. Rideshare Pricing Advocacy: The Untapped Frontier In recent years, the rideshare industry has seen advocacy around driver pay, benefits, and safety—highlighted by The New York Times reporting on passenger assault claims—but little focus on rideshare pricing transparency for riders. Obi is positioning that as the next frontier. In markets where fares are opaque and fluctuating, riders are often unaware of how much more they could be paying compared to other providers for the same trip. Cities like Denver have added driver take-rate disclosures to show more transparency to customers, but it's unclear if this has influenced how riders choose rides or leave tips. The launch of new apps promising no surge pricing underscores growing interest in models that build trust through transparent, predictable pricing. In addition to Waymo, Tesla and other AV offerings, Empower is offering drivers a subscription-based model and consumers lower prices. New entrant YUR launches in NYC this month, promising no surge pricing. Heride in Atlanta pairs female passengers with female riders. Alto in Miami targets luxury consumers. None have captured a significant market share. Obi's mission is to bring rideshare pricing transparency to every market, allowing riders to compare real-time fares across providers, just like Kayak did for flights. Why Autonomous Vehicle Growth Makes Obi's Rideshare Model Stronger AV adoption is still in its early stages, with Waymo, Tesla and others operating in limited geographies. But as they expand, so will the complexity of comparing rides—not just by price, but by mode, fleet type, and service level. Obi's aggregation model is built for that future, allowing riders to weigh autonomous vehicle premiums against human-driven rides in real time. Its AV pricing analysis—showing riders will pay more for perceived safety and novelty—highlights why Waymo pricing intelligence could become even more valuable as autonomous fleets scale. How Obi's Rideshare Data Is Shaping Industry Headlines Obi's data isn't just powering its app—it's informing major reporting and policy discussions: Even in the face of resistance, including instances where riders received messages warning that linking their account to a third-party app could risk deactivation, Obi has continued to grow, underscoring consumer demand for rideshare transparency. How Obi Survived Where Other Rideshare Aggregators Failed Rideshare aggregators have a grim track record. Migo raised $11 million before disappearing. Bliq raised $20 million in total, only to lay off staff and flounder earlier this year. Obi has raised just $5 million but outlasted them by focusing on product quality, user trust, and monetizing its data. While many rideshare companies refuse to pay affiliate commissions, Obi has built a parallel revenue stream via a data business selling anonymized, aggregated insights. That business model gives Obi independence from any one platform's goodwill, a critical advantage in a market where partnerships can be fleeting. What's Next for Obi—and the Future of Rideshare Transparency As rideshare prices climb and AV adoption accelerates, Obi is positioning rideshare pricing transparency as both a consumer right and a competitive necessity. 'The most valuable thing you can own in this industry,' Anburajan says, 'is the trust of the consumer.' If that trust shifts toward platforms that empower riders with real-time, side-by-side choice, the next wave of mobility disruption might not come from a new fleet on the street—but from who controls the data in your pocket with rideshare pricing transparency.
Yahoo
09-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
3 Innovation Stocks With Parabolic Upside Potential
Key Points aTyr Pharma's lead drug could transform treatment for pulmonary sarcoidosis, with phase 3 results due in Q3 2025 and analysts forecasting 400% upside. Zeta Global's AI marketing cloud is growing revenue at 35% annually, positioning it to capture a significant share of the trillion-dollar-plus digital marketing market. Vertical Aerospace's eVTOL aircraft could revolutionize urban transportation, with commercial flights targeted for 2028 and a $6 billion order book. 10 stocks we like better than Zeta Global › Innovation unlocks value -- but it doesn't come without risk. From breakthrough drugs and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered marketing to flying taxis, these three companies are attacking massive markets with transformative technology. For investors willing to stomach volatility, the upside could be exponential. Rewriting the immunology playbook aTyr Pharma (NASDAQ: LIFE) doesn't just develop drugs. The company is rewriting the rules of immunology. aTyr has discovered that transfer RNA synthetases -- proteins everyone thought just helped build other proteins -- actually moonlight as powerful immune system modulators. aTyr's lead drug, efzofitimod, just completed enrollment in its phase 3 EFZO-FIT trial for pulmonary sarcoidosis, with results expected in 2025's third quarter. Since EFZO-FIT is a single phase 3 trial, regulatory approval may require either an exceptionally strong data package or a confirmatory study, making the readout all the more pivotal. This isn't a small market opportunity. Over 200,000 Americans suffer from sarcoidosis, and current treatments are limited to steroids with brutal side effects. In phase 1b/2a, the highest dose of efzofitimod achieved a 58% reduction in steroid use from baseline, with 33% of patients able to taper off steroids completely. If phase 3 confirms these results, aTyr could capture a market worth $2 billion annually. What makes aTyr particularly compelling at today's $5.25 share price (as of Aug. 7, 2025) is the disconnect between its market cap and potential. Analysts have an average price target of $25, implying 376% upside. With $78.8 million in cash and a burn rate of about $15 million per quarter, aTyr has runway through the pivotal phase 3 readout. Risk remains high, as any clinical-stage biotech faces binary outcomes. But for investors willing to bet on innovation, aTyr offers asymmetric upside. Digital marketing's AI revolution While aTyr reimagines biology, Zeta Global (NYSE: ZETA) is revolutionizing how companies connect with customers. Zeta's AI Marketing Cloud processes over 1 trillion signals monthly from 245 million U.S. consumers, helping brands deliver personalized experiences at scale. Zeta's Q2 2025 results showcased the power of this approach. Revenue surged 35% year over year to $308 million, while adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) jumped 52% to $59 million. This isn't just growth. It's profitable growth. Platform direct revenue now represents 74% of total revenue, up from 67% a year ago, driving gross margins higher. The market opportunity ahead is massive. Digital marketing spend is expected to reach $1.3 trillion globally by 2027, and Zeta is positioned to capture a growing share. Unlike competitors that focus on single channels, Zeta's platform integrates 245 million consumer profiles with proprietary identity resolution technology, creating a moat that even tech giants struggle to replicate. Zeta's Agentforce AI can create, test, and optimize marketing campaigns autonomously, reducing what once took weeks to hours. The platform integrates with Microsoft Azure and Salesforce ecosystems and serves multiple Fortune 500 clients -- validation that even tech giants see value in partnering rather than competing. With the stock trading at $20 against average analyst targets of $26, with some reaching $30, the upside potential reflects Zeta's transition from growth to profitable scale. Flying taxis aren't science fiction Perhaps no company better embodies innovation than Vertical Aerospace (NYSE: EVTL). The British company's VX4 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft could transform urban transportation. Imagine traveling from Manhattan to JFK Airport in eight minutes instead of an hour. In July 2025, the VX4 completed the world's first airport-to-airport eVTOL flight. The aircraft can carry four passengers plus a pilot, fly at 200 mph, and operate fully electric with zero operational emissions. More importantly, it promises operating costs 40% lower than helicopters while being 100 times quieter. The business case is compelling. Vertical holds a $6 billion conditional preorder book from partners including American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Avolon. With certification targeted for 2028 and commercial operations beginning soon after, management projects reaching profitability by 2030. Yes, these timelines are aggressive -- this is an entirely new category of aircraft requiring unprecedented regulatory frameworks, and investors should prepare for potential delays. But at $5.45 per share versus analyst targets of $11, early investors are paying start-up prices for what could transform urban transportation. The innovation premium These three companies share a common thread: They're solving massive problems with innovative solutions; aTyr could transform autoimmune treatment; Zeta is making AI-powered marketing accessible; Vertical promises to unclog urban transportation. Each faces significant risks: Clinical trials can fail; regulatory timelines can stretch; and well-funded competitors lurk. But for investors with long-term horizons who can stomach volatility, the potential rewards could justify the risks. Should you invest $1,000 in Zeta Global right now? Before you buy stock in Zeta Global, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Zeta Global wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $635,544!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,099,758!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,046% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 181% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of August 4, 2025 George Budwell has positions in Microsoft and aTyr Pharma. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Microsoft and Salesforce. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 3 Innovation Stocks With Parabolic Upside Potential was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
Forbes
06-08-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
How Manufacturing Trends Could Impact The EVTOL Revolution
Robert Lane is the CEO and Cofounder of Manaflex, a global innovator of circuitry solutions for EV, energy and other industry sectors. Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft—which are battery-powered flying vehicles that are large enough to carry passengers—are an innovative form of urban transportation that offers a traffic-free and environmentally friendly alternative to ground-based transit methods. Given recent developments in the field of batteries, aerodynamics and lightweight components, the industry is anticipated to expand rapidly. While there have been some road bumps, eVTOL makers have raised $2.3 billion in 2024, up from the $1.5 billion raised in 2023, but down from the $3.4 billion in 2022 and $4.3 billion in 2021, according to Alton data cited by Reuters. Likewise, Aviation Week's fleet statistics estimate that approximately 2,000 eVTOL aircraft are expected to be deployed worldwide by 2030, growing to almost 12,000 by 2040 and 33,000 by 2050. As CEO of Manaflex, which supplies eVTOL leaders with key operating components, it has been fascinating to watch this evolution. Here are a few of the trends I've seen in this space in recent years, and how they will impact the adoption of eVTOLs. Building For An eVTOL Ecosystem The success of eVTOLs depends on modern electronic and power technologies that enable lightweight design, efficient use of energy and high-reliability operations. The manufacturers that achieve commercial viability will be those that emphasize battery management, reduce electrical weight and maximize power distribution. Leaders in this space are also looking to facilitate flight modifications via enhanced aerodynamics and real-time diagnostics—augmented by smart sensors. In addition, manufacturers are also building systems that lean on aluminum-based circuitry over copper systems, which can result in lower-mass technology. The industry as a whole is moving closer to widespread acceptance as new manufacturing processes enable automated, scalable production. In particular, compared to conventional copper systems, circuit mass can be reduced by approximately a third when using aluminum-based circuitry. I've also seen a shift away from traditional wire-and-metal assembly and toward fully integrated systems, such as the direct embedding of circuits into structural composites. This includes advanced 3D printed circuit boards that blend stiff and flexible regions, which unlock even more weight and cost reductions. This method could revolutionize both robotics and aircraft, as combined procedures that concurrently manufacture electronics and structure are replacing the traditional method of assembling disparate metal frames, as well as wiring harnesses. What's Next For The eVTOL Industry With 2.5 billion people projected to live in cities by 2050, traditional road transportation will become more crowded. In major U.S. cities, eVTOLs can reduce origin-to-destination time for travel by around 30% to 40%, rendering them a sustainable and scalable option. However, the road—or rather, airpath—ahead doesn't come without challenges, despite rapid growth. Current energy densities—which restrict flight duration, payload capacity and battery efficiency—remain a major constraint. Likewise, to safely and effectively handle thousands of low-altitude aircraft, air traffic control and regulatory frameworks must evolve. Additionally, infrastructure will require a large investment, especially in congested urban areas. Here are a few areas that will need to be improved: • Vertiports: These are vital for eVTOL landing and takeoff, particularly in cities. For access and transportation integration, they must be placed strategically and based on demand. Rooftop or repurposed site solutions may be required due to space limits in urban areas. • Infrastructure For Charging: Charging stations will need to be upgraded to support fast charging. This may require upgrades to the grid to manage large electricity loads. It will also be essential to develop standardized connectors and hardware. Utilizing renewable energy sources and intelligent energy management systems can improve grid efficiency and resilience. • Air Traffic Management: For eVTOLs to safely integrate with conventional aircraft and drones, existing air traffic management systems must be modified. To handle large numbers of eVTOL travel, automated technologies may be required, as well as cutting-edge software to improve coordination and manage airspace complexity. Certification and public acceptance are also essential. Communities need to be reassured about the accessibility, noise levels and safety of eVTOLs. Gaining confidence and incorporating eVTOLs into current transportation ecosystems will necessitate cooperation with governmental organizations and industrywide standards. To gain this confidence, the industry must make transparency, safety and public involvement top priorities to increase public trust in eVTOLs. The public will be reassured that these aircraft meet high standards if they undergo stringent safety testing, demonstrate clear regulatory compliance and maintain strong collaborations with aviation authorities (such as the FAA and EASA). Community engagement initiatives such as town halls, virtual tours and ride-along opportunities can help demystify the technology, and real-world pilot programs in controlled environments can demonstrate dependability and noise performance. Faster urban travel, less traffic, less pollution (in comparison to vehicles or helicopters) and enhanced emergency response capabilities are some concrete advantages that the sector should emphasize. Lastly, eVTOLs must be framed as a safe and useful advancement in urban mobility rather than as a futuristic novelty, with the support of prominent aviation professionals and consistent messaging from reliable organizations. The industry may radically revolutionize urban transportation as we now know it—reducing traffic, enhancing sustainability and developing new channels for communication and commerce—if these issues are addressed with concerted international effort. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
