2020 Startups to Watch: Draiver pulling out of stealth mode with steady hands on the wheel
January 22, 2020 | Anna Turnbull
Editor’s note: Startland News selected 10 Kansas City firms to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list. The following is one of 2020’s companies. Click here to view the full, ranked list of Startups to Watch.
Businesses across the country have a mobility problem and Draiver is set to flip mobility tech on its head in 2020, said Zarif Haque.
Elevator pitch: Draiver is an artificial intelligence-based, self-learning logistics platform that moves vehicles by planning, executing and instructing drivers.
•Founders: Zarif Haque, Kevin Burke
• Founding year: 2013 (launched in 2016)
• Amount raised to date: $2.625 million
• Noteworthy investors: Tim Barton, David Ferdman, Scott Coons, Brian McClendon, Matthew Vettel
• Current employee count: 19
“Our company is focused on vehicle logistics,” explained Haque, CEO and founder of Draiver — an artificial intelligence-based, self-learning logistics platform that moves vehicles by planning, executing and instructing drivers.
Backed with confidence from board members that include Tim Barton, founder of Freight Quote and Brian McClendon, vice president of products at Uber and creator of Google Maps and Google Earth, Draiver isn’t just another tech company — its a transformative operation that stands to deliver innovative technologies in 2020, never before seen by the public, explained Dan Rizzo, vice president of finance.
“We look at all of the possibilities and we give those options to our drivers,” added Haque in anticipation of a year that could also see the startup close in on significant funding as it pushes the boundaries on what’s possible in mobility tech.
“[We are looking forward to] securing additional intellectual property. We have seven issued patents [as of] today and we are expecting a few more, in addition to some international patents. If we get those we will be untouchable,” he said confident in the company’s abilities.
As its popularity mounts, Draiver’s team is expected to expand in 2020, creating jobs across 30 states and further driving revenue, noted Haque.
“[In 2019] we had our largest revenue generating year. We expect to continue our steady three-times revenue growth year-after-year. We are slow but steady and continuously growing.”
Major partnerships with municipalities, which will put the startup’s latest technology to the test are also expected to be announced in the coming months, the company said.
1) United American Hemp
2) Tesseract Ventures
3) ELIAS Animal Health
4) Healium
5) Fishtech
6) Draiver
7) Backstitch
8) Stenovate
9) Boddle Learning
10) Destiny
This story is possible thanks to support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a private, nonpartisan foundation that works together with communities in education and entrepreneurship to create uncommon solutions and empower people to shape their futures and be successful.
For more information, visit www.kauffman.org and connect at www.twitter.com/kauffmanfdn and www.facebook.com/kauffmanfdn
Featured Business
2020 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
How one hard-wearing menswear brand designed a new KC denim story fit for global appeal
Stepping into Guevel is a little like peeking behind the scenes into Cameron Niederhauser’s own wardrobe, the designer said — at least when it comes to the menswear store’s in-house line. “We make a couple of shirts that are inspired by old, vintage pieces in my own closet,” the Guevel owner explained. “Our denim is…
Startup: Holiday season gift card boom needn’t skip small biz; this discrete digital wallet-ready option keeps giving local
Gift cards are convenient — and the No. 1 most-requested present — Nicole Glass said, but there’s frequently just something impersonal and disconnected about them that makes many people feel bad about slipping one into a card or gift box. “It’s like, ‘I didn’t really know what you wanted. Here’s Starbucks,’” said Glass, president of…
Beadwork maker thankful for Native heritage, crafting pieces that honor her lineage (not just what will sell)
Komina Guevara’s hands are rarely still. Through intricate beadwork and crafting leather, her art tells a story deeply rooted in cultural heritage, family traditions, and personal evolution. As the creative force behind KomGue, Guevara is gaining recognition as a standout Kansas City maker — her work showcased at pop-ups and earning her the $1,500 second-place…
Where to (pop-up) shop: Your guide to KC holiday markets featuring local makers
The impact of shopping local from Kansas City makers — especially during the holiday season — can be distilled down to one simple word, said Katie Mabry van Dieren: joy. “The look on the faces of the makers when someone finds the most special gift to give their loved one — a gift that the…