APAC Issue Q3 2019

APAC / Issue Q3 2019 5 NEWS , Cooee Busways is now Via’s fourth mi- crotransit deployment in New South Wales, Australia, joining services in Newcastle, Northern Beaches and Macquarie Park. “Via’s technology is redefining mo- bility across the globe, and we are thrilled to partner with Busways and TfNSW to provide residents with a convenient, affordable, and congestion-reducing trans- portation alternative,” said Daniel Ramot, co-founder and CEO of Via. “Via’s powerful passenger matching and vehicle routing al- gorithm is the solution to solving the first-and-last mile challenge, seamlessly integrating into the existing public transit infrastruc- ture to connect residents to transit hubs in their communities.” Using the Cooee Busways app, riders will be able to hail a shut- tle directly from their smartphone. Via’s advanced algorithms will en- able multiple riders to seamlessly share the vehicle. The powerful technology will direct passengers to a nearby virtual bus stop within a short walking distance for pick up and drop off, allowing for quick and efficient shared trips without lengthy detours, or inconvenient fixed routes and schedules. Cooee Busways operates Mon- day to Friday from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m., connecting commuters with Schofields Train Station and the new Sydney Metro stations at Tal- lawong and Rouse Hill. With the opening of Sydney Metro North- west, Via’s timely deployment pro- vides an affordable, convenient, and reliable transportation option for those commuting through these new major transit hubs. NEM Ventures, the venture capital and investments arm of the NEM blockchain ecosystem, has an- nounced a seed round investment in ridesharing app, Mobi, which facilitates safe and affordable car- pooling to help alleviate pollution. First hitting the Australian market in Melbourne, Mobi leverages the NEM blockchain to change the face of commuting. David Mansell, Director and Co-founder of NEM Ventures, said: “By incorporating NEM Cata- pult, Mobi is able to utilize the pro- tocol’s many features to provide an enhanced app experience for commuters. We are always look- ing for ways to utilize blockchain to promote social change, which is what drew us to this project in the first place. Mobi aims to further the sustainability agenda with a focus on creating long-term shareholder value while driving home the fact that profitability is not a trade-off for sustainability.” On the app, commuters pre-ar- range rides up to a week in ad- vance, by selecting which dates and times they will be requiring or providing services. Commuters will also have control over who they choose to ride with, both par- ties can connect in advance via the app’s chat function and funds are held in escrow - reducing counterparty risk. Mobi will also be building an incentive-driven partner network to enable busi- nesses to connect employees for their commuting needs. Daniel Logan, Co-founder of Mobi, commented: “In Melbourne, the In the Fast Lane: NEM Ventures Drives Forward Ridesharing Initiative Mobi “Integrated public transport op- tions will alleviate commuter’s frustration with congestion on western Sydney roads when they’re just trying to get to work and back home each day,” Bus- ways Managing Director, Byron Rowe, said. “The Ponds and Schofields are growing areas and the Cooee Busways on-demand service provides a crucial first and last mile link to the train and metro.” Commuters can use the service by downloading the Cooee Bus- ways smartphone app powered by Via, available on iOS and Android. Users can book rides between Schofields Train Sta- tion, Tallawong Metro station, or Rouse Hill Metro station, and anywhere within the service zone highlighted within the app. Via is a leading provider and developer of on-demand public mobility solutions, working with cities and transportation agencies around the world to connect more people to transit. Cooee Busways is among numerous other deploy- ments powered by Via around the globe that make it easier for commuters who do not own a car, prefer not to drive and park, or live within a long distance of a transit hub. Via has been tapped by cities and transportation players around the world to help re-engineer public transit from a regulated system of rigid routes and schedules to a fully dynamic, on-demand net- work. Via now has more than 70 launched and pending deploy- ments in more than 15 countries. To learn more about Via, visit www.platform.ridewithvia.com . Via, theworld’s leadingprovider anddeveloper of on-demandpublicmobility solutions, today announced anewmicrotransit deployment in partnershipwithTransport forNewSouthWales (TfNSW) andBusways, a leadingAustralianpublic transit provider. CalledCooeeBusways, thenew on-demand shared transit networkbringsfirst- and last-mile rides for residents inThePonds andSchofields, connectingmore residents to the SydneyMetropublic transportation system. first city on our roadmap, there are approximately 2.1 million com- muters and 1.3 million car drivers. Mobi bridges this gap by creating a convenient and affordable way to make commuting a more positive experience for all. The app creates a sustainable solution, which can help limit carbon emissions, trav- el congestion, and free up much needed parking spaces across densely populated cities. NEM al- lows this to happen more transpar- ently, efficiently and cost effectively and we are happy to partner with the community strategically.” Mobi have a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) tested with a live pilot of approximately 200 users and they have confirmed partner- ships with three major universities across Australia giving access to circa 40,000 potential users to be- gin scaling. The app integrates peer-to-peer payments facilitated and will use NEM Catapult’s aggregate trans- actions as an escrow service, expected to be available shortly after NEM’s public chain Catapult release. Other uses of the NEM blockchain solution are expected to be used record multi party pay- ments, loyalty points and storage of data on carbon emissions and sustainability measures. “NEM is built around a powerful system which provides us with direct API access to a special- ized set of tested and secure on-blockchain features, and we are aligned in our mission to bring sustainable ridesharing to the masses,” Logan continued.