Senior Transport Service Onward Raises $1.5M

Onward revealed that it has raised $1.5 million in seed funding that will enable it to help seniors get to their destinations safely.

The round was led by Royal Street Ventures, Matchstick Ventures and JPK Capital. Onward launched in March in the San Francisco Bay Area, offering round-trip, door-to-door rides for older adults who can no longer drive.

Onward Co-founder Mike Lewis told TechCrunch that he came up with the idea for Onward while his mother-in-law was battling Alzheimer’s. He and Co-founder Nader Akhnoukh decided to create a service to help senior citizens who might feel isolated because they are unable to do certain things anymore, such as driving.

“The minute you can’t do that, it’s sad and scary,” Lewis said.

So far, Onward has completed more than 500 trips in the San Francisco Bay Area. The company will focus on that region — as well as one other undisclosed market — for the remainder of this year.

In addition to seniors who can’t get behind the wheel, Onward’s customers also include people who can’t drive for medical reasons (surgeries, eye exams, etc.) and caregivers who aren’t able to transport their loved ones.

The company has more than 25 drivers and all are 1099 contractors, but they are paid hourly — at least $20 per hour. They are all trained in CPR, dementia, and have gone through a background check and car inspection. Drivers are also required to know how to fold wheelchairs. Within a year, Onward expects to have hundreds of drivers on board, as well as an increase in the number of vehicles that can transport riders in powered wheelchairs.

Riders pay $35 per hour, with the minimum charge for the trip at one hour. After that first hour, Onward starts to charge by the minute. Passengers also have the ability to request a favorite driver.


45% of Non-Recurring Transactions Now Use Instant Payments

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The gig economy and gaming industries have driven a rise in ad hoc transactions, payments made outside of regular invoicing and payroll. Businesses are relying on instant payments to streamline these transactions, which involve contractors, consumers and small businesses.

According to a PYMNTS Intelligence report, “Gigs and Games: How Instant Payments Are Gaining Ground for Ad Hoc Transactions,” a collaboration with Ingo Payments, with increased demand for efficiency and speed, instant payment systems are becoming a preferred solution, though obstacles to wider adoption remain.

Instant Payments Comprise Nearly Half of Ad Hoc Transactions

Instant payments are gaining in popularity for ad hoc transactions, according to the report. With the demand for quicker and more efficient methods of payment, businesses are adopting real-time payment systems to facilitate faster transactions, reduce fraud risk and improve overall financial processes.

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PYMNTS found 45% of all ad hoc payments made in July 2024 were sent via instant methods, a notable increase from 36% earlier in the year. Industries that rely heavily on nonrecurring payments, such as gaming and the gig economy, have seen the most significant uptake.

Larger Enterprises Leading the Shift

Larger companies are leading the adoption of instant payments for ad hoc transactions. Businesses with more than $1 billion in revenue are sending half of their ad hoc payments via instant rails, revealing a preference for speed and efficiency. Smaller companies, however, are lagging in adoption, with those earning between $50 million and $100 million turning to instant methods for just 34% of ad hoc payments. The delay in adoption among smaller enterprises is often linked to the high costs of integrating instant payment systems into their existing processes.

Despite this, the trend toward adopting instant payment methods is gaining momentum across the board. Many large enterprises view instant payments as the future standard for ad hoc transactions, especially in business models that no longer rely on recurring payees, such as contractors or freelance workers. But challenges persist in scaling this technology across industries of all sizes.

Barriers to Broader Instant Payment Adoption

While instant payments offer considerable benefits, particularly in terms of speed, cost savings, and enhanced customer/vendor retention, the report shows businesses face obstacles in fully adopting them. For many enterprises, the cost of integrating real-time payment systems remains the primary barrier. According to the report, 35% of businesses cite integration costs as the biggest obstacle to adopting instant payments for ad hoc transactions.

Additionally, there is a digital divide, with industries like gaming and the gig economy leading the charge in adopting instant payment systems. But two-thirds of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), particularly those in industries with less digital momentum, are dealing with the costs and complexities of implementing these systems. Despite these challenges, businesses that do embrace instant payments could gain a competitive edge by securing customer and vendor loyalty, driving down transaction costs, and improving cash flow management.