Shuddle, the first rideshare service designed specifically to transport busy families, today announced it has closed $9.6 million in Series A funding. The round is led by RRE Ventures with participation from existing investors including Comcast Ventures, Forerunner Ventures, Accel Partners and angels, bringing the total amount raised by Shuddle to over $12 million. Underscoring the explosive momentum within the rideshare industry, this financing will further enable Shuddle to continue geographic expansion while building the safest experience for riders, as well as for its community of female drivers.

'Transportation is a huge pain point for most families. Shuddle was designed to provide a safe, convenient and reliable option to make their lives easier,' said Shuddle CEO and founder Nick Allen, formerly a co-founder of Sidecar. 'We're excited to use this capital to continue creating the best possible experience for both passengers and drivers.'

Unlike other rideshare services, Shuddle was specifically designed for the needs of busy families and carries unique insurance to cover the transport of minors. All drivers must have caregiving experience and pass the extensive ShuddleScreen verification process, which includes a comprehensive background check against national-, state-, and county-level databases, in-person training, DMV records check & points analysis, vehicle safety inspection and third-party employee reference checks.

Beyond driver screening, Shuddle provides additional layers of security that are helping to elevate industry safety and transparency standards. All rides are scheduled 24 hours to one week in advance to ensure that parents and passengers know who the driver is ahead of time - including the driver's bio, photo and picture of their vehicle. When parents set up an account, they will be asked to create a 'Shuddle Pass,' or a secret password that the driver will say to confirm their identity at pick up. Further, every single ride is monitored by Shuddle staff and GPS technology allows parents to track ride progress in real-time through the iOS app. Parents also receive notifications when the driver is on the way, at pickup, departing with the passenger and has arrived at the final destination. Shuddle also offers in-app call support, allowing parents and drivers to call Shuddle staff directly through the app for any reason while a ride is in progress.

'Nearly every parent struggles with getting their kid(s) from point A to point B because they often need to be in two places at once. Shuddle solves this problem,' said Steve Schlafman, Principal at RRE Ventures. 'RRE Ventures is incredibly excited to partner with Shuddle to bring safe, reliable and trustworthy transportation to millions of families across America.'

This financing comes on the heels of significant company growth. Shuddle first launched in San Francisco in October 2014 to address the concerns of busy families, and has since expanded throughout the Bay Area. Currently, Shuddle has given thousands of rides and has a community of more than 200 female drivers.

Shuddle iOS app is available for free: https://itunes.apple.com/TR/app/id916941183

About Shuddle

Founded in 2013 by rideshare industry veteran Nick Allen (formerly a co-founder of Sidecar), Shuddle is the first and leading rideshare service designed specifically to transport busy families. Families have more commitments than ever before and parents are often outnumbered by their obligations. Shuddle provides a safe, convenient and reliable option that helps everyone from kids to grandparents get to where they need to be. From home to school to soccer practice, piano class, play dates and everything in between, all rides are scheduled in advance. Every driver has caregiver experience and undergoes the extensive ShuddleScreen verification process. A Shuddle ride is like having a nanny and extra helping hand available to get your family wherever they need to go. Learn more at shuddle.us.