InMotion Ventures, Jaguar Land Rover’s venture capital arm, made the investment. In addition to funding, the relationship includes providing Sheprd, on a non-exclusive basis, with a fleet of Land Rover SUV vehicles.
The company intends to use the funds to expand its service and further develop its proprietary technology platform.
Led by Nick Jasset, CEO and Founder, Sheprd enables secure transportation of K-12 students through a safe service. Parents can schedule rides through a mobile app, requesting transportation to and from a network of schools, after-school programs, sports, activities, community centers, or home.
Sheprd fulfills rides through its owned and operated fleet of high-quality vehicles, currently Land Rover SUVs, which have been certified as 7D vehicles. Sheprd drivers are employed by Sheprd and have passed the Massachusetts DOT-administered 7D School Pupil Transport Vehicle certification process, which includes CORI/SORI background checks, a medical exam, and driving test. The company’s technology platform incorporates driver and parent apps with route optimization, vehicle and driver scheduling, real-time tracking, parent communication, and other features to streamline and enhance the child transportation service and experience.
Sheprd currently operates in Newton, MA with plans to expand to additional markets in 2018 and beyond.
FinSMEs
10/01/2018