Women-Only Mobility Startup Fery Rides Bags ₹2 Crore to Take on Unsafe Commutes — Here’s How They’re Changing the Game
Fery Rides, a women-led mobility startup that’s quietly been rewriting the rules of urban transport, has just raised ₹2 crore in funding — and it’s not just about scaling. It’s about safety, empowerment, and giving women back control of their daily commute.
The funding round was led by Indian Angel Network (IAN) and featured investors like Hari Balasubramanian, Uday Chatterjee, and Sri Prakash, who have backed a vision that mixes impact with serious market potential.
Built from a Moment of Trauma — Now It’s a Movement
Fery Rides wasn’t just a business idea — it was born out of a painful incident. Ajay Kumar, one of the co-founders, watched a close friend suffer harassment during a ride-hailing trip. That single moment sparked what would become one of the most promising women-first startups in India.
Together with co-founders Vindhya Mehrotra and Himanshu Chaubey, Kumar launched Fery Rides in April 2023, building a mobility platform that puts women in the driver’s seat — literally.
What Makes Fery Rides Different?
In a crowded market dominated by giants like Ola and Uber, Fery Rides has carved a niche by focusing on one thing the big players still struggle with: safety for women.
Here’s what sets them apart:
- Only trained and verified women drivers — known as Sister Partners
- Female-only rider base
- Real-time tracking
- SOS emergency alerts
- WhatsApp-based customer support
This isn’t just a ride — it’s a secure ecosystem for women to travel freely, confidently, and without fear.
“This Is More Than a Cab Service — It’s a Social Shift”
Fery Rides’ platform is more than an app. It’s a tool for empowerment, providing job opportunities to women as professional drivers, many of whom come from underprivileged or non-traditional backgrounds.
Their mission? Break stereotypes, create safe urban spaces, and put economic power into the hands of women.
How Will the ₹2 Crore Be Used?
The freshly raised capital is expected to supercharge Fery Rides’ growth. The startup shared that the funding will be allocated to:
- Strengthen its tech platform with better app features and faster support
- Expand operations beyond NCR, targeting cities with rising demand for safer women-centric transport
- Onboard more Sister Partners, ensuring both employment generation and rider coverage
The founders believe that the model is now ready to scale — without compromising on the integrity of the mission.
Investors See Strong Market Fit and Impact Potential
Angel investors backing this round see Fery Rides as hitting a rare sweet spot between profitability and purpose.
With over 80% of Indian women reporting feeling unsafe in public transport, the market gap is massive — and Fery is among the first few startups actively solving it in a scalable, tech-first way.
“It’s not just a company; it’s a movement,” said one of the investors involved in the round.
The Road Ahead: Expansion, Hiring, and Tech Innovation
With traction building and positive rider feedback flooding in, Fery Rides is already working on:
- Launching services in other metros including Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad
- Training programs to onboard hundreds of new women drivers
- Building partnerships with corporates, colleges, and co-working hubs to offer safe transportation options for women employees and students
Can Fery Rides Disrupt the Ride-Hailing Industry?
While the likes of Ola and Uber continue to dominate, Fery Rides is showing that there’s a huge untapped market for gender-specific, trust-based mobility in urban India.
With the right mix of technology, community, and funding support, it might just set the standard for what modern mobility should look like — not just fast and cheap, but safe and inclusive.
Final Thoughts
In a world where safety often feels like a luxury, Fery Rides is turning it into a basic right. With fresh funding in hand, a strong founding team, and a loyal user base, it’s not just changing commutes — it’s changing lives.
Watch this space. Because if Fery succeeds, India’s roads may never be the same again.
