The Radisson Blu Hotel in Victoria Island, on May Day, buzzed with journalists, reporters, and media personalities eager to witness the Nigerian premiere of “Inner Drive,” a documentary chronicling the rise of the ride-hailing platform inDrive. The event, bathed in the welcoming ambience of the renowned hotel, shone a spotlight on inDrive’s mission to connect people with opportunities and tackle the social injustices often associated with traditional ride-sharing platforms.
Popular social media influencers like Asherkine and Hauwa added a touch of glamour to the occasion, lending their voices to inDrive’s message of social mobility and driver empowerment.
The documentary’s unveiling marked a significant moment for inDrive, as Bolaji Abimbola, the company’s PR representative, explained:
“This documentary is a brand-new production, and we’re thrilled to be showcasing it here in Nigeria for the first time,” Abimbola revealed. “Media partners and influencers are getting an exclusive first look before the film rolls out to other countries.”
Abimbola went on to emphasize inDrive’s global reach, highlighting the app’s impressive download figures: “With over 200 million downloads internationally, inDrive has firmly established itself as a major player in the transportation industry. For anyone who considers themselves a global citizen, using inDrive for your travel needs is a must.”
However, inDrive’s ambitions extend beyond simply transporting passengers. Abimbola stressed the company’s core purpose: “Our mission goes beyond getting people from point A to point B. We’re all about connecting people with opportunities. This philosophy is what drives us to challenge the status quo of social injustice. That’s why our app allows passengers to negotiate fares with drivers, ensuring a fair deal for everyone.”
The “Inner Drive” documentary transcends the realm of a mere marketing tool— Abimbola described it as “a cinematic masterpiece that explores how individual ambition can pave the way to a world brimming with opportunities.”
How inDrive Seeks To Redress Social Injustice
The theme of the “Inner Drive” documentary seeks to redress social injustice wrought by capitalist corporations who often take advantage of employees and customers, especially in the transport sector.
inDrive began as an exercise of justice.
It was New Year’s Eve 2012 in the Russian city of Yakutsk, when temperatures dropped to -45°C (-49 °F), and local taxi companies responded with a coordinated doubling of their rates, leaving many locals stranded in the Siberian winter. This collusive and unfair price hike angered the citizens of Yakutsk, who banded together on social media to request, offer, and most importantly, agree on fair prices for their rides. This grassroots, collective, online action eventually became the inDrive app.
Arsen Tomsky, CEO of inDrive, made this salient point by revealing how his tough upbringing in Yakutsk (the coldest city in the world) while battling with a speech impediment made him think of ways to make the lives of people better.
This triggered the invention of inDrive to challenge the mega duopoly of Uber and Lyft, especially in Western countries such as the USA.
The CEO said, “In other ride-hailing services, they can give you two or four times more expensive prices. And nobody knows why, for example two times more expensive but why not 1.5 times? Those companies want to make more money. So it’s very easy to understand that there is a probability of price manipulations.
“At inDrive, it is impossible because people set all the terms of their rides and you can propose your price if you are a passenger. And the drivers, they can decide if it is interesting for them or not.”
“I saw there was a very big potential and organic growth,” he quipped during his interview in the documentary. This also ties into the company’s ultimate goal of connecting over one billion people.
“When I saw that social phenomenon of independent drivers which took off in a short time, and more than 50,000 people in small numbers joined that group and they started to actively use the service,” Tomsky detailed the genesis of inDrive in 2012.
Founded in 2013, today inDrive is available in over 749 cities across 46 countries on five continents. In 2022, it was the second most downloaded ride-hailing app worldwide based on Google Play and App Store data.
inDrive was incorporated in the US in 2018, and its head office is located in Mountain View, California. The group employs over 3,000 people worldwide.
In early 2021, inDrive achieved the unicorn status after closing a $150m investment round with Insight Partners, General Catalyst, and Bond Capital, valuing the company at $1.23 billion. In 2023, inDrive raised $150 million from General Catalyst in an innovative hybrid instrument to boost growth, expand its offering and invest in new verticals.
inDrive originated as a people-driven solution, and believes that investing in community development creates endless opportunities for a global positive impact.
With the theme “connecting people with opportunities,” inDrive does more than just provide a equitable platform for drivers; it also gives opportunities to brilliant youth with the case of Obadiah from Lagos.
The company proudly showcased its BeginIT initiative, an IT education program that has empowered secondary school student Obadiah to pursue his passion for technology.
Obadiah, his family, and his teachers were all celebrated at the event, highlighting the positive ripple effects of inDrive’s endeavors.
