Ritu Narayan

Company: Zūm
Title: Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Industry: Transportation and logistics
Hometown: Redwood City, California
Notable in 2023: Expanded school bus service to more major cities and is transitioning to all-electric fleets.

Ritu Narayan struggled with managing her career while making sure her kids could get from point A to point B. So, she started Zūm, a transportation company that focuses on students while using technology to create more efficient and environmentally friendly routes.

Narayan knew she couldn't be alone in her challenges — and investors have agreed. Zūm raised $140 million in series E financing in early 2024, putting the company's valuation at $1.3 billion. The company currently serves thousands of schools, including school districts in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.

The company provides guardians with an app, which gives live route notifications to and from school. Artificial intelligence has helped the company optimize drive times, leading kids to spend less time on the bus.

"Studies have shown that students with longer average times on buses report lower grades, fewer social activities and poorer study habits," Narayan wrote on Elpha. "Because low-income families, children of color and children with special needs are more likely to depend on school buses, they're disproportionately affected."

In addition, the company has committed to having an all-electric fleet by 2027. The project includes the Oakland Unified School District, which will become the first major school district in the nation to have a 100% fully electric school bus fleet in 2024.

"My biggest advice is to make sure that your purpose is always your North Star," Narayan said on Elpha. "This is what sets companies apart in today's environment."