- I moved to Boston roughly three years ago.

I didn't really have any friends, so I didn't know anyone and I like outdoor activities, and Ridj-it just happened to be there.

Then I started to go out and explore Boston through Ridj-it, and that's kind of how I learned about it.

- So I have both bipolar disorder and Parkinson's.

and that's kind of how I learned about it.

For me, the outdoors is a way to relieve stress.

It opens up my mind.

The best thing you can do for yourself and Parkinson's is exercise, so doing hikes like that is good.

- When you go for a hike, it's important what people you are going with.

I think this is a good group.

They are talking very well, we are having fun.

I think this is a good group.

(laughs) I think this is a good group.

So it's good!

- We are a travel tech platform.

We create an adventure ecosystem that offers carpooling, ticket booking, and a network of people to do adventures with.

carpooling, ticket booking, and a network of people We now are operating in two cities.

We're in Boston and we just entered New York.

We now are operating in two cities.

We have 2,500 users.

We now are operating in two cities.

We've provided over 3,000 rides, and we've had over 550 events.

We've provided over 3,000 rides, Now the rate at which we're growing is growing, too, and so there's a lot of logistical components to that.

- At the core, our values are, we help to reduce carbon footprints.

So, for example, you know, we organize people in a carpool, and also, in my opinion is that when people go outdoors they tend to care more about the environment.

- We are definitely not the first people to have they tend to care more about the environment.

had the idea of connecting more people to the outdoors.

they tend to care more about the environment.

To even be more specific, we're not the first company to say hey, let's use carpooling to help people get to the outdoors.

However, rather than focusing on the carpooling, get to the outdoors.

we find that when we focus on community development, get to the outdoors.

that is actually enhancing the carpooling in and of itself.

get to the outdoors.

People appreciate the camaraderie that happens, because you really just get to know each other.

You've developed that trust, and that's a great way to facilitate community that never would have happened without Ridj-it's platform.

- It's a community, it's a network.

So what we realize is, everyone can help each other out to do these adventures, learn from each other, So what we realize is, everyone can help each other out and create this camaraderie that we have introduced So what we realize is, everyone can help each other out by the logistics that we have built up.

- If you are planning on doing outdoor activities, usually those activities are outside of the city, - If you are planning on doing outdoor activities, and so one of the benefits of Ridj-it, - If you are planning on doing outdoor activities, or one of the services they provide is the fact that they are big on carpooling and basically being or one of the services they provide is the fact that environmentally friendly, which I think it's important.

- This is my first trip I had with Ridj-it and this is my first, actually hike, so I was kind of excited and scared.

(laughs) The signing up part was good, like it's easy and flexible.

Also the different groups come together and they manage everything like, if you're carpooling or something, Also the different groups come together and they manage they manage all the part.

You don't have to worry about carpooling at all.

- I think the carpooling is a great idea, because there's a lot of adults that don't have vehicles in Boston.

because there's a lot of adults that don't have It just gets people, you know, a chance to get outside the metro.

It just gets people, you know, a chance - [Ari] There's a massive social inertia It just gets people, you know, a chance that we have created here that people wanna be a part of.

- Our goal is always to provide better services that we have created here that people wanna be a part of.

to our users, and provide better services for community.

- Before you begin your startup, ask yourself if you're willing to go the whole way, because I haven't taken a dime from it in three years, but again, if you're willing to go the whole way, because I haven't when you believe in something so much, you're willing to put that aside to work on something that you know has a greater good for all of us.

to put that aside to work on something that you know So when people ask me, "Are you trying to make Ridj-it your full time gig?"

Yeah, my answer is unequivocally yes, and the same with Rik, and the same with Aleks.

At this point, I do Ridj-it 40 hours a week or more, but then am also doing work at community colleges, the university.

- How long my days are are basically when I'm not sleeping, so it can be anywhere from typical 8-hour day to 20 hours.

- How long my days are are basically when I'm not sleeping, That's what happens when you have a startup.

- As time goes by, I'd like to join Ridj-it That's what happens when you have a startup.

as a full-time person, yes.

That's what happens when you have a startup.

- We've done this all bootstrapped.

We basically self-funded the entire operation.

We basically harnessed the collective talents that we have individually to make this happen.

- It's almost impossible to separate a startup from funding, and so what happens is startups end up spending a lot of time trying to find investors, and so what happens is startups end up spending a lot of because getting startup money or investment money and so what happens is startups end up spending a lot of or seed money, that's not going the whole way.

and so what happens is startups end up spending a lot of That's going a fourth of the way.

and so what happens is startups end up spending a lot of There's still a lot more you gotta do and so what happens is startups end up spending a lot of in order to have that successful company, and what I think that a lot of mentors in the startup community have not been good about and what I think that a lot of mentors in the is telling entrepreneurs, you might not get funding, and if you don't get funding, you should really think about what you're doing, and in fact you should begin your business knowing you won't get funding.

That's something I really wish we would've received.

begin your business knowing you won't get funding.

- [Rik] So we want to expand to the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the US.

- [Rik] So we want to expand to the 100 largest metropolitan We wanna go to Canada and if there's applications internationally we'd like to go there as well, and we want to be that go-to that people look to internationally we'd like to go there as well, for doing an adventure.

- [Ari] What we find as we're approaching what's called the s-curve, where you see that rapid growth.

Now, is that rapid growth enough for your typical investor?

the s-curve, where you see that rapid growth.

No.

Probably not.

But sometimes the best things take a little while longer to grow, and to make these things grow you need dreamers.

- I already have two other activities booked and I'm looking forward to it 'cause you get to meet - I already have two other activities booked new people, make new friends, and it's just awesome.