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What if booking a ride could be as simple—and transparent—as booking a flight?
That question inspired Obi, the world’s first true rideshare aggregator, and the focus of this episode of the Ground Transportation Podcast. Host Ken Lucci sits down with Ashwini Anburajan, CEO of Obi, to explore how the company became known as “the Kayak of Rideshare.”
Ashwini shares her journey from NBC political reporter to BuzzFeed data strategist to tech CEO, and how her obsession with consumer transparency led her to Obi—a platform that compares Uber, Lyft, Curb, and other providers side-by-side in real time. She explains how Obi’s story began, the data engine that powers it, and the company’s mission to help riders, drivers, and operators navigate an evolving mobility landscape. In this conversation, you'll hear:
• The origins and evolution of Obi—from a 2019 pivot to over 1 million global users today
• How Obi connects more than 175 countries’ rideshare providers in one app
• The future of autonomous mobility and what it means for drivers
• Why pricing transparency could reshape how consumers choose ground transportation
If you’ve ever wondered where rideshare technology is heading—or how smaller operators might fit into the next wave of mobility innovation—this episode delivers a front-row seat to that future.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction
00:25 Welcome
01:59 Obi Rideshare
03:27 Background
05:30 How The App Works
10:22 Pricing Transparency
13:36 Why Download Obi?
14:50 Corporate Rideshare Plans
15:46 Tech Development
17:03 Rideshare's Reaction
18:28 Autonomous Optionality
29:46 The Fate Of Rideshare Drivers In Five Years
35:41 Expansion Plans
41:33 Parallels Between AI and AVs
49:02 Obi And Price Transparency
52:24 Where To Access Obi
53:49 Conclusion
Learn more about Obi: rideobi.com
Connect with Ashwini: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aanburajan/
00:00 Introduction
00:25 Welcome
01:59 Obi Rideshare
03:27 Background
05:30 How The App Works
10:22 Pricing Transparency
13:36 Why Download Obi?
14:50 Corporate Rideshare Plans
15:46 Tech Development
17:03 Rideshare's Reaction
18:28 Autonomous Optionality
29:46 The Fate Of Rideshare Drivers In Five Years
35:41 Expansion Plans
41:33 Parallels Between AI and AVs
49:02 Obi And Price Transparency
52:24 Where To Access Obi
53:49 Conclusion
Try Obi: rideobi.com
Ashwini Anburajan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aanburajan/

At Driving Transactions, Ken Lucci and his team offer financial analysis, KPI reviews,  for specific purposes like improving profitability, enhancing the value of the enterprise business planning and buying and selling companies. So if you have any of those needs, please give us a call or check us out at www.drivingtransactions.com.

Pax Training is your  all in one solution designed to elevate your team's skills, boost passenger satisfaction, and keep your business ahead of the curve. Learn more at www.paxtraining.com/gtp

Connect with Kenneth Lucci, Principle Analyst at Driving Transactions:
https://www.drivingtransactions.com/
Connect with James Blain, President at PAX Training:
https://paxtraining.com/