Shuddle, the Ridesharing Service for Kiddos and Grandparents, Raises $10 Million

The family-focused transportation startup has closed its Series A round.

learn more about Catherine Clifford

By Catherine Clifford

Shuddle
Shuddle CEO Nick Allen was a co-founder of the Uber and Lyft ridesharing competitor Sidecar.

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Soccer practice for one kiddo. Band practice for the other. The dentist for you. The physician for your mom, who can't drive herself.

Wednesdays can feel like a finely tuned game of Jenga -- which is exactly the appeal of family-focused ridesharing startup Shuddle. The San Francisco-based company, specifically designed to chauffeur children, announced today that it has raised $9.6 million in its Series A round. In total, Shuddle has raised $12 million so far.

Related: Busy Parents: Meet Shuddle, the Uber for Kids

"Nearly every parent struggles with getting their kid(s) from point A to point B because they often need to be in two places at once. Shuddle solves this problem," said Steve Schlafman, Principal at RRE Ventures, the VC house that led the deal, in the statement announcing the funding raise.

That may be true. But hoisting your children and grandparents into the car of a stranger is a tall ask with a lot of potential pitfalls.

To address concerns, Shuddle has specifically tailored insurance for its drivers to be able to carry minors. Also, drivers have to pass a stringent verification and screening process.

The startup launched in San Francisco and is currently operating within the Bay area and has 200 female drivers as part of its network. Shuddle CEO Nick Allen was a co-founder of the Uber and Lyft ridesharing competitor Sidecar.

Related: Secrets to Being Both an Executive and a Mom

Catherine Clifford

Senior Entrepreneurship Writer at CNBC

Catherine Clifford is senior entrepreneurship writer at CNBC. She was formerly a senior writer at Entrepreneur.com, the small business reporter at CNNMoney and an assistant in the New York bureau for CNN. Clifford attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. You can follow her on Twitter at @CatClifford.

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