Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ivan Olivo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Ivan, thanks for joining us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

Unlike Uber and Lyft, Fare Co-op is a driver-owned multi-stakeholder federated cooperative where drivers are actual co-owners, not just contractors or employees. Our hybrid model ensures drivers earn up to 90% of fares after ride expenses, have a voice in decision-making, and can invest in shares that grow over time. Corporate rideshares take the majority of driver earnings and often deactivate drivers unfairly. We eliminate surge pricing, treat drivers with dignity giving them a voice, and provide ownership opportunities in the cooperative, including the ability to finance their own autonomous vehicles once we go public.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I started in my family’s winery business, but COVID shut it down. A friend suggested driving for rideshare companies while waiting for the winery to reopen. I soon realized how unfairly drivers were treated and joined Gig Workers Rising to protest Uber’s exploitative policies. After helping organize a major Uber protest that gained national media attention, I was approached last year by Fare Co-op’s founders to lead as CEO, believing a driver should lead a driver-owned platform. We launched in October, offering lower fares for customers and better pay for drivers.

Our cooperative model offers drivers ownership, fair pay, and the ability to vote on co-op issues. Customers save on average up to 20% on fares, and there’s no surge pricing. Our referral program provides ongoing income for both drivers and customers, and our Favorite Driver feature lets riders request their preferred driver. Unlike other companies that replace drivers with automation, our model offers them the chance to own autonomous vehicles in the future, securing their future rather than displacing them.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Our referral program. Drivers and customers earn a percentage from every ride completed by those they refer, creating a sustainable, community-driven growth model. As we expand state by state, this has been instrumental in building awareness and adoption.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Securing our TNC license from the California Public Utilities Commission was a major challenge. The process typically takes months or even years, but we persisted, ensuring we had enough drivers onboarded and proving our app’s functionality. Against the odds, we got approved in 3 weeks since the government understood our solution to the imminent threat of automation and successfully launched. Since then, we’ve continued growing rapidly across California, where we now cover all of Los Angeles, San Diego, Bay Area, Sacramento, Redding, Fresno and Palm Springs. We are now preparing for expansion into new states, including Arizona, Oregon, Georgia and Nevada.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fare.coop/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fare.coop/
• Linkedin: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/farecoop
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@farecoop

Image Credits

Fare Co-op