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Zum Achieves Record Revenue in 2025, Scaling Rapidly in the Largest Mass Mobility Market

By: STN
19 March 2026 at 20:11

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., -Zūm, a leader in student mobility, today announced unaudited 2025 financial highlights, reflecting sustained growth at scale as the company expands in the $50 billion student mobility market, the largest segment of the mass mobility industry, and one of the last segments still underserved by AI and cloud technology. While the industry has historically been defined by fragmented, analog transportation services, Zum is pioneering a mobility experience that is replacing traditional approaches to operating yellow buses with a modern, fully integrated mass mobility ecosystem.

2025 Financial Highlights:

Revenue of $333 million, up 35% year-over-year.
Four-year revenue CAGR of greater than 40%.
Over $2 billion in Total Contract Value (TCV).
Adjusted EBITDA1 breakeven and steadily improving contribution margin.

“Every weekday, 26 million American students ride the school bus — three times more passengers than U.S. airlines carry — making it the largest mass transportation system in the country and one of the last to undergo technological transformation,” said Ritu Narayan, Zum Founder and CEO. “For too long, families have faced morning anxiety, wondering if the bus will arrive, if it is safe, and when their kids will get home. We are redefining mobility by moving far beyond legacy models to create a connected, intelligent system for the communities we serve. In student transportation, that means replacing legacy infrastructure with a dynamic, technology-enabled platform — transforming what was once a standalone service into a responsive ecosystem that anticipates and adapts to the needs of districts and families.”

Durable Business Model Driving Scalable Growth
Across the United States, forward-thinking school districts have moved away from the status quo and adopted Zum as their transportation provider. In these districts, Zum has transformed their transportation systems into state-of-the-art operations characterized by enhanced visibility, improved safety standards, real-time data that provides full transparency, and measurable performance outcomes.

Today Zum serves more than 4,000 schools across 15 states, including major districts such as Branford (CT), Kansas City (MO), Los Angeles (CA), Oakland (CA), Omaha (NE), Roanoke City (VA), San Francisco (CA), and Seattle (WA). Zum’s business model is built on structural advantages to drive predictable, profitable growth:

Long-term contracted revenue: 5-10 year agreements with school districts, delivering predictable cash flow, with an established track record of improving profitability.

Exceptional retention: Strong customer loyalty, with growing revenue as existing customers expand their utilization of Zum services.

“Our strong unit economics and long-term contracted revenue demonstrate the scalability of our platform,” said Daniel Berenbaum, Zum’s Chief Financial Officer. “We achieved Adjusted EBITDA breakeven while growing revenue 35% year-over-year, validating our disciplined approach to expansion. Student mobility is one of the last major undigitized sectors, representing a $50 billion segment of the mass mobility industry. While legacy competitors manage physical assets, Zum is deploying a modern, scalable system driven by technology, operational excellence, and safety – using real-time data to connect people, vehicles, and the energy grid, delivering better outcomes for all.”

AI-Powered Technology Driving Reliability and Safety
Zum uses AI and advanced technologies to ensure drivers take the most efficient, logical routes, a significant departure from traditional routing methods that have been used for decades. The system is designed specifically for the unique requirements of student mobility, from complex routing algorithms that account for tiered bell schedules and custom needs, to safety protocols that meet and exceed both bus company and ride-share standards. Zum’s platform also includes mobile apps and web dashboards for students, parents, drivers, dispatchers, and school administrators, enabling enhanced visibility, greater trust, streamlined communication, and incident-tracking capabilities, all powered by real-time data in a single integrated platform.

Modernizing Infrastructure and Powering the Grid
Zum’s electrification strategy represents yet another step in modernization, turning an underutilized asset into an energy resource to power the grid. Zum’s groundbreaking vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology transforms school bus parking yards into virtual power plants, storing and distributing energy to support grid resilience. Zum made history in the 2024–25 school year by deploying the nation’s first fully electric school bus fleet in the Oakland Unified School District in California, and recently announced plans to launch a fully electric fleet with V2G capabilities for Branford Public Schools in Connecticut beginning in the 2026–27 school year.

Delivering Measurable Impact at Scale
Zum’s impact is measurable and significant:

Reliability: On average, 98% on-time performance.

Cost Savings: San Francisco Unified has cut annual transportation costs by up to 10% using Zum’s technology-driven platform to optimize routes, fleet utilization, and daily operations. That budget flexibility can enable districts to reinvest directly in classroom priorities such as instructional resources, staffing, and student support, strengthening both academic outcomes and long-term sustainability.

Transformational Customer Impact: With Zum, school districts use up to 25% fewer assets by utilizing a multi-size vehicle fleet, spend up to 20% less time through optimized routes, and report 30% higher asset utilization throughout each day.

Efficiency: Through intelligent routing, Oakland Unified has cut one‑hour or longer commutes from 70% to under 10%, and San Francisco Unified has reduced average bus stop time from 3 minutes to just 8 seconds.

Student Experience: Parents have rated Zum with a 4.9 out of 5-star rating in student experience across 1.5 million reviews.

Attendance: After partnering with Zum, Kansas City Public Schools saw an 89% increase in ridership driven by improved reliability and reduced transportation-related absences in secondary schools from 25% to 5.6% during the 2024–25 school year.

Growth: Safely completed 68.5 million student rides in 2025, up 120% over 2024.

About Zum:
Zum is revolutionizing mass mobility with a fully integrated platform that connects and coordinates people, vehicles, and operations in real time. In the $50 billion student mobility market – the largest segment of the mass mobility industry – Zum is designed to deliver a predictable, safe, and seamless experience for students and families. Today, more than 4,000 schools across 15 states rely on Zum’s advanced platform, with customers now deploying its groundbreaking vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology to modernize vehicles and strengthen grid resilience. Recognized globally for its innovative approach and operational execution, Zum has been named to Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies, CNBC Disruptor 50 and Changemakers, the World Economic Forum, and the Financial Times Fastest Growing Companies lists. Zum is backed by leading investors including Sequoia Capital, GIC, and SoftBank. Learn more at www.ridezum.com.

The post Zum Achieves Record Revenue in 2025, Scaling Rapidly in the Largest Mass Mobility Market appeared first on School Transportation News.

(STN Podcast E293) Community, Not Individual: Maine Superintendent Collaborates for Student, Staff Success

10 February 2026 at 21:51

Insights on national school bus contractor First Student’s purchase of Chicago area contractor Cook Illinois Corp., the Blue Bird 2026 Q1 earnings report, and a California study on lap/shoulder seatbelt efficacy.

“Make sure that the right people are on the right seats on the bus.” Heather Perry, superintendent of Schools for Maine’s Gorham Public Schools, was named as one of four finalists for the 2026 National Superintendent of the Year Award by The School Superintendents Association, AASA. She discusses her leadership journey, winter transportation operations, the value of collaboration and staff support, and a robust student career support program.

Read more about leadership.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.



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The post (STN Podcast E293) Community, Not Individual: Maine Superintendent Collaborates for Student, Staff Success appeared first on School Transportation News.

Transfinder Tops $50.1M in Revenue

By: STN
22 January 2026 at 19:28

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Transfinder Corporation’s record-breaking growth continued in 2025, as the company closed the year with $50.15 million in revenue, a 19 percent increase over the prior year and the 28th consecutive year of annual revenue growth. Transfinder, the nation’s leading developer of school transportation management solutions, including routing software, parent and driver apps and fleet maintenance and law enforcement solutions, added 180 clients in 2025. Of those new clients, 64 of those new clients left competing systems.

President and CEO Antonio Civitella shared highlights from across the company’s departments and outlined ambitious plans for the year ahead during his annual “State of the Union” presentation that includes employees from every department. “We hit the goal I set at the start of 2025—$50 million in revenue,” Civitella said. “It was a total team effort.” For 2026, Civitella has set an even higher target, projecting $60 million in revenue.

Drivers of Growth:
Several factors contributed to Transfinder’s record-setting year. Hardware sales increased 22 percent to $11.5 million. Hardware sales included tablets and RFID card readers. A major driver of hardware growth was the continued adoption of Wayfinder, Transfinder’s driver app, which provides turn-by-turn navigation and student attendance tracking. Along with Transfinder’s flagship Routefinder PLUS routing solution, Wayfinder ranked among the most-purchased products in 2025, along with the Stopfinder parent app and Servicefinder maintenance solution.

Transfinder’s Patrolfinder solution closed 2025 with clients in four states. The first notable client being the Schenectady Police Department. The company also saw a significant rise in procurement activity, participating in 217 percentmore Requests for Proposals (RFPs) than in 2024. Transfinder won 51 percent of those RFPs,
generating more than $2.2 million in revenue.

“Transfinder has never been in a stronger position,” Civitella said. “We have the right team, the right solutions, and our finger on the pulse of the industry. We can now serve the largest districts in the country. There is no opportunity in this space that we will not go after.”

Industry Recognition and Engagement
In 2025, Transfinder once again earned recognition as a Best Place to Work, Top Workplace, and Best Company to Work For in New York State. Industry leaders also voted Transfinder Best Software, Best Hardware, and Best Safety Technology for the second consecutive year.“This isn’t just me saying we have the best team and the best solutions,” Civitella said. “Our clients are part of that recognition. More and more of them are stepping forward as references to share why they chose Transfinder.” The number of client references increased 244 percent in 2025.

Transfinder further strengthened its industry presence through its Annual Client Summit (ACS), which was held outside New York and Texas for the first time. The sold-out event took place in Nashville, Tenn., drawing a record 359 attendees.
Transfinder employees also went to more conferences last year, attending 67 compared with 25 in 2024.

Impact on Student Safety
“Perhaps the most meaningful growth isn’t revenue-related at all—it’s student-related,” Civitella said. “At the end of the day, what matters most is the safe transportation of every student.”

“Routefinder PLUS was named Best Software for a reason,” Civitella said. “We’ve cracked the code to make routing faster and easier while preventing students from crossing the street and helping districts manage the driver shortage. We are saving lives and saving districts significant money.”

Usage of the Wayfinder app also surged. Trips navigated using Wayfinder increased 103 percent to 5.3 million trips in 2025, while RFID attendance scans grew 210 percent to 21.9 million for the year.

Families increasingly relied on Stopfinder for real-time visibility into their children’s transportation. In 2025, 958 districts used Stopfinder, a 24 percent increase. Nearly 1 million subscribers received 128 million GeoAlert notifications, up 120 percent, including 57 million attendance notifications, an increase of 185 percent.“As a dad, I know how important peace of mind is,” Civitella said. “We have to get it right.

Growth in Fleet Safety and Operations
Transfinder’s Servicefinder also posted strong gains, growing 46 percent to 356 clients. Those districts documented 85,382 assets, completed 132,998 work orders, and submitted 989,143 vehicle inspection forms, representing triple-digit growth across all categories.

“We say it all the time—safety begins in the garage,” Civitella said. “Servicefinder ensures vehicles are reliable and safe, closing a critical gap in student transportation safety.”

2025 Highlights
• 28th consecutive year of revenue growth
• $50.15 million in annual revenue
• 180 new clients
• 13 new employees (212 total, most in the company’s history)
• Hardware sales up 22 percent
• Named Best Software, Best Hardware, and Best Safety Technology for the second straight year by School Transportation News
• Named to Inc.’s Fastest-Growing Companies list (13th time)
• Named to The Business Review Fastest-Growing Companies list
• Recognized as a Best Place to Work, Top Workplace, and Best Company to Work For in New York State
• Attended 67 conferences nationwide
• Hosted largest Annual Client Summit to date in Nashville, Tenn.

“We worked tirelessly on all fronts in 2025,” Civitella said. “There were no easy wins. But we grew financially, technologically, and mentally. We are sharper than ever—and I expect 2026 to be the best year in the company’s history.”

About Transfinder
Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Schenectady, New York, Transfinder is a national leader in intelligent transportation systems, providing transportation management systems and services to municipalities, school districts and police departments. Transfinder has been an Inc. magazine “fastest-growing company” 13 times.

The company provides software, hardware and consulting services. Transfinder received Best Software, Best Hardware and Best Safety Technology awards by industry leaders two years in a row andhas been named a Best Place to Work, Top Workplace and Best Company to Work for in New York State multiple times, For more information, visit www.transfinder.com

The post Transfinder Tops $50.1M in Revenue appeared first on School Transportation News.

GreenPower Announces US$10 Million Financing and US$2.95 Million in Standby Letter of Credit Facilities

By: STN
9 January 2026 at 21:32

VANCOUVER, Canada, – GreenPower Motor Company Inc. (Nasdaq: GP) (“GreenPower” or the “Company”), a leading manufacturer and distributor of all-electric, purpose-built, zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicles serving the cargo and delivery market, shuttle and transit space and school bus sector, today announced that it has received credit approval from CIBC for $5 million in financing facilities, comprised of a $3 million revolving line of credit and a $2 million term loan with a three year term. Additionally, the Company has received credit approval from CIBC to enter into a letter of credit of $450,000, secured by cash collateral, and a letter of credit facility of up to $2.5 million, which is subject to approval from another financial institution. GreenPower’s transaction with CIBC is subject to finalizing documentation, as well as satisfaction of all closing conditions, and all parties are actively working towards a timely completion. In addition, GreenPower has announced that it has closed $5 million in term loans from two family offices, which have provided personal joint and several guarantees in support of these credit facilities. A portion of the net proceeds from the financings will be used to repay and close the Company’s existing operating line of credit, with the remainder used for general corporate purposes. These transactions represent an important step in the recapitalization of the Company and will allow GreenPower to accelerate production of all-electric vehicles to fulfil existing customer orders.

The Company has agreed to issue 3,205,128 non-transferable share purchase warrants (each, a “Loan Bonus Warrant”) to one of the family offices. Each Loan Bonus Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share of the Company (each, a “Share”) at an exercise price of US$0.78 per Share for a period of thirty-six (36) months from the closing date of the Loan. In addition, the Company has agreed to issue to one of the family offices an aggregate of 641,025 Shares (each a “Loan Bonus Share”). The family offices are each considered to be a “related party” within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101”) and each of the loans with the family offices and issuance of Loan Bonus Warrants and Loan Bonus Shares, as applicable, is considered to be a “related party transaction” within the meaning of MI 61-101 but each is exempt from the formal valuation requirement and minority approval requirements of MI 61-101 by virtue of the exemptions contained in Sections 5.5(g) and 5.7(e) of MI 61-101.

All securities issued in connection with the loans with the family offices will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the closing of the loan in accordance with applicable securities legislation.

About GreenPower Motor Company Inc.
GreenPower designs, builds and distributes a full suite of high-floor and low-floor all-electric medium and heavy-duty vehicles, including transit buses, school buses, shuttles, cargo van and a cab and chassis. GreenPower employs a clean-sheet design to manufacture all-electric vehicles that are purpose built to be battery powered with zero emissions while integrating global suppliers for key components. This OEM platform allows GreenPower to meet the specifications of various operators while providing standard parts for ease of maintenance and accessibility for warranty requirements. For further information go to www.greenpowermotor.com

The post GreenPower Announces US$10 Million Financing and US$2.95 Million in Standby Letter of Credit Facilities appeared first on School Transportation News.

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