Onward Rides

Transportation is the number one social determinant of health, yet millions of Americans with mobility challenges struggle to access the care and community connections they need. Onward Rides exists to change that - providing compassionate, door-through-door assisted transportation services that go far beyond simply getting from point A to point B. Founded in 2018 by Mike Lewis and Nader Akhnoukh, with Co-Founder and CEO Kim Petty leading the charge, Onward emerged from the founders' first-hand experiences watching their own loved ones age and struggle with transportation barriers.

The company operates a proprietary transportation management platform alongside its signature Companion Rides service, which pairs riders with trained drivers who provide hands-on assistance navigating stairs, curbs, wheelchairs, and every step of the journey. Unlike traditional rideshare services, Onward's Companion Drivers are companions first, drivers second - trained in First Aid and CPR, thoroughly vetted through background checks and fingerprinting, and matched consistently with riders to build familiarity and combat social isolation. Onward partners with healthcare systems, PACE programs, transit agencies, senior living communities, VA healthcare facilities, and health plans to improve care access, reduce missed appointments by 75%, and relieve the burden on family caregivers. Their mission is simple but profound: nurturing community health one ride, one visit, and one outing at a time.