Uber-like app for women, by women to launch in the US

Michael Pelletz had the idea for Chariot for women after a terrifying experience while serving as a Uber driver

Michael Pelletz had the idea for Chariot for women after a terrifying experience while serving as a Uber driver

Cab hiring services such as Uber and Ola have done their share to make rides as safe as they could for women -- by adding features to let riders share driver details and ride status. There are panic buttons to inform friends and family if you're in trouble. But more could be done for the safety of women who drive or take rides using apps like Uber and a new company in the US -- Chariot on wheels --is doing exactly that.

Chariot on wheels is a temporary name, but the goal is firm. To make cab rides safe and pleasant for women. The Massachusetts-based company wants to provide cabs driven by women, to women riders. Besides the unique feature, they also follow industry practices like background checks to make sure the women taking a ride in their cabs are in safe hands.

While Pelletz's motivation to launch Chariot on wheels came from an incident in the US, cab drivers in India also face similar dangers.

Michael Pelletz had the idea for Chariot for women after a terrifying experience while serving as a Uber driver. On a long tiring day, his cab was booked by an intoxicated driver who wasn't in his senses and worried Pelletz by passing out and waking up repeatedly to mumble incoherently. He consequently devised the business plan for Chariot for women, made his wife, Kelly Pelletz, the president of the company.

This company run by women for women, while promising to never surge prices also believes in giving back. The company says , "She [Kelly Pelletz] implemented a plan that 2% of every single fare, 24 hours a day, will be donated to women-based charities."

Currently running a Facebook content to find a suitable name for the service set to launch on April 19, the company could take away a huge chunk of the cab hiring clientele across the world, or force the more companies to offer similar ride options when launched.