Based in another country nearly 800 miles away, MUVE made its way to Michigan to increase mobility options and services for people with disabilities in the Upper Peninsula.
Founded in 2017 in Montreal, Canada, MUVE is a technology start-up venture dedicated to reinventing accessible transportation using the latest technological innovations and the community at large. Rooted in mindfulness and compassion, MUVE is laser-focused on providing accessible transit servicesto people of all abilities, as well as their extended family and caregivers.
Recognized in 2018 as the “Mobility Startup to Watch ” during the National Shared Mobility Summit, MUVE caught Michigan’s attention as a potential partner in building a more inclusive and accessible future of mobility. The feeling was mutual for MUVE, as the company knew that Michigan was a home of opportunity for implementing its technology within an entirely new market.
That is why when the state — in partnership with PlanetM , Michigan’s mobility initiative — launched the $8 Million Michigan Mobility Challenge later that year, MUVE made the nearly 800-mile-long trip to Michigan to attend the inaugural, invitation-only workshop.
Launched in 2018, the $8 Million Michigan Mobility Challenge was a state initiative to help increase mobility options and services for people with disabilities, senior citizens and veterans within the state. During the initial workshop, state officials, local transit agencies, planning organizations and advocates for the target populations, private-sector partners, startup founders and other industry experts came together for a day of discussion and working sessions that helped hone their proposals for the Challenge.
Thanks to the strategic partnerships that MUVE established during the workshop — along with the company’s innovative product — it decided to submit a proposal for the Challenge and became one of the 13 selected pilot winners.
“MUVE was already interested in bringing our technology to Michigan, but knew we needed the right opportunity to build our network in the state and better understand its landscape,” said Anthony Shannon, co-founder of MUVE. “Having the chance to not only apply to the Challenge and be accepted, but also to attend MEDC networking events has been outstanding for our company. We have been able to connect with like-minded individuals and develop strategic relationships with companies throughout the state that will help us better serve Michigan’s community to make mobility more accessible for all.”
Through the $8 Million Michigan Mobility Challenge, MUVE is piloting its mobility solution in the central Upper Peninsula throughout 2019. Dubbed the Michigan Universal Vehicle Ecosystem Pilot , the company is working with local Upper Peninsula partners in the area to pilot a rideshare and community-building platform in the central UP that will focus on increasing accessible transportation options and efficiencies to ultimately reduce isolation for those facing mobility challenges.
“We know this is an incredible opportunity and are thankful for the MEDC’s support for our company and their willingness to think in an innovative way about how technology can help shape a brighter future for our communities,” Shannon said. “We are excited to see this as just the beginning of a long relationship working toward a made-in-Michigan mobility solution.”
As MUVE continues deploying its pilot throughout the year, it is eager to build on its momentum to bring its mobility solution to Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, knowing that it will have the support and guidance of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and PlanetM team every step of the way.
To learn more about the people and places driving the future of mobility in Michigan, go to planetm.com . Find more information about the programs and services offered for businesses through the MEDC at michiganbusiness.org .