Despite being a tiny red dot, Singaporeans often detest dedicating hours to travelling, leading to many of us paying more for the convenience premium.
This gave prominence to ride-hailing apps like Grab and Gojek and car-sharing companies such as BlueSG in the city-state; however, RushOwl, a homegrown bus-sharing startup founded in 2018, believes that there’s an underserved group of commuters who lack adequate access to Singapore’s transport system.
“Back then, the idea was to develop a digital public transportation for anyone, anywhere to create their own commuting plans without waiting for city governments to build one for them,” shared Shin Ng, who is the CEO of RushOwl, in a 2021 interview with Vulcan Post.
Through its RushTrail app, the platform offered on-demand bus services, where commuters islandwide can request pick-ups and drop-offs conveniently at any of the labelled bus stops, and choose their preferred shuttle time.
As for the prices? It cost between S$2 and S$5 per ride for B2C passengers, striking the ideal balance of having affordable and reliable transportation.
By 2021, Shin shared that the startup saw an over 400% increase in ridership, and it looked like they were on an upward trajectory.
But when on-demand ridership slowed down, RushOwl had to think of other routes to continue sustaining, and with the new direction, the startup could continue moving forward while maintaining its original goal.
Shifting from B2C to B2B
According to Shin, now 32, while the demand for leisure rides has decreased, the need for workplace and school transport has grown. This meant that commuters prioritise having scheduled and reliable transport that meets their safety needs and cost considerations over ad-hoc bookings.
This prompted RushOwl to shift its focus to its B2B operations and adjust its services to match a more recurring and purposeful demand. The company has also expanded its services to include subscription-based transport solutions for corporate workers, public agencies and students to address gaps, including the lack of safe late-night transport and cost-effective school commutes.
“What started as a simple on-demand shuttle platform has now transformed into a sustainable, tech-driven solution for late-night transport, school routes, and employee commutes,” he said.
This pivot has been instrumental to RushOwl’s growth, as the company has built a more stable and recurring user base. Shin also claimed the company had experienced a 3X year-on-year revenue increase in specific markets and registered an eight-figure topline in 2024.
But with private hire services and vehicle sharing becoming the norm, some might wonder if RushOwl has seen a rise in demand or even fiercer competition in a saturated market?
Shin has noted both of these trends, but he doesn’t deem private hire companies as direct competition. Rather, RushOwl complements them by serving underserved areas and time slots, such as midnight hours or industrial zones, where private hire services are not the most cost-effective option.
“We provide shared, pre-booked options that are more efficient and affordable for groups. As more private hire drivers join the market, they also join RushOwl to serve our customers for a fixed income base,” he added.
Aside from working with external bus operators, RushOwl also runs its own bus fleet. Shin explained that this hybrid model allows them to maintain flexibility and control and that while external operators give them scale, their internal fleet ensures reliability for key routes with high service demands.
When asked whether they plan to work independently with their own fleet, Shin shared that instead of fully owning all operations, the company is focused on quality service and filling in gaps where needed. He also pointed out that gaining experience in running its own commercial fleet is essential as it works towards becoming an Autonomous Vehicle (AV) operator.
RushOwl is also currently in the works of upgrading its night bus service, NightOwl, which halted in November 2024. According to Shin, the company is looking to provide better AI-driven route optimisation, safety features such as onboard monitoring and dynamic pricing.
The company is also looking to partner with nightlife organisations to make pre- and post-partying rides more enjoyable for partygoers. “We will relaunch when we are ready,” emphasised Shin.
The newfound growth allowed RushOwl to expand in and out of Singapore
Another milestone for RushOwl was that they have managed to establish themselves beyond Singapore, specifically in India and Hong Kong.
Unlike Singapore, Shin shared that the lack of public transportation in these countries creates deep societal issues, such as income inequality, making it more important for transportation gaps to be filled.
Before entering every market or city, the company analyses the expansion’s viability by looking at transport gaps, urban density, local regulations and availability of partner operators; and the demand varies in each market.
“In India, we saw demand in gated communities and business parks. In Hong Kong, we filled critical needs in school and late-night transport. Reception has been very encouraging in both markets, validating our localised approach.”
Moving forward, RushOwl will continue to double down on its school and corporate partnerships and gain more traction in its current markets.
The company will also be exploring other international markets, notably the Philippines, South Korea and Malaysia, where they are currently progressing to provide services in Johor and Kuala Lumpur.
In the long term, we want RushOwl to be the leading shared mobility platform in APAC—powering efficient, accessible, and sustainable transport solutions for cities, institutions, and citizens. We also aim to become a neutral, operator-agnostic, AV-first, tech enabler for both buses and taxis across the region.
Shin Ng, CEO and co-founder of RushOwl
Featured Image Credit: RushOwl