Onward

What Onward does

Onward Health, Inc. is a privately held Delaware corporation operating a healthcare-focused transportation platform that combines a proprietary Software-as-a-Service Transportation Management System with a Door-Through-Door℠ assisted rideshare service branded as Companion Rides. The company serves older adults, individuals with disabilities, post-acute patients, and other mobility-limited populations by delivering trained Companion Drivers who provide hands-on assistance from the rider's door through to the destination — addressing the curb-to-curb gap left by standard rideshare. Underlying technology includes a consolidated healthcare transportation ordering platform (documented to reduce ordering time from 40 minutes to 88 seconds at UCSF Health), bi-directional SMART on FHIR Electronic Health Record integration, Text2Book SMS-based paratransit booking, and native iOS/Android applications supported by a 24/7 Concierge Team. Companion Drivers complete approximately 40 hours of specialized training covering dementia care, fall prevention, wheelchair handling, CPR/First Aid, and CMS/FTA compliance, with Trustline fingerprint background checks and a 19-point vehicle inspection.

The company monetizes through two primary streams: (1) enterprise B2B agreements with Hospitals & Health Systems, PACE Programs, Health Plans, VA Healthcare, Transit Agencies, and Senior Living Communities (quote-based, onboarding via a "Become a Partner" HubSpot form), and (2) per-ride Companion Rides fees (plus tolls, surcharges, wait time, cleaning fees, and voluntary gratuities) processed through Stripe for individual riders booking via the Onward Rider app, website dashboard, or Concierge phone line. A third, non-dilutive funding stream consists of federal and state grants (a $2.3M NIH SBIR award in October 2024 and a $1.9M Access for All WAV-subsidy grant in April 2026) that subsidize research and accessible-vehicle operations rather than equity-financed capital. Customer logos include UCSF Health, UCI Health, Stanford Children's, Alameda Health System, and HonorHealth; City of Hayward operates paratransit service using Onward's Text2Book technology under a tech-licensing channel model.

Onward is led by co-founder and CEO Kimberly Petty and scaled its commercial leadership in February 2026 with the appointment of its first Chief Revenue Officer (Dmitriy Vanchugov, formerly Uber Global Head of Transit). Active operational markets span California (Bay Area, San Jose, Monterey, Orange County, Sacramento, Fresno, San Diego, Los Angeles, Inland Empire), Texas (Denton), Arizona (Phoenix Metro), and Maryland (Frederick County). Corporate headquarters are in San Francisco, with a legal notice address in Santa Rosa, California. The company holds no public listing and has not disclosed any equity financing to date, operating instead on non-dilutive grant capital and reinvested revenue.

Name

Onward

Legal name

Onward Health, Inc.

Website

https://onwardrides.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Onward Health, Inc. operates a SaaS transportation management platform and a Door-Through-Door assisted rideshare service (Companion Rides) that helps hospitals, PACE programs, transit agencies, senior living communities, and individual riders arrange transportation for older adults and people with disabilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Transportation Management

NAICS

Special Needs Transportation (485991), Taxi and Ridesharing Services (485310), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) Ride-Hailing Platforms (TLAFAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accessible Ride-Hailing (WAV/ADA) & Assisted Mobility Platforms (TLAFAIAG), On-Demand Ride Coordination & Assisted Rides (TNC/Taxi Brokerage) (HSABAOAJ), Door-to-Door Senior Ride Services (Non-Medical) (HSABAOAB), Transportation & Errands (Non-Emergency) (HLADAGAF), Ground Transportation Booking Platforms (Rail/Bus/Ferry) (BPAMAIAD)

Keywords

• Healthcare transportation software
• Assisted rideshare services
• Non-emergency medical transport
• Paratransit booking platform
• NEMT management solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Rosa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Healthcare Transportation Management Software / Platform (B2B): Software platform sold/deployed to Hospitals, Health Systems, PACE Programs, Health Plans, Transit Agencies, VA Healthcare, and Senior Living Communities. Includes ordering portal, EHR integration, multi-vendor coordination, and reporting. Recurring SaaS-style or contracted enterprise agreements implied.
2. Companion Rides Service (Door-Through-Door): Per-ride assisted transportation service operated by Onward's Companion Driver network; fares plus tolls, surcharges, wait time, and cleaning/damage fees collected via in-app payment (Stripe); voluntary gratuities processed through the app.
3. Non-Dilutive Grant Funding (NIH SBIR, Access for All, etc.): Research and operational grants supporting transportation solutions for older adults and accessibility programs (e.g., $2.3M NIH SBIR grant, $1.9M Access for All WAV grant). Funds research, subsidizes rides, and supports program expansion.
4. Transportation Partner / Driver Network (Gig-Style Compensation): Independent contractor Companion Drivers paid guaranteed hourly base rate, mileage reimbursement, tips, and performance bonuses; not a direct revenue stream but the cost structure that powers the Companion Rides service.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Onward provides a healthcare transportation platform combining a proprietary Transportation Management Software (used by hospitals, PACE programs, transit agencies, health plans, and senior living communities to order, track, and manage all healthcare transportation online) with Companion Rides, its Door-Through-Door℠ assisted rideshare service delivered by trained Companion Drivers for older adults and people with mobility, cognitive, or post-acute needs. The platform supports SMART on FHIR EHR integration, multi-vendor ordering, caregiver-centric rider profiles, and SMS-based Text2Book paratransit booking.

Product overview

Onward Health, Inc. operates a unified healthcare transportation platform that combines a proprietary Transportation Management Software platform with the Companion Rides service (its Door-Through-Door assisted rideshare) and complementary modules and programs. The core Software platform enables health systems, PACE programs, transit agencies, and senior living communities to order, track, and manage all healthcare transportation online from one place, with bi-directional SMART on FHIR EHR integration. Companion Rides, the signature door-through-door service, is delivered by trained Companion Drivers through the Onward Rider App and Onward Companion Driver App, and is supported by the 24/7 Onward Concierge Service, the Transportation Partners program (a vetted driver/operator network), and the Text2Book SMS booking module. The Access For All program extends accessible service to wheelchair-accessible vehicle trips, particularly in regions like the Bay Area, often in partnership with transit agencies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Companion Rides (Door-Through-Door℠ Assisted Rideshare) Onward's signature Door-Through-Door℠ assisted rideshare service in which trained Companion Drivers meet riders at the door (or inside the home with permission), assist with mobility devices, navigate stairs/curbs/wheelchairs, and escort riders into their destination. Designed for older adults, individuals with mobility challenges, post-surgery patients, and people managing chronic conditions. Available in California, Texas, Arizona, and Maryland.
• Onward Transportation Management Software Proprietary web-based transportation ordering and management software that lets health systems, PACE programs, transit agencies, and senior living communities order, track, and manage all healthcare transportation online from one place. Supports preferred-vendor routing, real-time ride notifications, trip status alerts, and bi-directional SMART on FHIR EHR integration.
• Access For All Program to expand accessible transportation access, including subsidized wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV) trips across multiple regions such as the Bay Area, supported by grants and partnerships with transit agencies.
• Text2Book Paratransit Booking Technology Text-based paratransit ride booking technology that lets riders request and manage rides via SMS, deployed by transit agencies (e.g., City of Hayward) under their own brand and integrated with Onward's transportation management platform.
• SMART on FHIR Bi-Directional EHR Integration Bi-directional SMART on FHIR integration that connects patient transportation directly to any Electronic Health Record (EHR), enabling health systems to embed transportation ordering into clinical workflows and the discharge process.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% reduction in clinic no-shows
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• UCSF HealthflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCSF Health is featured as a flagship healthcare partner on the Onward homepage. The partnership produced a published case study showing transportation ordering time reduced from 40 minutes to 88 seconds. Onward provides Door-Through-Door Companion Rides and transportation management software to UCSF.
• UCI HealthflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCI Health is featured as a healthcare partner on the Onward homepage. Onward provides assisted Companion Rides and transportation management for UCI Health patients.
• Stanford Children'sflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStanford Children's is featured as a healthcare partner on the Onward homepage, indicating a partnership to provide assisted Companion Rides for pediatric patients and their families.
• Alameda Health SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlameda Health System is featured as a healthcare partner on the Onward homepage. Onward provides transportation management and Companion Rides for Alameda Health patients.
• HonorHealthflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnward Partners with HonorHealth to remove transportation barriers to care in Arizona (announced 4/16/24). HonorHealth is also a featured logo on the Onward homepage. Onward provides Companion Rides and transportation management for HonorHealth patients in the Phoenix Metro area.
• City of HaywardflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCity of Hayward launched paratransit service using Onward's Text2Book technology (announced 9/26/25). Onward's technology is deployed by the city to deliver on-demand paratransit service to residents.
• Frederick County, MarylandcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnward operates a Companion Rides service area across Frederick County, MD (Downtown Frederick, Ballenger Creek, Walkersville, Urbana, Middletown, etc.). Frederick County and MJM are listed as Frederick partner logos.
• Alzheimer's AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAlzheimer's Association co-hosted the second annual pitch competition with MATTER in which Onward was selected as a winner (2/24/24) and as a five-finalist company for 2024.
• MATTERcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMATTER is a Chicago-based healthcare innovation hub. Onward was selected for MATTER's second Accelerating Innovation in Aging cohort (8/3/23) and won the Alzheimer's Association + MATTER pitch competition in 2024.
• AgeTech Collaborative (AARP)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOnward was selected as an AgeTech Collaborative startup and received $50,000 (7/20/23). Featured in AgeTech Collaborative content: 'Onward: Solving the Transportation Barrier to Better Healthcare' (7/27/23).
• Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) / Mass Digital HealthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOnward was a finalist and winner in MeHI's Healthy Aging Sandbox Challenge, receiving $50,000 (April 2023). Onward was also featured in MeHI's 'Healthy Aging Challenge winner' editor's piece (7/11/24).
• StripecoreTechnology or IntegrationStripe is used as Onward's payment processor for charges, pre-authorization holds, refunds, and gratuities processed through the platform, per the Terms of Service.
• Meta (Meta Pixel) and Google (GA4)coreTechnology or IntegrationOnward uses Meta Pixel and Google Analytics 4 cookies on its Sites for analytics, ad measurement, and tailored marketing/advertising per the Privacy Policy.
• UCSF Rosenman Institute (RISE)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerUCSF Rosenman RISE welcomed Onward into the 2024 next generation of health innovators (3/26/24).

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SilverRide: SilverRide provides door-through-door assisted transportation for older adults and people with disabilities, primarily in the Bay Area and select markets. Most directly comparable to Onward on the door-to-door service model and assisted-driver specialization for seniors.
• Modivcare: Modivcare (formerly LogistiCare) is the largest U.S. NEMT broker and manager, serving Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and state agencies. Directly comparable to Onward on the health-plan / NEMT ride-brokering business, though Modivcare is facility-based and incumbency-oriented whereas Onward is a tech-led platform.
• Uber Health: Uber Health is Uber's healthcare-vertical product for non-emergency medical transportation, patient discharge, and care-gap rides. Directly competes with Onward on hospital and health-plan NEMT rideshare, though at much larger scale and without Onward's door-through-door, assisted-mobility specialization.
• Roundtrip: Roundtrip is a healthcare-focused transportation booking platform for patients and care teams, with NEMT and rideshare integrations. Closely comparable to Onward's SaaS-plus-rides model, particularly its consolidated ordering portal and EHR-embedded workflows for hospitals and health plans.
• Ride Health: Ride Health is a healthcare transportation platform coordinating NEMT rides for health systems, payers, and patients via an integrated software-plus-services model. Closely comparable to Onward on enterprise SaaS-style healthcare transportation orchestration.
• Veyo: Veyo is a technology-driven NEMT rideshare platform serving Medicaid and health plans across multiple states. Directly comparable to Onward as an NEMT-focused ride-hailing platform with technology-led driver networks and health-plan contract relationships.
• GoGoGrandparent: GoGoGrandparent provides on-demand rides for seniors via a phone-based concierge that orders Uber/Lyft on their behalf. Directly comparable to Onward on senior-focused rides, though GoGoGrandparent is a thin layer on top of TNCs while Onward operates its own trained driver network.
• Circulation Health: Circulation Health operates a non-emergency medical transportation platform connecting patients with rides via Lyft, Uber, and specialized providers. Comparable to Onward on the health-plan and health-system NEMT booking and orchestration layer.
• Lyft Healthcare: Lyft Healthcare is Lyft's dedicated medical and senior transportation offering, including Lyft Assisted for riders needing extra help. Competes head-to-head with Onward on health-plan and health-system NEMT contracts, with similar per-ride rideshare economics but a far larger driver supply.

Emerging players

• Kaizen Health: Kaizen Health is a healthcare logistics platform offering NEMT and patient transportation coordination for health systems and clinical trials. Comparable to Onward's SaaS-plus-services healthcare transport approach, though at an earlier stage and with a narrower footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/onwardrides
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@onwardrides
• Facebookfacebook.com/OnwardRides
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/onwardrides
• Instagraminstagram.com/onwardrides

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Onward