Zūm Recognized as One of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for Student Transportation in 2025

Zūm: Leading the Way in Student Transportation Innovations

In an impressive recognition of its commitment to revolutionizing student transport, Zūm has been included in Fast Company’s coveted list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2025. The company secured the third position in the Sustainability category, testament to its groundbreaking efforts to modernize school transportation.

Zūm, headquartered in Redwood City, California, is at the forefront of student transportation solutions, utilizing advanced AI-driven technology to ensure safety and efficiency. Founded by Ritu Narayan, the company aims to enhance the everyday experience of families, schools, and school districts across the United States. The recognition signals a significant achievement, showcasing how Zūm is improving transportation and reliability while also enhancing energy sustainability.

In her statement, Ritu Narayan expressed gratitude towards their partners and emphasized the positive impact their innovations have on school safety and efficiency. The company is pioneering vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, allowing electric school buses to supply energy back to the grid, thus enhancing grid resilience during peak demand.

Zūm's app integrates parents, students, school administrators, and drivers into a single digital platform. This platform gives parents real-time insights into their child's bus route, including access to their driver’s profile and updates about pick-up and drop-off status. Administrators can also take advantage of optimized route management and performance reports, allowing for an unprecedented level of operational efficiency.

In a historic move in 2024, Zūm launched the first fully electrified school bus fleet in Oakland, California, which runs on 74 electric buses. This fleet not only facilitates safe transportation but also contributes significantly to energy sustainability by sending approximately 2.1 gigawatt-hours of energy back to the grid annually. This aligns with Zūm's mission to enhance both the effectiveness of student transportation and the broader electrical grid's reliability.

Currently, Zūm services thousands of schools across 14 states, including major districts in cities like Los Angeles, Boston, and Seattle. Fast Company’s evaluation process involved a comprehensive review by its editors and writers who assessed numerous applications from a wide array of innovative companies globally. This rigorous selection process ensures that the honorees represent the true cutting-edge of business innovation.

As the landscape of business and culture continues to evolve swiftly, Zūm stands out by not only addressing the needs of student transportation but also contributing to climate change initiatives. Fast Company editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan noted that these innovative companies are leading the way with significant advancements, making them critical players in shaping the future of their industries.

For those looking to learn more about Zūm's innovative approach to modernizing student transportation and to view Fast Company’s complete list of honorees, further details can be found on their official website and in the upcoming print issue of Fast Company, published on March 25, 2025.

As Zūm's impact continues to grow, it sets a new standard not only in student transportation but also in how technology can play a vital role in developing sustainable solutions, showing that innovation can drive change and improve lives in the most fundamental ways.