Ritu Narayan of Zūm Recognized as a 2026 Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist
Ritu Narayan: Setting New Standards in Student Mobility
Ritu Narayan, the visionary founder and CEO of Zūm, has garnered recognition as a finalist for the 2026 Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award in the Bay Area, an accolade presented by Ernst & Young LLP (EY US). This prestigious program celebrates remarkable leaders who demonstrate innovative thinking in their business practices and make a positive impact on their communities.
Founded in 2015, Zūm was born out of Narayan’s personal experience as a working mother navigating the complexities of student transportation. Acknowledging that the traditional yellow school bus system relied on decades-old technology, she sought to revolutionize how children get to school safely and efficiently.
With the introduction of the Zum CMX, the first-ever student mobility system designed with a focus on people instead of just vehicles, Zūm has reshaped the landscape of student transportation. This innovative platform coordinates real-time student transit, easing the anxieties that parents face daily regarding their children’s journey to school.
Ritu Narayan expressed her gratitude for this recognition, emphasizing the collaborative efforts of her entire team at Zūm.