5,007 drivers joined our pre-launch waitlist with $0 spent on ads. Drivers pay a flat weekly fee and keep their fares. We are raising $1.5M on a SAFE to get licensed and launch in Philadelphia.

Why invest

1. Proven driver demand before launch. As of September 2026, 5,007 drivers joined our waitlist through word of mouth. About 80% are in the Philadelphia metro area. About 62% drive 40+ hours a week.
2. A simple model drivers understand. A flat weekly fee replaces a percentage cut. The more a driver works, the more they keep.
3. Recurring revenue from two sources. Weekly driver subscriptions plus a $3.95 fee on every completed trip.
4. A founder who has done this before. 26 years in transportation. Built and exited a licensed black car business across six states. Still drives for Uber and Lyft today.
5. Built to launch legally. We are applying for a Transportation Network Company (TNC) license with the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) and arranging commercial insurance before the first ride.

The problem

On Uber and Lyft, the platform takes a percentage of every fare. A driver who works more hours pays the platform more, even though the app costs the same to run.

Full-time drivers feel this most. They also pay for their own fuel, maintenance, insurance, depreciation and taxes.

Here is one real example. On a single Uber Premier payout, our founder's trips grossed $1,665 in fares. Uber kept $699, about 42%. He kept $966.

"Riders notice when drivers are stressed. Last-minute cancellations and bad attitudes usually aren't about the rider. They come from drivers who feel the platform takes too much and tells them too little." — Edward Mbeche, Founder

The solution

Halen charges drivers a flat weekly fee instead of a commission.

Philadelphia launches with two services: Ride and Package delivery.

What a typical week looks like on Halen (illustration, not a promise of earnings)

A full-time driver completing ~85 trips a week and earning $1,628 in gross fares. The 42% rate comes from the Uber payout above.

In this illustration the driver keeps $397 more per week, about 42% more. It assumes the same fares; Halen fares will differ because we don't use surge pricing. Payment processing fees reduce the Halen figure.

Traction

As of September 2026:

1. 5,007 drivers on the pre-launch waitlist
2. ~80% located in the Philadelphia metro area
3. ~62% report driving 40+ hours per week
4. ~800 riders registered before launch
5. $0 spent on paid marketing
6. Product built: rideshare and package delivery apps for iOS and Android, built and QA-tested
7. $200,000 in cloud infrastructure credits secured

A waitlist sign-up is not a commitment to subscribe. Converting these drivers to paying subscribers is what the pilot is designed to prove.

Business model and market

Halen earns revenue two ways:

1. 1.Driver subscriptions: $199 per active driver per week. (The $88 weekly insurance charge pays for insurance and is not Halen revenue.)
2. 2.Rider fees: $3.95 per completed trip.

Philadelphia launch target: 373 active drivers.

The arithmetic below shows what that target would mean if reached. It is not a forecast.

Competition. Uber and Lyft dominate the market and have far more capital. Other subscription-model rideshare apps exist. Halen's focus is full-time drivers, and launching fully licensed and insured from day one.

Launch plan

1. Licensing and insurance. Complete the PPA TNC application, secure commercial insurance, set up background and vehicle checks. We expect this to take at least 60–90 days after funding.
2. Driver onboarding. Activate drivers from the waitlist in groups toward 373 active drivers.
3. Launch rides and package delivery in Philadelphia, targeted for 2027.
4. Measure and expand. Track driver retention, rider repeat use and unit costs before entering a second city.

Team

Edward Mbeche, Founder & CEO 26 years in transportation, including 12 years operating licensed transportation businesses. Built and exited a black car service operating in six states. Former owner of DC Private Cars. Has worked with transportation regulators in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Has driven for Uber Premier and Lyft for 6+ years and still drives today.

Product and engineering

1. Asbel Kaptoge — Lead Engineer
2. Noah Foley — Lead Mobile Engineer
3. Poonam Kotekar — Project Manager
4. Wilson Barrios — Head of User Experience
5. Tetyana Shvets — Lead QA
6. Jeffrey La Fontaine — Head of Creative
7. Plus engineers across web, mobile, DevOps and QA

Planned allocation; actual use may vary. The insurance deposit covers the escrow only. We are finalizing the remaining premium with our insurance broker. If needed, we plan to finance up to about $1.2M through bank financing, with a standby line of credit for insurance collateral. If we raise less than $1.5M, we will fund PPA licensing and commercial insurance first.

Risks

These are the specific risks we see. Read them before investing.

1. No license yet. Halen cannot give rides until the PPA approves our TNC application. Approval may be delayed or denied.
2. Insurance cost and collateral. Commercial rideshare insurance is expensive. Halen must fund a deposit and collateral before launch. If costs rise, we may need more capital or higher driver fees.
3. Pricing may change. We are still finalizing driver pricing and insurance structure. Final fees may differ from those shown here.
4. Waitlist may not convert. Sign-ups are not commitments. Drivers may not pay $287 a week, or may leave after joining.
5. Too few riders. Only ~800 riders have registered. If riders don't come, drivers won't earn enough to stay.
6. Launch requires 373 drivers. We plan to launch only after onboarding our driver target. This could delay launch and revenue.
7. Strong competitors. Uber and Lyft have far more money and could cut prices or change driver pay to block us.
8. Pre-revenue. Halen has no revenue. All figures on this page are illustrations, not forecasts.
9. Founder dependence and control. Halen relies heavily on its founder, its only officer. The founder holds a majority of voting power, so investors will have little influence on company decisions.
10. More funding needed. This raise may not be enough to reach profitability. Future rounds will dilute investors.
11. SAFE risk. A SAFE is not equity until a future financing or exit. You may lose your entire investment, and you will not be able to sell it easily.

The ask

Your investment funds Halen's PPA license, commercial insurance and the Philadelphia launch.

Invest in Halen. Built for the rest of us.