Skouty: The Atenean startup driving change for on-demand workers

No driver? No problem! Skouty (skoutyph.com) has you covered with a hassle-free solution to your on-demand driver needs - the ambitious undertaking of a team of student entrepreneurs.

Recognizing the challenges and opportunities in the evolving gig economy, these young founders from the BS Information Technology Entrepreneurship (BS ITE) Program, the flagship tech startup program of the John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM), created a platform that seamlessly connects you with available drivers through their user-friendly and safe digital service. Whether you need a ride for a long trip, an event, or just around town, Skouty provides reliable, personalized transportation tailored to your schedule.

By empowering underserved communities with alternative livelihood options in the gig industry, this student-led venture is innovating the future of on-demand services and mobility.

With this backdrop, amidst the evolving economy and rising prices, individuals are often seeking other sources of income and livelihood. Some industries have also been threatened in terms of work security, especially for Filipino jeepney drivers who continue to face uncertainty given the PUV modernization program – a project that would phase out traditional jeepney models, making hundreds of drivers jobless.

Skouty’s ambition goes beyond simply providing quick and convenient transportation services. Underneath the commitment to fill gaps in the market, the startup aims to become a social enterprise that empowers drivers and other on-demand workers with additional earning opportunities. Skouty’s mission is to revolutionize how people access on-demand services by streamlining the process of finding qualified and reliable workers through a seamless digital platform. For customers, this means the ease of booking an affordable private driver matched to their needs using Skouty’s smart preference algorithms. These private drivers are sourced from Skouty’s network of on-demand drivers, with drivers also stemming from the jeepney driver community.
       
To validate their idea, Skouty started marketing through small communities such as Ateneo Trade. Here, the team grew a user base organically, garnering over 30 bookings with an impressive 90% rebook rate. Since this has been proven successful, the team decided to expand its reach through collaborating with other university trade platforms, schools, and niche audiences.

Currently, Skouty has already begun forging partnerships with associations to facilitate building Skouty’s network of drivers. Skouty’s founders extend heartfelt gratitude to the Ateneo Office for Social Concern and Involvement (OSCI) Department and Attorney Montiel for connecting Skouty to the Quezon City Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (JODA). Hopefully, these efforts pave a path that leads Skouty into becoming a social enterprise dedicated to making a positive impact on both these drivers’ lives, and the communities they serve.

Beyond transportation, Skouty has ambitions to evolve into an all-encompassing on-demand workforce solution by expanding to other services such as cleaning, repairs, and much more. Skouty’s goal is to create an ecosystem wherein anyone can find on-demand work opportunities with flexibility and convenience.     

Through all these efforts, Skouty seamlessly connects the service industry's supply and demand through technology. Subsequently, this creates many inclusive economic opportunities, representing a new era of businesses that could drive favorable transformation for on-demand workers across the Philippines.