Andre Powell Invested Nearly $1M Of His Own Funds To Launch ‘The World’s First Franchised Rideshare Company’

Black-owned rideshare company Goldsainte is making significant strides.

The Charlotte, NC-based company, founded by Andre Powell in 2021, is marketed as “the world’s first franchised rideshare.” The business is looking to disrupt the $70 billion dollar industry and is taking on a business model that will allow riders to benefit from luxury vehicles with advanced proprietary technology provided by franchisees.

The model is also inspired by Powell’s background as a multi-unit Jimmy John’s franchisee through his venture APEM Restaurant Group.

“It made more sense to scale through franchising because the better part of my career was spent as a multi-unit franchisee,” Powell told the Charlotte Business Journal. Currently, Goldsainte offers two verticals featuring franchisee-owned vehicles. The first, Goldsainte XL, offers Infiniti QX80s to lease or own by the franchisee and is available for franchising across 38 states . Goldsainte Premium is available in select U.S. markets, according to information provided to AFROTECH™, and will include Bentley, Rolls Royce, and Maybach vehicles. The rideshare aims to create at least 20 franchises this year with an additional 50 to 75 planned in 2025. The ultimate goal is to establish a nationwide presence, according to a press release.

“These states were carefully chosen based on comprehensive research conducted by our team. We have taken into consideration various factors, including demographic and psychographic segmentation, to identify the cities within these states that offer the greatest potential for our franchisee’s success,” Powell told AFROTECH™. “Our objective is to transform Goldsainte into the ‘ultimate everything luxury app,’ offering a comprehensive range of luxury transportation services worldwide, creating a one-stop destination for all things luxury in the transportation industry.”

Given these upcoming developments, those interested in Goldsainte’s services may find membership appealing. It provides a 60% discount per ride and priority booking during peak times. Goldsainte also offers benefits for all customers, including concierge ride scheduling, advance or last-minute booking options, and free ride cancellations or changes.

Looking ahead, Powell plans to scale the brand overseas in the United Kingdom and launch its next vertical, Goldsainte Connect, in the market by the end of summer 2024. Users will be able to book luxurious transportation options such as black cars, helicopters, yachts, and private jets via its app.

“I am incredibly excited about the current stage that our company, Goldsainte, has reached,” Powell expressed. “Starting from the initial idea in late 2021 to the official launch in 2023, I have invested nearly a million dollars of my own funds to bring the company to this point. Now, we are entering the next phase of our journey, which involves franchising Goldsainte XL across the United States. Additionally, we are preparing to introduce Goldsainte Connect in the UK, further expanding our presence. With these developments in place, we are well-positioned for rapid expansion in both markets.”