Indian-origin founder Ritu Narayan builds $1.7 billion school-bus tech unicorn

Frustrated by unreliable daycare rides while overseeing a billion-dollar line at eBay, Ritu Narayan departed the retailer in 2013 and, together with brothers Vivek and Abhishek Garg, founded Zum in Redwood City, California. The startup provides schools with leased bus yards, owned vehicles and a tablet-based GPS system that lets parents and teachers monitor routes in real time. Since its 2015 debut, Zum has raised $430 million, reached a $1.7 billion valuation and generated $333 million in revenue in 2025, up 35 % from the previous year, serving 5,000 schools across 18 states.

Its AI-driven routing reduces the number of buses needed, saving districts millions, while its electric-bus program feeds surplus power back to the grid, as shown in Oakland Unified. Major contracts include a $150 million, five-year deal with San Francisco Unified and an $11.2 million-per-year agreement with Oakland Unified. Narayan’s achievements earned her a spot on the 2026 Forbes 50 Over 50 list.