Amia Mize didn’t originally envision herself as an entrepreneur.
She built her career in the corporate world at Comcast, working as a Production Agent Supervisor for the telecommunications giant while raising her family in Atlanta. However, a personal challenge with school drop-offs and pickups eventually led her into the startup world.
It all started when an unexpected school redistricting policy left her without a dedicated bus route for her daughter. Mize had to rework her schedule to handle after-school pickups herself. During those trips, she noticed a significant issue with school transportation.
She saw dozens of kids waiting outside the school building, searching for a ride.
“[Kids] were coming up to me saying, ‘Are you my Uber?’ or ‘Can I get in the car with you? Can you take me home?’ They didn’t even know me. And that was very alarming and concerning,” Mize told Hypepotamus.
That was when the entrepreneurial light bulb went off. How could there be so many children without a safe option to get from school to home? Uber was not only expensive, but it was not designed for children. And there simply weren’t better transportation solutions out there to give parents peace of mind.
Determined to solve the problem, Mize launched Takes A Village Transportation in Atlanta in 2015. Fast forward to 2024, and her startup has become a trusted resource for many families with school-age children. And the company’s upcoming launch of its digital platform could help even more students access safe rides to school and extracurricular activities.
Take A Ride With Takes A Village
Takes A Village operates a fleet of 15-passenger vans, providing door-to-door transportation for students attending public, private, and charter schools throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area.
“Most of our families are private, paid clients,” Mize added, “and a new route can start once twelve students express interest.” Parents can enroll their children for either a semester or a full school year, with weekly round-trip rates starting at $145.
The startup recently expanded its services to college campuses, offering transportation to students living off-campus. Takes A Village now runs a looped route throughout the day that services Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, and Morehouse College. It also provides transportation to mentorship and after-school programs, which have often been inaccessible for students lacking transportation options.
To ensure safety, drivers—referred to as “transportation agents”—undergo comprehensive local and national background checks, drug screenings, and driving record checks. They are also trained in CPR and first aid. Most importantly, Mize emphasized, drivers must demonstrate a “heart for community and children.”
After several years in business, Takes A Village has found the crucial product-market fit. Many families have remained loyal to the service for an average of four years.
Building Transportation Tech in Atlanta
Mize credits the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurship (RICE) in Atlanta with helping her navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship. She noted that RICE provided her with the tools and resources needed to grow as both a leader and a business owner.
On Saturdays, Mize takes advantage of RICE’s SaaS Saturday School to enhance her technical skills. These skills are essential as she works to complete Takes A Village’s digital platform, expected to launch by the end of the year. This platform will allow parents to search for safe and convenient transportation options near them.
Mize’s efforts have also been recognized through her selection as a Comcast RISE recipient. RISE is a program designed to support the growth of small businesses while advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Being part of Comcast RISE holds special meaning for Mize, who worked at Comcast for nearly eight years.
“I stepped out on faith to build Takes A Village, even though Comcast tried in many ways to keep me,” she said. “Now, to see Comcast RISE accept and support my business—it’s mind-blowing. My heart still leaps every time.”
With support from RICE and Comcast RISE, Mize is set to shape a better future for Atlanta, one van ride at a time.
“If we can just give children the opportunity to access better education, it can change the trajectory of their future. That’s what motivated me to launch into transportation,” she added.
