How a career detour is driving change in the Australian rideshare scene

John Nguyen expected to come home from a six-month backpacking trip across Europe with nothing more than some happy memories. Instead, the Monash Business School alum also returned with a brilliant idea for a platform to transform ridesharing in Australia.

When Australia’s borders reopened after the COVID-19 pandemic, Monash Business School alum John Nguyen wasted no time heading overseas.

After five years working in investment banking at the NAB, he was keen to experience the big, wide world beyond banking.

“Basically, as soon as we were allowed to travel again, I quit my job and booked a one-way ticket to France,” he said.

He was backpacking around Europe by bus when his plans hit a bump in the road. “I wanted to go to Madrid, but I couldn’t get a flight or a seat on anything,” he said.

However, it turned out to be a lucky break.

“One of my friends at the hostel I was staying at told me about a long-distance rideshare app that connects people who need to travel with drivers who have empty seats,” he said.

“I decided to give it a go and booked with this Spanish woman heading home to Madrid.”

The experience completely changed his attitude to travel.

“She had a really nice Audi, she picked me up and dropped me off at the hostel door, and because she was a local, she gave me great tips on what to do, she even taught me some Spanish – and all for 20 Euros,” he said.

After that, he relied on long-distance ride-sharing for the remainder of his six-month trip. “I met people, talked, learned so much, and I made friends – I’m still in contact with some of the people I met while ride-sharing.”

The birth of Bushride

Back home in Australia, Mr Nguyen quickly discovered no such platform existed.

“Australia is huge, and we have so many cars per capita, so it’s perfect for something like that, but I looked around and there was nothing,” he said.

He decided to do something about it, and three months later Australia’s own long-distance ride-share platform Bushride was born.

“We launched in March 2023, and we’re already sitting at about 16,000 users and 2000 rides, so it’s grown quickly,” he said.

“We even had several big wins recently, partnering with music festivals like Strawberry Fields and the Woodford Folk Festival to facilitate rides to regional places.”

‘In Europe, young people are embarrassed to fly’

Mr Nguyen said his environmental concerns had been a big motivation behind Bushride.

“In Europe, young people are embarrassed to fly because it’s so environmentally detrimental - it’s considered a last resort – but in Australia, we tend to drive everywhere alone,” he said.

“Europe is miles ahead of us in that respect, but I'm hoping to help change that, and I'm confident we can get there."

Now he just needs to convince the Australian public to get on board.

“Currently, I’d say 50 per cent of users are travellers from Europe who know exactly what it is,” he said.

“They sign up because they know it’s easy to use, safe, cheap, and much better for the environment.”

Long-term, he hopes to expand Bushride beyond Australia.

“Once Bushride establishes its presence in Australia, I’d like to expand it into New Zealand and then potentially Asia.”

Turbo-charging with the Accelerator Program 

Mr Nguyen said taking part in the Monash Accelerator Program had been a game-changer.

The program is designed to challenge start-up founders to develop their entrepreneurial ambition and skills and scale their businesses.

“It teaches you everything you need to know as an entrepreneur, I would describe it as a bit like a condensed MBA,” he said.

His advice to current students is that anything is possible if you have enough determination.

“I’m living proof of that - if someone from the world of finance can pivot and learn to build a website and an app, then anyone can overcome any obstacles,” he said.

“If you are really invested, and the only thing standing in your way is something that you can’t do, then learn how to do it.”

Learn more about  the Monash Accelerator program.