Young Guns’ ‘ticket machine in your pocket’ app wins contract for New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Masabi to provide mobile tickets for capital’s Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Railroad

by Megan Dunsby

Updated: May 1, 2014 Published: May 1, 2014

Masabi: Ben Whitaker, Tom Godber and Ed Howson

Mobile ticketing and payments start-up Masabi, founded by members of  the Young Guns class of 2012, has announced it has signed a major deal with New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA); a contract which will see it provide mobile ticketing services to the city’s Metro-North Railroad (MNR) and Long Island Rail Road (LRR).

Founded in 2002 by Ben Whitaker, Tom Godber and Ed Hawson, Masabi uses cloud-based ticketing technology which allows passengers to buy train tickets using just their smartphones via its mobile app ‘JustRide’, or website, so that travellers “never need to carry a paper ticket again”.

Through the app, users are able to purchase any ticket type with payment being made with editdebit or credit card. Tickets are then sent to the users’ phones as an electronic ticket or encrypted barcode which can be validated by train conductors.

Potentially signalling the end of ticket queues for two of America’s largest train lines , MTA joins several leading transport groups within Masabi’s client portfolio including Virgin Trains, First Group, Boston’s MBTA, San Diego MTS, Thames Clippers in London, and CrossCountry Trains.

The news builds on a series of successes for the transit mobile ticketing firm having racked up annual transaction processes of over $90m and securing backing from leading venture firms MMC Ventures, m8 Capital and Fontinalis Partners to the tune of $6m over two rounds.

Masabi CEO, Whitaker, said:  ”Mobile ticketing is all about making life easier for transit riders.

“By transforming smartphones into vending machines, we are making waiting in line a thing of the past. We are excited to be working with Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road to bring our award-winning technology to New York’s commuters.”

Thomas F. Prendergast, chairman and CEO of the MTA, added:

“This is a step forward as we look to use the latest technologies available to make fare payment at all our agencies easier, faster, and more convenient.”