The purpose of the fundraising was to further expand GoRoadie’s presence in the UK.

GoRoadie.com is a website that allows learner drivers to search, compare and book their ideal driving instructor online, like Airbnb for driving lessons. The platform is designed and developed in Dundee.

Michiel Smith from Apollo Informal Investments said: “Apollo Informal Investments is proud to announce our investment in GoRoadie. They are dedicated to connecting learner drivers with a driving instructor that suits them while creating tools aimed at making instructors day-to-day easier. We first met GoRoadie at The Startup Race and were impressed with their pitch.”

The investment will be used to ready the innovative driving platform for large scale growth in Q3 2021. The funding is also aimed at ensuring the business has a sustainable future.

Michael Carr, co-founder of GoRoadie, added: “Once we met with Apollo back in March, they clearly understood our goals and ambition to take this business across the UK. We worked with them through the COVID-19 crisis and have developed a plan to prepare the business for full on UK growth next year, when we expect normality to resume. We are extremely pleased to have finalised this deal, especially during the current economic climate.

“Our targets are razor sharp in our mind; ensure we have a sustainable business in the next 12 months, launch GoRoadie in two more major UK cities and increase the number of instructors using GoRoadie by 160%. Following that, it’s about job creation and UK growth moving forward.”

GoRoadie was developed by local tech duo Michael Carr and Barry White and launched in 2018. So far, they have helped 4,500 learner drivers and signed up 500 driving instructors, from across the country, to their platform.

The startup is currently operating primarily in five locations; Dundee, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Nottingham and Leeds.

Driving Lessons as of July 4th have restarted in England and Wales is due to restart on July 27th. Driving instructors are expected to take extra precautions when taking lessons; cleaning their equipment, keeping windows down and wear face-coverings.

Barry White, GoRoadie’s chief product officer, said: “Since lockdown, we have been monitoring the driving instructor situation very carefully, and have been in contact with both instructors and learners, keeping them informed. England has resumed lessons and we are seeing tremendous response already with bookings already reaching pre-COVID-19 levels. Now, we are waiting for the green light from the Scottish Government to start up again with lessons here.”

GoRoadie is free for learners drivers to request their driving instructor and currently completely free for driving instructors due to COVID-19.