- Date published
Giving the Campus Ride Board a Glow-Up.
Innovators see a problem and think, “I bet we could fix that!” That is the essence of Tony Gunn Jr., a Missouri State University alumnus.
An entrepreneur and community advocate, Gunn is focused on building products that make everyday life a little easier. His latest project, FARU (Find A Ride University), tackles a familiar college conundrum: One student needs a ride, another is already headed that way, and somehow they have no idea the other exists. His solution? Give the old campus ride board an upgrade with a mobile platform that helps students connect and coordinate rides…and keeps everyone safe.
FARU also gives students and campus organizations a way to coordinate designated drivers, helping classmates find a sober ride home when it counts.
“FARU isn’t really about cars to me. It’s about people. There are thousands of students on a campus every day, and so many of them are dealing with problems that someone a few buildings away could solve. One person needs a ride. Another person has three empty seats. One student needs to get home safely. Another student would gladly be the designated driver that night. They just need a way to find each other,” Gunn said. “That’s what I want FARU to become: a community where students know they don’t have to figure everything out alone.”
We’re pretty big fans of people who spot an opportunity to make life better and roll up their sleeves to tackle it. Gunn’s work is a great reminder that innovators are in our midst, including right here in the Missouri State community.
Learn more about Gunn and his work on FARU. Who knows? It might get your wheels turning, too.