Ebunoluwa Akinola
A black-owned tech firm based in Miami, Florida, founded by a Nigerian immigrant, Frederick Akpoghene has begun manufacturing self-driving vehicles called JéGO Pods. The firm will start releasing the pods in late 2022 and will be used to mobilize healthcare services.
Frederick Akphoghene, a Nigerian immigrant, who started his career in tech as early as 16, since he started his tech journey, he has built and partnered with several companies and startups including Abovav Technologies and Oddio Tribe Holdings.
According to him, the objective of his company is to use its mobile platform to connect users with businesses that provide on-demand services like Flu Testing, COVID testing, IV therapy and other services which can be brought directly to customers using driverless JéGO pods.
He said, “JéGO is here to give entrepreneurs the space to compete and give service providers the mobility to serve without the burden of large fixed costs like rent…This will lead to more money flowing into our communities as opposed to it flowing outwards to large corporations.
He also added that the name ’JéGO’ “is inspired by the African goddess of commerce, which the mission of the company to use technology to uplift the fastest group of entrepreneurs in the world.
Akphoghene has over 15 years of experience in tech development and software engineering and has been able to design the patent-pending flagship prototype himself. His autonomous pods have already been approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and have garnered a number of partnerships including one with a Miami-based Urgent Care Clinic.
In five years, Akphoghene and his team plan to complete their pilots in multiple cities, including Miami, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, Luxembourg, and have a fleet of over 100 vehicles operating in various routes throughout the U.S., Europe, and South Africa.
“It’s clear now more than ever that people need and continue to need services on the go – starting with COVID testing. Join us in changing the world by building a new commerce infrastructure powered by JéGO Pods. We’re here to ensure the present and future growth of businesses and access to crucial care services throughout the pandemic and beyond,” he said
