Josh Komenda was recently mentioned in a Voyage Phoenix article highlighting businesses in Phoenix. The original posting can be found here.

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Komenda.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I grew up in Winnipeg, Canada and studied Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo. After graduating I moved out to San Diego where I worked as an engineer at Qualcomm. Growing up in one of the coldest cities in the world, then getting to live in San Diego in January was life changing. I started my first company in 2012 – we built the first fully-automated national taxicab booking system for retail customers in the United States. It was acquired in 2013, and the folks that bought my first company became the investors for Veyo.

Has it been a smooth road?
There are always bumps along the way, but I’ve found that when you look back, those are the moments where you learn the most. In the past three years, Veyo has grown from a small startup to a company with almost 600 employees. Building a successful company often requires confronting difficult truths with employees, customers, investors and board members. Those conversations are never easy, but avoiding those truths can end up in disaster. Those on the receiving end will respect you far more in the end for having the spine to do what you believe and say is right.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Veyo story. Tell us more about the business.
Veyo is bringing a new approach to patient transportation in healthcare. We’re using technology to better manage non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) benefits for Medicaid and Medicare programs, state and county governments, and Managed Care Organizations. We’ve completed over 8 million trips in nine states, serving over 3.5 million Medicaid and Medicare Advantage members.

What sets us apart from competitors is our proven model. Veyo was built, from the ground up, to be a healthcare ally by using data and technology to cut costs and improve outcomes. Our model leverages advances in consumer ridesharing, but everything we do is for healthcare, so we ensure we’re focused on the patient and healthcare organization rather than just a ride. We understand the population we serve and how rural vs. urban transportation needs differ. Unlike consumer models that attempt to enter the healthcare market, Veyo’s drivers are CPR certified, HIPAA and ADA compliant, and trained to help patients that may need extra assistance.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
In the next 5-10 years, we expect to see technology playing an ever-increasing role in healthcare transportation. We believe direct-to-consumer technologies, advanced technologies such as autonomous vehicles, and an increased focus on environmental conditions and access to resources like transportation can continue to improve patient health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Determination. Starting a company comes with all types of challenges. It’s important to keep your goals in mind and always be moving towards them.