Split Technology

About Split Technology

Split Technology was a transportation technology startup with dual headquarters in Washington, D.C., and Helsinki, Finland. The company was founded as Ajelo Oy in Finland in 2011 by Ario Okeshani and Teemu Sihvola. Initially, the Finnish startup developed the software for the Kutsuplus ride-pooling service in Helsinki. In 2014, the US-based company Split acquired Ajelo to leverage its software for a new ride-pooling service in Washington D.C.

The company's primary offering was an on-demand ride-sharing service that utilized a sophisticated routing platform. This "decision-making engine" analyzed passenger destinations in real-time to create the most efficient routes for shared rides, grouping passengers traveling in the same direction into a single vehicle. The service was known for its affordability and a commitment to fair driver compensation. Split's business model centered on providing a more sustainable and efficient urban mobility solution, aiming to reduce traffic congestion and the collective carbon footprint in major cities.

After operating in Washington D.C., the company ceased its ride-hailing service in the fall of 2016, having raised approximately $12.5 million in capital. The company then pivoted to focus solely on its software and technology, operating out of Finland. In June 2017, Split was acquired by MOIA, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group. The acquisition positioned Split's technology as the core engine for MOIA's future ride-pooling innovations, with the Finnish engineering team being integrated into MOIA to continue developing the pooling algorithms.