Rideshare Service Staffed by Armed Drivers Eyes Expansion Into Houston
Blackwolf, an Atlanta-born app whose drivers all carry firearms, is recruiting in Houston, Dallas and Austin and hopes to launch in Texas by early 2025.
By Kendra Konchanuk · · Originally reported by Houston Public Media
A rideshare company that requires every one of its drivers to carry a firearm is looking to enter Houston, as well as Dallas and Austin. The company, Blackwolf, says it is currently recruiting drivers in all three Texas cities.
Blackwolf was founded in Atlanta in 2023 and markets itself as an alternative for passengers who want added protection on the road. Founder King Brown, who previously worked in private security, said the idea came from a former client who asked him to build a transportation service for her and her daughter.
"She was trafficked for three years and [during] the last couple of months that I had with this particular client, she told me to create a transportation system for herself and her daughter," Brown said. He said he first set up the service to move women and children who had been victims of domestic violence or trafficking.
According to the company's website, drivers must have at least four years of experience in the military, law enforcement or private security. Blackwolf's "premium" tier goes further, requiring proof of an active security license in the state where the driver works.
Brown said the company seeks out veterans, police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and others licensed through their states. He described the vetting process as central to the appeal. "The biggest thing is the comfort in the vetting process," he said. "It's all about the perception."
The app has been downloaded more than 300,000 times, according to Brown, who credited social media for much of that growth. He said the company had roughly a thousand followers on TikTok when it began posting in May 2023 and was well past 200,000 by December. "TikTok has given us a boost of a lifetime," he said, adding that the appeal lies in the "realness" of the videos.
Blackwolf currently operates in Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. Brown said the company chose to look at Texas after polling its potential users.
He said he hopes to start service in the state by the end of 2024 or in the first quarter of 2025, but does not intend to hurry. "We have to do this very strategically," Brown said. "We have to recruit the right people. We don't want to just open Texas all willy-nilly. We have a brand, we have morals, we have values."
