Local entrepreneurs Rick and Angela Vargas, owners of The Vargas Agency at 5718 Third Street in old Katy, have partnered with WRIDZ, a software platform that connects drivers and passengers through the use of the Wridz app.

“Wridz is not just another rideshare company, we are the evolution of rideshare,” said Angela Vargas in an email to the Katy Times. “At Wridz, we put the drivers and our passengers first.”

Rick and Angela married in 2006 in El Paso, then moved to Katy 2007 and started their insurance agency in 2017, quickly becoming active in the community through the Fulshear Regional Chamber for Commerce. They have two children -- daughter Ofelia and son Burabari. In the course of looking for additional business opportunities, the Vargases met with Steve and Donna Wright, founders of Wridz, in September 2023. “After our first meeting we quickly realized this is a company that aligns with our values,” said Vargas. “Once we talked with [the Wrights], we quickly recognize their heart and vision for WRIDZ was in the right place. Rick and I have a love for business, and we are excited to bring this opportunity to our community.”

Wridz is different from other rideshares in that it addresses three primary areas related to the needs and desires of passengers: passenger safety, fares and locating/verifying the driver, Angela Vargas said. Drivers undergo an extensive background check, an interview process which include an in-person drug test, verifying the driver's photo and other information, and verifying the photo and information about the vehicle. Drivers are continuously monitored, as are their ratings. Wridz strives to keep its fares ten percent lower than other rideshares serving the area.

“You'll never again worry that you might not be getting into the vehicle with the driver assigned for your trip,” said Vargas. “Wridz has a unique CallingCard®: system to help you locate and identify your driver. You and your driver will each be assigned a color and number combination unique to the pickup area for your trip. You and your driver can each display the CallingCard® in full screen mode to locate your driver. Next, your driver will have a dash placard with a unique driver id and QR code. Point your phone camera at the QR code to be notified if this is, or is not, your driver.”

Wridz is also different from the perspective of the drivers. Drivers get 100 per cent of the fare, without paying a booking fee. The program is subscription-based and drivers choose the region or regions they would like to drive in, paying a monthly subscription fee for the chosen area.

The Wridz app is available in the app store, Vargas said and once it is downloaded, the user has the option to enter the destination and request a ride; also a specific driver. Wait time depends on the number of drivers available. “As we continue to increase the number of drivers weekly, the waiting time will decrease,” Angela Vargas said. Credit cards are accepted.

Under the direction of the Vargases, Wridz will serve the Houston region, far north as Huntsville down to Galveston, and from Columbus to the border of Louisiana.

“n this difficult time in our economy we feel WRIDZ will give the opportunity for drivers to earn what they work for,” Vargas said. “Safety in our country has also become a concern -- we believe through the measure of the onboarding process, we are able to minimize a unwanted situation. We love and care for our community and we know that this community/country will support WRIDZ.”