Lyft was founded by Logan Green and John Zimmer. The company grew out of their earlier carpooling venture, Zimride, before becoming the Lyft brand used today.
Green and Zimmer founded Zimride in 2007 to help people arrange shared rides, particularly between college campuses. Green had become interested in transportation and carpooling while studying at the University of California, Santa Barbara, while Zimmer drew inspiration from the empty seats he saw during long-distance trips.
Lyft launched in 2012 as a short-distance ride service connected to Zimride. In 2013, the company changed its corporate name from Zimride to Lyft and sold the original long-distance Zimride business. Early Lyft became recognizable for pink mustaches attached to drivers’ cars and a friendly, informal image.
The founders are sometimes confused with later Lyft executives or investors, but Green and Zimmer are the company’s original co-founders.