New Manitoba-made ride-hailing app launches in Steinbach

Jura McIlraith · CBC News

· Posted: Aug 20, 2026 6:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: August 20

A new ride-hailing app is setting its roots in a southeastern Manitoba city.

KodaGO aims to connect communities with a lack of public transportation or access to other ride-hailing services, such as Uber or Lyft.

Justus Oladele was inspired to create the app when he faced those transportation barriers himself.

Oladele, originally from Nigeria, had been living in Montreal when a friend suggested he move to Manitoba. He hopped on a plane to Winnipeg three years ago without asking how far outside Winnipeg the friend lived.

When Oladele landed, he was faced with finding transportation to Steinbach.

"My first questions were very weird at the airport by asking, 'Can I get a train ticket to Steinbach?" he said. "'Can I get a plane ticket to Steinbach?' No planes in Steinbach, and no Uber, no buses."

Oladele ended up getting a ride from his friend's husband to Steinbach. But instead of only complaining about the problem, he wanted to do something.

Oladele didn't have a Manitoba driver's licence or a way to access a vehicle.

With his background in technology, he spent two years creating the KodaGO app and officially launched it in May.

Since then, the platform has gained 360 users through word of mouth. Rides can happen anywhere in Canada the app has a driver. Service in Winkler began in mid-August.

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Oladele says in addition to providing transportation, it's a way for people to gain extra income as drivers.

KodaGO also has a carpooling feature where drivers can pick up passengers on their way to Winnipeg and help share the cost of the ride.

"People want to go grocery shopping, people want to pick their children up from school, people want to go hiking and all of that," Oladele said.

"KodaGO is a tool that helps people move easily without a fear of how will you get to where you are going?"

Steinbach city Coun. Damian Penner says while he owns a vehicle and hasn't faced transportation barriers himself, public transportation is a big challenge within the city.

He says the addition of KodaGO to the community is positive.

"There are inherent challenges living in Manitoba that sometimes you are needing to be transported within a vehicle. You can't walk because of the harsh weather," Penner said.

"This does allow an opportunity for others to be able to have those barriers removed to be able to still go to work, to be able to still go to worship and to be able to still go to different community events."

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Penner says he plans to try the app to see what it's like. He says it's also an opportunity for his kids to get around the city as they get older and might not always have access to the family's vehicles.

Eugene Warwaruk, the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce's president, owns two vehicles but acknowledges transportation can be an issue in the city.

He says it's a positive thing to have another option, created in Manitoba, to get around.

"With a growing community like ours, it's just important to recognize that there are gaps in public transportation," Warwaruk said. "Anything we can do to support either private individuals or the city or the community to fill those gaps is necessary."

Oladele hopes to see the app continue to expand across Canada and help people in smaller towns get from one point to another more smoothly.

"People should not be stranded because of a lack of transportation," he said.

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