Success Story: Butterfli Technologies

Mobility Matters: Butterfli Takes Flight with $6M Grant

Location: Southern California | Los Angeles County | Los Angeles 

Business Type: Technology (On-Demand Transportation Services) 

CalOSBA Partner: Macedonia CDC 

Assistance Received: Access to Capital and Business Planning 

California State Assembly District: 57 

California State Senate District: 28 

Visit Butterfli Technologies Inc. online.  

For founders Delilah Lanoix and John Harris, seeing the rise in popularity of rideshare companies was a major catalyst, as they quickly realized people with barriers to mobility were being left behind. This was even more alarming in low-income areas of LA. At the time, they ran a traditional, asset-based non-emergency transportation service, so it was heartbreaking to see how technology was advancing quickly but not serving their target clients at all. So, they decided to pivot their own company, Butterfli Technologies Inc., to address these issues.  

Butterfli is an on-demand transportation service for individuals with barriers to mobility. Much like Uber and Lyft, but with a crucial difference: Butterfli serves anyone with barriers to mobility, including seniors, children, individuals with disabilities, low- and moderate-income adults, as well as recipients of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid/Medi-Cal. They also serve anyone requiring wheelchair accessibility, special accommodations, individuals who face language or other barriers, and even those requiring drop-off or pick-up from surgery, dialysis, and other procedures. 

Most assisted ride companies are non-emergency medical or non-medical transportation services that require customers to schedule rides up to five days in advance. By contrast, SaaS companies entering the space do not have the industry expertise to develop an app that responds to the needs of the rider, payer, and transportation provider. Finally, a ride on an ambulance can cost thousands of dollars and insurance only approves these when strictly necessary. As one of the first to market, Buterfli provides a rare service for those in need with their technology-based scheduled and on-demand assisted rides available 24/7.  

Access to capital has been a key factor in Butterfli’s growth, with several small loans deployed to fund technology development and expansion throughout the years. However, Delilah and John needed to bring their cost of capital down in order to position themselves for a major grant from LA Metro. 

That’s when they connected with the Macedonia CDC team. Working together, they were able to secure a $1 million loan to consolidate outstanding debt and fund new features for their technology platform. This strategic financing not only improved their financial position but also demonstrated to major funders that Butterfli was a sustainable, well-managed operation ready for significant investment. 

Shortly after receiving their Letter of Intent for the loan, Butterfli received a major opportunity in the form of a $6 million grant from LA Metro. The grant program is called Access For All (AFA) and is designed for individuals who meet specific criteria for a wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV) due to a disability that limits their mobility. The program’s purpose is to expand and improve on-demand service throughout Los Angeles County, ensuring safe, reliable, and inclusive transportation. 

Butterfli has also launched their own podcast called Beyond the Curb. Hosted by Disability Ambassadors, Paul Amadeus Lane and Andy Arias, each episode dives into meaningful conversations that inspire inclusion and innovation in assisted transportation. 

These milestones represent more than just business wins. They represent thousands of people in Los Angeles who will have reliable, dignified, accessible transportation to medical appointments, work, school, and everywhere else life takes them. They represent a future where technology serves everyone, not just those without barriers to mobility. 

From identifying a critical gap in the market to securing major contracts and grants, Delilah and John have built Butterfli into a transformative force in accessible transportation. With the support of Macedonia CDC and strategic access to capital, they’re proving that inclusive innovation isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s good business. Learn more about Butterfli at https://www.gobutterfli.com/. 

Are you a California entrepreneur developing technology solutions that serve underserved communities? Connect with Macedonia CDC to access capital, business planning support, and resources to help scale your impact. 

Updated: 2/23/2026