Press summary. KSTP 5 Eyewitness News is an independent broadcast outlet. This page summarizes their coverage of HICH for readers who may not have seen the original segment. We encourage you to watch the full report at kstp.com.

KSTP 5 Eyewitness News — the Twin Cities ABC affiliate — brought HICH to a television audience as part of its coverage of the Minneapolis rideshare standoff. Reporter Ben Henry covered how HICH and other alternatives were preparing to fill the void if Uber and Lyft followed through on their threat to exit the market by May 1, 2024.

Key Facts from the Segment

ReporterBen Henry, KSTP 5 Eyewitness News
Coverage typeTV news segment
Prior marketsCanada and Africa
Safety complianceSame standards as Uber/Lyft (insurance, background checks, inspections)
ContextUber/Lyft planned exit May 1, 2024 over minimum pay ordinance

The segment addressed safety directly — a key concern for any new rideshare entrant. HICH confirmed it would meet the same requirements as Uber and Lyft: proper insurance, vehicle inspections, and driver background checks. The underlying safety standards for operating a licensed TNC in Minnesota are set at the regulatory level, and HICH committed to meeting them from day one.

Sheikh delivered what became one of the most memorable lines of the entire Minneapolis rideshare debate — a single image that summed up the difference between HICH's model and the platforms it was challenging.

"We believe that the drivers and the company can sit down and eat the cake — rather than corporate eats the whole cake and allows the drivers to fight over the crumbs."

Mustafa Sheikh, Founder, HICH — as quoted on KSTP 5

This is a summary. The full segment is available on KSTP's website.

Watch on KSTP 5