Company: Circuit
Primary Office: 1129 Clare Ave, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Markets: CA, CO, IL, NY, NJ, MA, FL, TX
Phone: (646) 504-3733
Founded by James Mirras and Alex Esposito in 2011, Circuit is an electric, micro-transit solution. Circuit uses fleets of cars that fulfill the first/last-mile gap that’s experienced by municipalities around the world. The service is made possible by collaborating with municipalities, developers and advertising partners.
Insider spoke with CEO Alex Esposito to learn more about the business.
Alex, what is Circuit, how does it operate and who is your target customer?
Circuit is an all-electric, on-demand shuttle service that offers a unique and impactful media platform for brands.
We operate within targeted, geo-fenced zones in over 50 cities, where riders use our app to request free or low-cost rides. This service is funded through a public-private partnership model with cities, real estate developers, and brand sponsors. Our entire fleet is 100% electric, and our W-2 employee drivers act as friendly brand ambassadors, creating a positive experience. Circuit combines constant street-level visibility with direct rider engagement, which is what makes it such a powerful advertising tool.
Our target customers are twofold. For our microtransit service, we partner with cities and developers to solve “first- and last-mile” transportation challenges. For our advertising solution, our customers are brand marketers and OOH agencies who want to connect with consumers in a meaningful and resonant way. We’ve been trusted by major brands like Coca-Cola, Netflix, Zelle, and Dunkin’ to move their brands forward.
When did you and James meet and come up with the concept of Circuit?
My co-founder, James Mirras, and I have been friends since high school. We started the company back in 2011, originally calling it “The Free Ride.”
The initial concept was born from a local problem in our hometown of East Hampton, NY, which faces terrible summer beach traffic and a lack of parking. Our idea was simple: offer free, electric shuttle rides from town parking lots to the beach to reduce congestion and emissions. To make it work, the entire service was initially funded by advertising partners. We turned the shuttles into mobile billboards, offering sponsors an eye-catching and appreciated way to connect with the community.
We quickly realized our EV shuttle model could address urban mobility issues while opening up a new kind of advertising channel. Advertisers could reach targeted audiences in a dynamic, distinctive and authentic way.
Over the years, that channel has grown into a full media platform: high-visibility wraps, in-app placements, location-based retargeting, and experiential activations like sampling or event tie-ins. The result is a multi-channel presence that reaches more consumers, adds touchpoints with riders before and during their trips, and offers an advertising solution that extends impressions well beyond the street, and creates lasting interactions nationwide.
Because the ads are tied to a service that communities genuinely value, campaigns feel more authentic and leave a stronger impression. As Circuit expands into new cities, our advertising platform scales alongside it, offering brands both local impact and national reach while directly supporting clean, accessible transportation.
I understand that the business has been growing steadily?
My co-founder, James Mirras, and I have been friends since high school. We started the company back in 2011, originally calling it “The Free Ride.”
The initial concept was born from a local problem in our hometown of East Hampton, NY, which faces terrible summer beach traffic and a lack of parking. Our idea was simple: offer free, electric shuttle rides from town parking lots to the beach to reduce congestion and emissions. To make it work, the entire service was initially funded by advertising partners. We turned the shuttles into mobile billboards, offering sponsors an eye-catching and appreciated way to connect with the community.
We quickly realized our EV shuttle model could address urban mobility issues while opening up a new kind of advertising channel. Advertisers could reach targeted audiences in a dynamic, distinctive and authentic way.
Over the years, that channel has grown into a full media platform: high-visibility wraps, in-app placements, location-based retargeting, and experiential activations like sampling or event tie-ins. The result is a multi-channel presence that reaches more consumers, adds touchpoints with riders before and during their trips, and offers an advertising solution that extends impressions well beyond the street, and creates lasting interactions nationwide.
Because the ads are tied to a service that communities genuinely value, campaigns feel more authentic and leave a stronger impression. As Circuit expands into new cities, our advertising platform scales alongside it, offering brands both local impact and national reach while directly supporting clean, accessible transportation.
What is on the horizon for Circuit?
Microtransit is scaling rapidly, and Circuit is at the forefront. We’re helping cities reduce congestion, cut parking demand, and lower emissions, while giving brands fresh opportunities to connect with audiences.
Our advertising platform will continue to evolve beyond static placements, offering fully integrated campaigns that blend outdoor, digital, and experiential channels. Brands can tell their story across communities, align with our sustainable service, and create impactful and lasting connections one ride at a time.
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