Sometimes, the most life-changing ideas begin at the family dinner table.
For Justin Boogaard, that moment came when his beloved grandma, Betty Luce, simply asked for a ride.
A Simple Question That Sparked a Revolution
Back in 2012, Justin was in his twenties – broke, living with his grandmother in Torrance, California, and trying to figure out what to do next with his life.
One evening, over dinner, Grandma Betty mentioned she wanted to go see a play with a friend.
She looked up from her plate and asked him,
“Justin, can you give me Uber’s phone number?”
He smiled and explained that Uber didn’t have a phone number – it was an app.
Betty frowned. “Well,” she said matter-of-factly, “why don’t you make one?”
And that’s how it started – with a grandma’s need, and a grandson’s love.
Turning Love Into a Lifeline
That one small conversation stuck with Justin.
He realized that while technology had made life easier for young people, it had quietly left behind millions of seniors — people like his grandma, who didn’t want apps, passwords, or screens.
They just wanted a safe, simple, reliable way to get around.
So Justin teamed up with his friend David Lung, and together, they started building what would become GoGoGrandparent – a phone-based service that connects seniors to rides, meals, grocery delivery, medication, and even home care – all without needing a smartphone.
“It Had to Be Something Grandma Could Use”
Justin built every detail with his grandmother in mind.
“It couldn’t be an app,” he said. “It had to be just a phone number she could call – something simple, familiar, and human.”
When Grandma Betty needed a ride, she could simply dial GoGo, listen to a friendly menu, and choose what she needed.
Behind the scenes, the system connected her with Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, or local grocery stores.
But the real magic was in how personal it felt. Every driver knew they were picking up a senior who might walk slowly or need a hand.
“We wanted Grandma to feel safe,” Justin said. “Especially at night, when she’d be alone with a driver.”
The First Ride That Changed Everything
When GoGoGrandparent was finally ready, Justin decided to test it secretly – on Grandma herself.
Her first trip was with her friend Edie to the theater.
She had no idea her grandson had built the service.
“We got really lucky,” Justin remembers. “Her first driver, Luther, was incredible. He helped her and Edie in and out of the car, made sure they were comfortable – everything was perfect.”
A week later, Edie called GoGoGrandparent herself to get a ride to a doctor’s appointment.
That’s when the family knew the idea worked – because Grandma had already shared it with her friends!
“It was beautiful,” Justin said. “She didn’t even know it was ours yet, but she believed in it.”
When she finally learned that GoGoGrandparent was her grandson’s creation, Betty was beaming.
“I was so proud,” she said. “The drivers were so kind and helpful. I thought it was wonderful that he made something like this for people my age.”
Grandma Becomes the Best Brand Ambassador
After learning the truth, Betty couldn’t stop spreading the word.
She told her book clubs, church groups, and social circles, explaining how easy it was to call a number and have help arrive within minutes.
“They were amazed,” Betty laughed. “They couldn’t believe a young man would think of something for elderly people like this.”
And it worked – big time.
Through Grandma Betty’s network alone, 300 to 400 people in Torrance signed up for GoGoGrandparent.
Her love became the startup’s greatest marketing plan.
From One Grandma to Thousands of Families
By 2015, word of mouth took off.
Justin and David began visiting retirement communities across California, showing residents how to use GoGoGrandparent.
They met thousands of older adults – each with unique challenges and beautiful stories.
That’s when they realized their company was about so much more than rides.
“We weren’t just offering convenience,” Justin said.
“We were helping people live longer, safer, more independent lives at home.”
Today, GoGoGrandparent helps seniors across the U.S. order groceries, schedule medication reminders, arrange home maintenance, and get transportation – all from one phone call, available 24/7.
For many, it’s the difference between moving into assisted living and staying in the home they love.
A Grandma’s Pride and a Grandson’s Legacy
As GoGoGrandparent approaches its 10th anniversary, Betty – now 94 – still beams with pride whenever she talks about Justin.
“Knowing I inspired his business makes me feel six feet tall,” she says with a twinkle in her eye. “I still strut with pride.”
She laughs easily, still enjoying her book clubs and friends, even as she faces a few medical challenges.
“I have good friends, a wonderful family, and a grandson who’s changing the world,” she says softly. “I’m just trying to enjoy life – with its little limitations.”
Justin says it best:
“It all started because I wanted to make life easier for Grandma. And now, we get to help thousands of grandmas and grandpas every day. That’s the best feeling in the world.”
The Lesson Behind the Story
Sometimes, changing the world doesn’t begin in a boardroom – it begins in the kitchen, with a grandmother’s voice and a grandson’s heart.
Justin built GoGoGrandparent for one person he loved – and in doing so, built something that now helps countless families keep their loved ones safe, independent, and connected.
Because love, when it listens, can become a legacy.
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