Culture

Gotta Drive 'Em All: These Chauffeurs Are Cashing In On 'Pokémon Go'

Some entrepreneurs are offering rides to "Pokémon Go" users who are looking for rare Pokémon and meetups with other players.

Gotta Drive 'Em All: These Chauffeurs Are Cashing In On 'Pokémon Go'
Newsy / Ben Schamisso

By now, you've probably seen people walking in circles glued to their smartphones, and "Pokémon Go" might be why.

The augmented-reality smartphone game — developed by Niantic — has had a noticeable effect on popular culture, despite being around less than a month. The game is a callback to the Pokémon franchise that started about 20 years ago.

The popularity of "Pokémon Go" helped boost Nintendo's share prices by more than 50 percent and has opened a door for business owners and savvy entrepreneurs. We spoke to one Chicagoan who is offering rides to "Pokémon Go" users for a fee — just one way people are monetizing the free game.