All he needs is a customer.

Here's your problem, summed down to one word:

elevated

Personal pods is a great idea. The benefits are definitely there. But adding yet another layer of costly, completely separate infrastructure is just not worth the cost. Because even though this thing doesn't need a very good road, it does need a separate 'road' to drive on. Infrastructure projects are expensive.

The only way to make this work is if you can utilize the already existent, extensive road network. Which is the reason I wouldn't be surprised if in a decade or so, self-driving vehicles will become popular in a form very similar to PRT. Of all the people I've talked to about self-driving cars, there are a lot who think it'll get its own, complete infrastructure. I just don't see that happen.