What would you do if you found yourself in a dangerous situation with no one around to help you?
If your response is that you’d call 911, you’re not alone. But oftentimes that might be easier said than done. For one, the average 911 call is about 2 1/2 minutes — precious time you may not have in an emergency situation. Moreover, if your concern is that you’re being followed, it can be hard to make a call without being obvious about it.
1871 startup
wants to make calls for help easier when you need them the most. They offer a Bluetooth panic button that connects wirelessly to a phone app, which in turn forwards your personal information and GPS tracking data to a dispatch center, which alerts authorities within 30 seconds.
Founder Joe Parisi (pictured right) said the decision to make hardware, rather than just an app, was based on research suggesting that the high stress levels that accompany an emergency situation can make it nearly impossible to operate a smartphone effectively.
Parisi said subtlety can oftentimes be key. For instance, in cases of sexual assault, the perpetrator and the victim often know each other. Making an emergency call as simple as pressing a single button may lower the bar for those who find themselves in pressured situations.
Though Bluetooth technology has made tremendous strides over the past few years, making a universal phone accessory is no small feat. The list of configurations to address is seemingly endless, with different Bluetooth stacks running on thousands of phone models running a myriad versions of iOS and Android operating systems. Additionally, the most common way for phones and Bluetooth accessories to communicate is on the phone’s initiative. Guard Llama flips that script on its head.
Though some degree of fickleness would normally be expected from technology with such significant engineering challenges, a product that acts as a last resort for people in need leaves little room for error.
“With a product like this, it’s a little different from other startups in that the minimum viable product isn’t really a viable product,” said Parisi. “You can’t have something that’s crashing and not letting people get to the end, which a lot of times you see when you launch a product.”
Parisi said that guard llamas are a real thing, employed by farmers in the western United States to protect livestock from predators. Attentive by nature and aggressive against perceived threats, they have the additional benefit of forming social bonds with the livestock they protect (often sheep).
Turning profitable this month, Guard Llama’s 10-strong team plans to double in size over the next year. They’re currently looking to boost their business development team with five additional employees. If all goes according to plan, the company will also be expanding its coverage to Canada and start preparing for a Series A round of funding in upcoming months.
Images via Guard Llama.
Do you have a tip for us? Shoot us an email or follow us on Twitter@BuiltInChicago.
