ZoraSafe, a promising startup founded by sisters Catherine and Ellie King Karow, is set to unveil its innovative app designed to protect older adults from online scammers and hackers. The app will be demonstrating what it can do on stage at the Startup Battlefield. Meet us in San Francisco from October 27-29 at TechCrunch Disrupt!
Catherine and Ellie King Karow started ZoraSafe to make it easier for seniors to move safely through the digital landscape. Their app will include cutting-edge tools specifically built to combat online fraud. One of these tools is a built-in QR code scanner that flags malware and phishing attempts. You may forward any SMS text messages and emails that you believe are suspicious directly to ZoraSafe for validation. This new feature allows you to identify and remediate potential threats quickly and efficiently.
The app’s most interesting community-oriented aspect is its reporting feature that lets users share scams or other threats they’re familiar with. We’ll include this new detail to a public database to benefit all users of the app. This cultivates a more collective approach to boosting safety online.
“We’re trying to incentivize social sharing of scams, so we can also alert the entire Zora network at once, so one person is alerted by that scam, and then we can make sure everyone in that community is protected immediately.” – Catherine Karow
ZoraSafe hopes to have the app up and running within the month, with individual subscribers paying $12.99 per month. The company has plans to introduce even larger, personalized rate increases for family and group plans, expanding availability for all user types.
The startup has big plans to expand its reach. It intends to roll out the app in additional languages, starting with Spanish. ZoraSafe’s mission is to create a safer online environment for everyone including our nation’s children. In order to do this, they intend to work with school districts and expand their services.
Privacy remains a critical focus for ZoraSafe. The app’s AI engine will perform 85% of its processing directly on users’ devices, with only 15% sent to the cloud. This data will be cleaned up before it ever leaves the device, so personal or sensitive information is never compromised.
To improve user experience and convenience, ZoraSafe is working on an NFC sticker embedded into customizable phone cases. This new feature provides app users convenient access at their fingertips. They can quickly answer deepfake emergencies or notify their guardians when necessary.
“The whole purpose of which is to build resilience and hopefully make it so that even if you’re not directly interacting with the app, you’re a little bit more aware when you are interacting online.” – Ellie King Karow
ZoraSafe as they prepare for their showcase pitch and final preparation before appearing on the TechCrunch Disrupt stage. OnGuard founders are optimistic their new app will make a serious dent in the online dangers that older adults encounter. What makes ZoraSafe special with a community-driven tech company and exclusive features. Through improved outreach and resources, we want to equip our older adults as they explore the expanding digital world around them.
