A Cardiff-based younger entrepreneur is aiming to assist cut back road harassment skilled by ladies and members of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood with the launch of a first-of-its-kind road security app with assist from the Welsh Authorities’s youth entrepreneurship service, Huge Concepts Wales.
23-year-old graduate, Jack Blundell, started creating RouteBuddies in 2021 throughout his closing yr of a level in utilized software program engineering at Cardiff College, after studying numerous disturbing tales of road harassment in and round Cardiff on social media.
A current investigation by UN Girls UK discovered that 97% of girls throughout the UK aged 18-24 have been sexually harassed, with an additional 96% not reporting the incident as they didn’t consider it will change something.
RouteBuddies is a free security app that enables customers to fulfill in teams of three or extra and stroll residence collectively throughout the Welsh capital. Offering bodily security and connectivity, customers sign-up by coming into their full particulars and a sound image ID, each of that are fully hidden to different customers and verified by an inner group utilizing strict background checks.
Throughout authentication customers can select who they would like to fulfill over the app by inputting their preferences on gender and age, and set the app to totally different modes, together with scholar and LGBTQ+ mode. By looking their residence tackle, customers are robotically paired with folks in close by areas. The app them units a meet-up location and works out the most secure route residence for all.
Jack mentioned:
“Whereas at college I noticed numerous posts on Fb from friends who had skilled road harassment. At one level there have been three or extra posts a day, so folks started organising teams and reside sharing their areas too really feel safer. I couldn’t assist however suppose ‘folks want bodily security now greater than ever, a lot extra will be executed’.
“The abilities I learnt throughout my diploma in utilized software program engineering means I used to be capable of develop an app that comes with belief and security. RouteBuddies’ customers will be recognized solely by their identify and shut route monitoring helps to maintain folks protected on the streets. I actually hope RouteBuddies will contribute to creating Cardiff a safer metropolis.”
Many ladies have taken to social media to doc their experiences of road harassment, together with Emma Grayson whose 10-minute reside stream on TikTok obtained 2 million views and supported the criminalisation of road harassment which got here into impact in December 2022.
Jack launched RouteBuddies with the assist of Huge Concepts Wales, a Welsh Authorities funded service that, as a part of Enterprise Wales, goals to assist anybody between the age of 5 and 25 to develop a enterprise concept, together with college students and graduates, as a part of its dedication to the Younger Particular person’s Assure.
Jack heard about Huge Concepts Wales when he approached the Cardiff College Enterprise scheme with a fundamental marketing strategy in-hand. The college immediately directed Jack to Huge Concepts Wales the place he was put into contact with Enterprise Advisor Amanda Ataou.
Jack and Amanda meet weekly to debate the continued improvement of RouteBuddies and solidify the ever-growing marketing strategy. Over the previous yr, alongside providing assist with enterprise paperwork and concept improvement, Amanda has supported Jack in making use of for the Younger Individuals Begin-Up Grant and inspired him to attend the bi-annual Bootcamp to Enterprise occasion.
In the course of the Bootcamp to Enterprise occasion, Jack attended a wealth of masterclasses together with self-promotion, pitching and social media advertising led by business professionals and Huge Concepts Wales Function Fashions. Jack was one in every of seven award winners on the esteemed occasion, strolling away with the gold award for greatest pitch.
Discussing Jack’s success, Amanda mentioned:
“It’s entrepreneurs like Jack that encourage me to be a Enterprise Advisor. RouteBuddies is an inclusive and passionate enterprise with a sole goal to make the streets a safer place for everybody.
“Jack has squeezed each single piece of recommendation and assist from our conferences and grasped each alternative. RouteBuddies is flourishing due to his dedication, and I’ve little doubt that this enterprise will change the lives of so many younger folks throughout the nation.”
Discussing the assist offered to him, Jack mentioned:
“I walked into my first assembly with Amanda with a mammoth, muddled marketing strategy however no concept what my subsequent steps ought to be. She helped me make clear my objectives for RouteBuddies, streamline my marketing strategy and begin placing my goals into motion.
“Over the previous yr I’ve learnt a lot about being entrepreneurial, obtained numerous alternatives to attach with the service and likeminded entrepreneurs, and been fortunate sufficient to obtain monetary assist from Huge Concepts Wales. I couldn’t have requested for extra and am past grateful.”
Within the coming months Jack hopes to strengthen RouteBuddies’ security measures by introducing monitoring triggers which won’t solely notify customers if members of the group are lingering however may even notify different members to maneuver on earlier than authorities are notified and their belief degree drops.
Contact lists may even be accessible, permitting the app to ship computerized updates together with whenever you’re in your approach residence, whenever you’ve reached your own home or when your cellphone has turned off unexpectedly, to chosen contacts.
Has this impressed you to kick begin your corporation concept? Go to businesswales.gov.wales/bigideas to get began
