It might be annoying to a kid and particularly to a teenager to have their parents constantly monitoring their cellphone content, location and usage, but a Glenview startup is betting that their new product will attract parents looking for some piece of mind.
Armour Grid, founded in 2016 by Sanjeev Arora, launched its first product in June called Family Kuvrr, a mobile app designed for parents to monitor their children's locations, text messages, usage and other data.
Here's how it works: Parents download the Family Kuvrr app on their devices and their children's devices. Then the app monitors the child's phone activity and alerts parents when something is concerning.
Family Kuvrr can detect inappropriate language and images coming through on messaging apps, and can let parents know who their children are talking to and when they are talking to them. Parents can also lock their children's phones or certain apps at particular times to limit when their children can use them to avoid device addiction.
The app also allows parents to geographically track their children. Family Kuvrr lets parents set their own geo-fences and be alerted when a member of the family leaves the designated area.
Additionally, through a partnership with Allstate Insurance established in July, Family Kuvrr users can call Allstate subsidiary and roadside assistance provider Signature Motor Club in the event they have a flat tire, run out of gas or need a jump start.
Though Family Kuvrr does allow parents to limit and monitor much of their children’s phone, it doesn’t actually block anything, Arora said. In other words, children can still receive all messages and calls, but parents will be alerted when they do.
Arora said he had child safety in mind when he first thought of the app, but said it could be used for other familial relationships as well. For example, those who want to monitor the whereabouts of elderly parents and provide them with the convenient roadside assistance features could also find Family Kuvrr useful.
Arora got the idea for the app being a parent himself of two children. He said this is his way of guarding them against threats, like bullying or “sexting.” Family Kuvrr can even detect and flag emojis parents might find inappropriate—like those popular eggplant (?) and peach (?) emojis. Arora also likes knowing his children's whereabouts.
"Both of my kids are very active, so just knowing where they are and that they've reached school or they've come home—knowing that is a comfort," Arora said.
There are other apps out there that have functions similar to Family Kuvrr’s, like FamilyTime, OurPact and KidLogger. But Arora said he believes his app is better because it incorporates several safety features into just one app. Besides, others tend to be more expensive, he added.
Family Kuvrr only costs $9.99 per year and allows 10 devices to be on one plan. A plan to accommodate up to 20 devices costs $19.99. Arora said Armour Grid's userbase is in the “low thousands.”
In addition to Family Kuvrr, Armour Grid is gearing up to launch Safety Kuvrr, which is similar to Family Kuvrr, except that it is designed for educational institutions and community organizations. Arora said Armour Grid is currently piloting the new app with the Boys & Girls Club of Chicago.
“The idea is to equip the security team so that if there’s an emergency of any kind, they can instantly alert the concerned parties," Arora said.
Armour Grid, which has 11 employees, recently joined 1871. Looking ahead, Arora said he is focused on raising $3 to $5 million in venture capital funding to hire more talent and build additional elements for his apps.
