Tag Archives: developer stories

#WeArePlay | NomadHer helps women travel the world

Posted by Robbie McLachlan, Developer Marketing


In our latest film for #WeArePlay, which celebrates the people behind apps and games, we meet Hyojeong - the visionary behind the app NomadHer. She’s aiming to reshape how women explore the world by building a global community: sharing travel tips, prioritizing safety, and connecting with one another to explore new destinations.



What inspired you to create NomadHer?

Honestly, NomadHer was born out of a personal need. I started traveling solo when I was 19 and have visited over 60 countries alone, and while it was an incredibly empowering and enriching journey, it wasn’t always easy—especially as a woman. There was this one moment when I was traveling in Italy that really shook me. I realized just how important it was to have a support system, not just friends or family, but other women who understand what it's like to be out there on your own. That’s when the idea hit me— I wanted to create a space where women could feel safe and confident while seeing the world.


NomadHer Founder - Hyojeong Kim from South Korean smiling, wearing a white tshirt with green text that reads 'she can travel anywhere'

The focus on connecting women who share similar travel plans is a powerful tool. Can you share feedback from someone who has found travel buddies through NomadHer?

Absolutely! One of my favorite stories comes from a woman who was planning a solo trip to Bali. She connected with another ‘NomadHer’ through the app who had the exact same travel dates and itinerary. They started chatting, and by the time they met up in Bali, it was like they’d known each other forever. They ended up traveling together, trying out new restaurants, exploring hidden beaches, and even taking a surfing class! After the trip, they both messaged us saying how the experience felt safer and more fun because they had each other. It’s stories like these that remind me why I started NomadHer in the first place.

How did Google Play help you grow NomadHer?

We couldn’t connect with the 90,000+ women worldwide without Google Play. We’ve been able to reach people from Latin America, Africa, Asia, and beyond. It’s incredible seeing women connect, share tips, and support each other, no matter where they are. With tools like Firebase, we can track and improve the app experience, making sure everything runs smoothly. Plus, Google Play's startup programs gave us mentorship and visibility, which really helped us grow and expand our reach faster. It’s been a game-changer.

NomadHer on Google Play on a device

What are your hopes for NomadHer in the future?

I want NomadHer to be more than just an app—it’s a movement. My dream is for it to become the go-to platform for women travelers everywhere. I want to see more partnerships with local women entrepreneurs, like the surf shop owner we work with in Busan. We host offline events like the She Can Travel Festival in Busan and I’m excited to host similar events in other countries like Paris, Tokyo, and Delhi. The goal is to continue creating these offline connections to build a community that empowers women, both socially and economically, through partnerships with local female businesses.

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#WeArePlay | Nkenne: The app teaching African languages and culture

Posted by Robbie McLachlan, Developer Marketing

In our latest film for #WeArePlay, which celebrates the people behind apps and games, we meet Michael and Shalom - a mother and son duo driven by a passion for sharing and teaching African languages. Discover how their app, Nkenne, goes beyond language learning—serving as a powerful tool for preserving cultural heritage and reconnecting people with their African language and culture.



What inspired you to create Nkenne?

Michael: Nkenne which means "of the mother," really came from a personal place. I wanted to learn Igbo, my native language from Nigeria, but there weren’t many resources out there that made it easy or accessible. My mom, Shalom, raised me in the U.S., and while I grew up hearing bits of Igbo, there wasn’t enough time or structure for me to fully learn it. During the pandemic, when everything paused, I realized how much I wanted to connect with my heritage, and that’s when the idea sparked. We realized that not just Igbo, but many African languages were becoming less common, even among those who speak them. So, we saw this as an opportunity to preserve these languages and help others reconnect with their roots.

Nkenne Founders Cafe in Maine, US

You’ve mentioned the goal of preserving African languages. How does Nkenne contribute to their preservation?

Shalom: African languages are considered low-resource because they don't have as much digital content, formal documentation, or readily available learning tools. With Nkenne, we’re helping to change that. We’re not just teaching the languages, we’re documenting them, building lessons, and creating a resource for future generations. Many people in Nigeria, for example, don’t speak their native languages anymore. By creating Nkenne, we’re essentially building a digital library of African languages.

How does Nkenne integrate both language learning and cultural education? Why is it important to teach both?

Michael: Understanding the cultural meaning behind a language makes learning richer. It’s not just vocabulary—it’s about connecting people with the culture behind it. We include blogs, podcasts, and lessons that dive into the traditions and customs tied to the language, so people understand not just the words, but the history and meaning behind them.

Shalom: Yes, learning a language without the cultural context leaves gaps. For instance, in Nigeria, using your left hand to hand someone an item is considered rude— we teach these cultural nuances in the app to help the user truly grasp the culture.

The Nkenne app on device, showing avaiable languages

What’s next for Nkenne?

Michael: We're focused on expanding our language offerings to 30 by the end of 2025, including more African languages and Creole dialects from around the world. We're also working on enhancing our AI capabilities for language translation.

Shalom: We’re also deepening the community experience, adding more social features where users can connect, share, and practice together. It’s about building not just a language-learning platform, but a space where people from the diaspora and beyond can truly connect with their heritage.


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#WeArePlay | Estante Mágica, the app helping kids publish their own books

Posted by Robbie McLachlan, Developer Marketing

In our latest film for #WeArePlay, which celebrates the people behind apps and games, we meet Robson from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As the co-founder of Estante Mágica, he created an app that turns kids into published authors, sparking their imagination and love for reading. Robson's journey from the favelas to creating a platform that inspires millions of young minds is helping to revolutionize education in Brazil. Discover how Estante Mágica is making a lasting impact on education, one story at a time.



What was the inspiration behind Estante Mágica?

It’s a combination of my personal journey and a deep belief in the transformative power of education. Growing up in the Rocinha favela, I saw first-hand how education could change lives — my illiterate grandparents always believed that education was the key to real change, and passed that belief down to me. I wanted to create a tool that nurtures literacy so I teamed up with my friend Pedro to create Estante Mágica.

Estante Mágica, which translates to "Magic Bookshelf," is our way of giving every child the chance to become an author, create something magical that they can be proud of, and to see their own imagination come to life. We designed the app to be a bridge, reaching not just urban schools but also rural and underserved communities, including indigenous villages and areas with fewer resources.

Can you tell us about a moment that showed you the power of Estante Mágica?

Recently, I visited a school in a small village in Rio de Janeiro. The principal apologized for being late to our meeting, explaining that she had just met with a father and mother who wanted to enroll in adult education classes. When she asked them why they wanted to learn to read and write in their 30s and 40s, they told her, "Our son wrote a book here last year, and we don't know how to read it. It's our dream to be able to read the book our son wrote." That moment hit me hard. It was proof that our app isn’t just about helping kids become authors; it's about inspiring entire families to embrace literacy and education.

Founder of Estante Magica, Robson Omelo, taking a photo of a child particiopating on Autograph Day

Tell us about the Autograph Days

These events are held at schools and are all about celebrating the young authors who have created their own books. Each child receives a printed copy of their book, and the day is set up just like a traditional book signing event. The event is not only about the children’s hard work but also a moment of pride for parents and teachers, who see the joy and confidence this experience brings to the kids.

image of the Estante Magica app on a mobile device

What’s next for Estante Mágica?

One major focus is integrating more AI into the app. We want to make it so that when kids create their characters or stories, they can interact with them more dynamically. Imagine a character in a game being able to respond to a child’s questions or comments – that’s the kind of interaction we’re aiming for. We’re keeping an eye on some new features like text-to-video and image-to-video which could add a whole new layer to how kids can bring their stories to life. Ultimately, we’re planning to bring the magic of storytelling to children around the world and expand our platform to more schools, especially in underserved areas.


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#WeArePlay | Meet the founders turning their passions into thriving businesses

Posted by Robbie McLachlan, Developer Marketing

Our celebration of app and game businesses continues with #WeArePlay stories from founders around the world. Today, we’re spotlighting the people who turned their passions into thriving businesses - from a passion for art and design from one game creator, to a passion for saving the environment from an app maker.

Brian, founder of SweatyChair
Sydney, Australia

During a gaming developer competition, Brian - alongside his wife and three other participants - built a challenging monster and bullet-dodging game called No Humanity within 48 hours, winning first place in the competition. From this, Brian founded his gaming company SweatyChair. No Humanity was improved and launched a week later and grew to over 9 million downloads. His passion for technology and art is how he champions a more active gaming experience, where players can create their own elements and play them in the game.


Prachi, founder and CEO of Cool The Globe
Pune, India

When Prachi travelled to Maharashtra, she saw first-hand how the effects of climate change impacted the locals. Her passion for protecting the environment led her to ask herself “What can I do about climate change?”. She vowed to reduce her carbon footprint and went on to create Cool The Globe, an app that helps people track daily actions to lower their emissions. Her dedication earned her the Young Changemaker Award in India. Next, she aims to add community dashboards for schools and organizations to follow their collective climate efforts.


François, Benoit and Julie Co-founders of Yuka App
Chatou, France

Benoit is passionate about providing nutritious food for his children, so he went on a mission to buy healthier food for his family. Whilst shopping, he found label-reading tiring and wished for a tool to check ingredients automatically. He shared his idea with his brother François and close friend Julie. Together, the trio saw a real need to combine their passions for nutrition and technology and spent a weekend hammering out their concept before presenting the idea in a food hackathon they went on to win. Their winning project laid the groundwork for their app Yuka, which scans product labels to reveal their ingredients and health impact.


Michelle, founder of Peanut App
London, UK

When the loneliness of early motherhood hit after her first child, Michelle sought community and answers from online forums. When the forums didn’t provide the safe space she was looking for, her passion for building community along with her 10 years of experience in social networking inspired her to create Peanut. The app helps moms to connect, make friends, and find support. With over 2.3 million downloads and a budding global community, the Peanut team recently revamped the main feed for greater personalization and introduced an ad-free option.

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#WeArePlay | How Jakub is infusing Czech mythology into his games

Posted by Robbie McLachlan, Developer Marketing

In our latest film for #WeArePlay, which celebrates the people behind groundbreaking apps and games, Jakub takes us on a journey through the world of Amanita Design. Born in Prague, Czech Republic, his journey into the world of games began with a passion for animation and an eye for artistic detail. Driven by a vision to create games that blend captivating art with immersive storytelling, he founded his company Amanita Design in 2003.

Today, the thriving business is renowned for its unique approach to games, drawing inspiration from Czech landscapes, fairy tales, and the rich cultural heritage of its homeland. With a dedicated team of around 30, they are crafting games as visually stunning as they are narratively rich. Discover how he is merging the charm of Czech culture with the magic of gaming.



What’s the inspiration behind Amanita Design and your game Machinarium?

I have a love for nature, fairy tales, and Czech culture. Growing up in Prague, I was surrounded by beautiful landscapes and old buildings that sparked my imagination. I studied classical animation and always wanted to create something that felt both magical and deeply connected to my roots. Our games often use Czech folklore and the natural world. In 2009, when we developed Machinarium, I was fascinated with industrial decay and old machinery. The abandoned factories around Prague provided a gritty backdrop for the game. We paired this with a compelling story and handcrafted visuals. We even used natural sounds from our environment to add an authentic touch.



Did you always imagine you’d be an entrepreneur?

I didn’t initially see myself as an entrepreneur. My journey began with a passion for games and animation, and I started Amanita Design as a natural extension of my interests. I began the studio right after finishing school, driven by a desire to create and share my artistic vision. Over time, as the studio grew organically, I embraced the role of an entrepreneur but it was the love for game development that initially set me on this path.

What sets your games apart?

What makes our games stand out is the mix of old-world craftsmanship with today’s tech. We really enjoy incorporating hand-painted cardboard characters and using natural materials for sound effects, which adds a unique, tactile feel to our work. We draw deeply from Czech culture, nature, and fairy tales, giving each game a distinctive and enchanting touch. It’s all about creating something authentic and immersive, and we hope that passion resonates with our players.



What does the future look like for Amanita Design?

We’re working on several new games and exploring different distribution models, such as the free-to-try approach on mobile platforms. Our goal is to continue creating unique and artistically rich games that resonate with a global audience. As technology evolves, we plan to adapt and innovate, maintaining our focus on storytelling and artistic craftsmanship while embracing new opportunities in the gaming industry.

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#WeArePlay | 153 new stories from people creating apps and games in the U.S.

Posted by Robbie McLachlan, Developer Marketing

In 2022, #WeArePlay launched 153 stories about the people behind app and game companies across the United States. Since then, we've been on a virtual tour around the world with more stories from India, Europe, Japan and Australia. Today, we're heading back to the U.S. as we celebrate 153 brand new stories, 3 more per state, and spotlight more growing businesses on Google Play.

Here are just a few of my favorites:

Bernard’s app uses virtual reality to recreate ancient cities

Bernard, founder of Yorescape
Bloomington, Indiana

Bernard went to visit Plastico di Roma Imperiale in the 70s - a model of imperial Rome in the time of Constantine the Great - and was spellbound. This visit was the seed of what was to become his app Yorescape, an app that uses virtual reality to let users explore ancient ruins. With 3D reconstructions and expert audio guides, Yorescape simulates world heritage sites with a little help from virtual reality. People can explore ancient ruins and take a unique journey through time, presenting historical sites as they exist today alongside their ancient counterparts. Yorescape showcases heritage sites from Egypt, Lebanon, Greece, Italy, and Mexico. One day, he hopes to cover sites in all four corners of the earth.


Pinkey’s app uses AI to revolutionize maternal healthcare for all moms

Pinkey, founder of Myri Health
Norman, Oklahoma

Pinkey was disappointed with the aftercare she received post-delivery when she gave birth to her first child. As a pharmacist, personal trainer, and pre-and postnatal corrective exercise specialist, she knew she had plenty of knowledge to share. This experience led Pinkey to create Myri Health, an AI-driven platform that transforms pregnancy and postpartum support. She plans to launch in countries with higher maternal mortality rates improving the healthcare of mothers everywhere and will integrate the app with Google Health Connect for fully cohesive care.


Bria’s game lets players serve Japanese-themed characters in a bubble tea shop

Bria, founder of Boba Story
Los Angeles, California

Bria worked for some big names in the tech world but wanted to start her own company based on what brings her joy. Bubble tea was something she always associated with good times with friends, and wanted to encapsulate that same feeling in Boba Story. In her game, players restore an old boba shop by designing the decor and a drinks menu, they then serve the Japanese anime-inspired characters bubble tea. A garden with beekeeping where players can harvest honey has recently been added as well as a host of new boba flavors.


Alina and Samara’s game uses micro workouts to help you stay active

Alina and Samara, co-founders of Fitment: Cozy Fitness Game
Hopkins, Minnesota

Whilst working 80 hours a week during the pandemic, Alina found that she had no time to exercise but still managed to play video games and scroll through social media. This inspired her to create a fun and easy game for people to stay active. After posting a job online, she teamed up with Samara, a gaming programming teacher, and they built their game, Fitment. The game makes exercise more accessible through gamified micro workouts that are engaging and fun. The team is now working on rolling out social features to make the platform more interactive, enabling friends to get fit together.


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#WeArePlay | 4 stories of founders building apps for the LGBTQIA+ community

Posted by Robbie McLachlan, Developer Marketing

#WeArePlay celebrates the inspiring journeys of people behind apps and games on Google Play. In honor of Pride Month, we are highlighting founders who have built tools to empower the LGBTQIA+ community. From dating apps to mental health tools, to storytelling platforms - these founders are paving the way for more inclusive technology.


npckc is a game creator from Kanto, Japan whose stories portray the trans experience

npckc – Game Creator, Kanto, Japan

Born in Hong Kong and raised in Canada, npckc is a trilingual translator based in Japan. A self-taught programmer, they create games that feature stories and characters which are often from marginalized communities. One such game is "one night, hot springs" where players follow Haru, a trans woman, as she embarks on a visit to the hot springs. Players have praised the game's realistic portrayal of trans experiences and the relaxing music composed by npckc's partner, sdhizumi. As a finalist in Google Play's Indie Games Festival in Japan, they hope to attend more gaming conventions to connect with fellow developers in person.


Anshul and Rohan from Mumbai, India built a mental health support app geared to the LGBTQIA+ community’s needs

Anshul and Rohan – App Creators, Mumbai, India

After Anshul returned to India from London, he met Rohan and the pair bonded over their mental health struggles. Together they shared a dream; to create something in the wellness space. This became Evolve, an app with guided meditations, breathing exercises, and daily affirmations. When the pandemic hit, the pair saw first-hand how underserved the LGBTQIA+ community was in mental health support. For Rohan, who identifies as a gay man, this realization hit close to home. Together, Anshul and Rohan redeveloped Evolve towards the LGBTQIA+ community’s specific needs - building a safe space where users can share their experiences, seek mentorship, and build a supportive community.


BáiYù from Indiana, U.S. created a platform to publish authentic, queer visual novels and indie games

BáiYù – Game Creator, Indiana, USA

Queer developer BáiYù loves writing stories, and started making games at age 16. Part of a game-development community, BáiYù wanted an affordable way to help get their creations out. So they set up Project Ensō, publishing queer visual novels and narrative indie games. With 10 titles on Google Play, BáiYù supports other developers from under-represented groups to share their own authentic stories on Project Ensō, even polishing their games before release. The most popular title on Project Ensō is “Yearning: A Gay Story”, in which gamers play a newly-out gay man navigating his freshman year of college. BáiYù's efforts have had a profound impact on players, with many sharing how these games have positively transformed their lives.


Alex and Jake from Nevada, U.S. built an inclusive dating app and social community for everyone

BáiYù – Game Creator, Indiana, USA

Alex and Jake grew up in an environment that didn’t accept the LGBTQIA+ community. They started building apps together after a mutual friend introduced them. When they realized that queer people were looking for a platform that offered support and meaningful connections, they created Taimi. Taimi is not just a dating app for LGBTQIA+ people; it's also a social network where they can bond, build community, and feel safe. Alex and Jake are also proud to partner with NGOs that provide mental health support for the community.


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#WeArePlay | Meet the people creating apps and games in Australia

Posted by Robbie McLachlan – Developer Marketing

Last year #WeArePlay went on a virtual tour of India, Europe and Japan to spotlight the stories of app and game founders. Today, we’re continuing our tour across the world with our next stop: Australia

From an app helping people during natural disasters to a game promoting wellbeing through houseplants, meet the 50 apps and games companies building growing businesses on Google Play.

Let’s take a quick road trip across the territories.

Tristen's app gives accurate information to people during natural disasters

Tristen, founder of Disaster Science
Tristen, founder of Disaster Science

Meet Tristen from Canberra, founder of Disaster Science. When Tristen was stranded by a bushfire with friends during a holiday, he realized the need to have accurate information in a crisis situation. Moved to help others, he leveraged his software development skills to create his app, Bushfire.io. It collects data from multiple sources to give people an overview of fires, floods, road closures, and vital weather updates.

He has recently added real-time satellite imagery and has plans to expand further internationally, with coverage of region-specific events like cyclones, earthquakes, evacuations and heat warnings.


Christine and Lauren's promotes wellbeing through houseplants

Christine and Lauren, co-founders of Kinder World
Christine and Lauren, co-founders of Kinder World

Friends Christine and Lauren from Melbourne co-founded gaming company Kinder World. As a child, Lauren used video games to soothe the pain of her chronic ear infections. That was how she discovered they could be a healing experience for people—a sentiment she dedicated her career to. She partnered with engineer Christina to make Kinder World: Cozy Plants.

In the game, players enter the comforting, botanical world of houseplants, home decoration, steaming hot coffee, and freshly baked cookies. Since going viral on several social media platforms, the app has seen huge growth.


Kathryn's app helps reduce stress and anxiety in children

Kathryn, founder of Courageous Kids
Kathryn, founder of Courageous Kids

Kathryn from Melbourne is the founder of Courageous Kids. When Kathryn's son was anxious and fearful whenever she dropped him off at school, as a doctor, her instincts for early intervention kicked in. She sought advice from pediatric colleagues to create stories to explain his day, making him the main character. Friends in a similar situation began to ask her for advice and use the stories for their own children so she created Courageous Kids.

A library of real-world stories for parents to personalize, Courageous Kids helps children to visualize their day and manage their expectations. Her app has become popular among families of sensitive and autistic children, and Kathryn is now working with preschools to give even more kids the tools to feel confident.


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#WeArePlay | How Zülal is using AI to help people with low vision

Posted by Leticia Lago – Developer Marketing

Born in Istanbul, Türkiye with limited sight, Zülal has been a power-user of visual assistive technologies since the age of 4. When she lost her sight completely at 10 years old, she found herself reliant on technology to help her see and experience the world around her.

Today, Zülal is the founder of FYE, her solution to the issues she found with other visual assistive technologies. The app empowers people with low vision to be inspired by the world around them. Employing a team of 4, she heads up technological development and user experience for the app.

Zülal shared her story in our latest film for #WeArePlay, which celebrates people around the world building apps and games. She shared her journey from uploading pictures of her parents to a computer to get descriptions of them as a child, to developing her own visual assistive app. Find out what’s next for Zülal and how she is using AI to help people like herself.

Tell us more about the inspiration behind FYE.

Today, there are around 330 million people with severe to moderate visual impairment. Visual assistive technology is life-changing for these people, giving them back a sense of independence and a connection to the world around them. I’m a poet and composer, and in order to create I needed this tech so that I could see and describe the world around me. Before developing FYE, the visual assistive technology I was relying on was falling short. I wanted to take back control. I didn’t want to sit back, wait and see what technology could do for me - I wanted to harness its power. So I did.

Why was it important for you to build FYE?

I never wanted to be limited by having low vision. I’ve always thought, how can I make this better? How can I make my life better? I want to do everything, because I can. I really believe that there’s nothing I can’t do. There’s nothing WE can’t do. Having a founder like me lead the way in visual assistive technology illustrates just that. We’re taking back control of how we experience the world around us.

What’s different about FYE?

With our app, I believe our audience can really see the world again. It uses a combination of AI and human input to describe the world around them to our users. It incorporates an AI model trained on a dataset of over 15 million data points, so it really encompasses all the varying factors that make up the world of everyday visual experiences. The aim was to have descriptions as vivid as if I was describing my surroundings myself. It’s the small details that make a big difference.

What’s next for your app?

We already have personalized AI outputs so the user can create different AI assistants to suit different situations. You can use it to work across the internet as you’re browsing or shopping. I use it a lot for cooking - where the AI can adapt and learn to suit any situation. We are also collaborating with places where people with low vision might struggle, like the metro and the airport. We’ve built in AI outputs in collaboration with these spaces so that anyone using our app will be able to navigate those spaces with confidence. I’m currently working on evolving From Your Eyes as an organization, reimagining the app as one element of the organization under the new name FYE. Next, we’re exploring integrations with smart glasses and watches to bring our app to wearables.

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#WeArePlay | Meet the founders changing women’s lives: Women’s History Month Stories

Posted by Leticia Lago – Developer Marketing

In celebration of Women’s History month, we’re celebrating the founders behind groundbreaking apps and games from around the world - made by women or for women. Let's discover four of my favorites in this latest batch of nine #WeArePlay stories.


Múkami Kinoti Kimotho

Royelles Revolution / Royelles Revolution: Gaming For Girls (USA)

Múkami Kinoti Kimotho – Royelles Revolution / Royelles- Gaming For Girls | USA

Múkami's journey began when she noticed the lack of representation for girls in the gaming industry. Determined to change this narrative, she created Royelles, a game designed to inspire girls and non-binary people to pursue careers in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) fields. The game is anchored in fierce female avatars like the real life NASA scientist Mara who voices a character. Royelles is revolutionizing the gaming landscape and empowering the next generation of innovators. Múkami's excited to release more gamified stories and learning modules, and a range of extended reality and AI-powered avatars based on the game’s characters.

"If we're going to effectively educate Gen Z and Gen Alpha, we have to meet them in the metaverse and leverage gamified play as a means of driving education, awareness, inspiration and empowerment.” 

- Múkami

Leonika Sari Njoto Boedioetomo

Reblood: Blood Services App (Indonesia)

Leonika Sari Njoto Boedioetomo – Reblood / Blood Services App | Indonesia

When her university friend needed an urgent blood transfusion but discovered there was none available in the blood bank, Leonika became aware of the blood donation shortage in Indonesia. Her mission to address this led her to create Reblood, an app connecting blood donors with those in need. With over 140,000 blood donations facilitated to date, Reblood is not only saving lives but also promoting healthier lifestyles with a recently added feature that allows people to find the most affordable medical checkups.

“Our goal is to save more lives by raising awareness of blood donation in Indonesia and promoting healthier lifestyles for blood donors.” 

- Leonika

Luciane Antunes dos Santos and Renato Hélio Rauber

CARSUL / Car Sul: Urban Mobility App (Brazil)

Luciane Antunes dos Santos and Renato Hélio Rauber – Car Sul: Urban Mobility App | Brazil

Luciane was devastated when she lost her son in a car accident. Her and her husband Renato's loss led them to develop Carsul, an urban mobility app prioritizing safety and security. By providing safe transportation options and partnering with government health programs to chauffeur patients long distances to larger hospitals, Carsul is not only preventing accidents but also saving lives. Luciane and Renato's dedication to protecting others from the pain they've experienced is ongoing and they plan to expand to more cities in Brazil.

“Carsul was born from this story of loss, inspiring me to protect other lives. Redefining myself in this way is very rewarding.” 

- Luciane

Diariata (Diata) N'Diaye

Resonantes / App-Elles: Safety App for Women (France)

Diariata (Diata) N'Diaye – Resonantes /App-Elles: Safety App for Women | France

After hearing the stories of young people who had experienced abuse that was similar to her own, Spoken word artist Diata developed App-Elles – an app that allows women to send alerts when they're in danger. By connecting users with support networks and professional services, App-Elles is empowering women to reclaim their safety and seek help when needed.Diata also runs writing and recording workshops to help victims overcome their experiences with violence and has plans to expand her app with the introduction of a discreet wearable that sends out alerts.

“I realized from my work on the ground that there were victims of violence who needed help and support systems. This was my inspiration to create App-Elles." 

- Diata


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