Why we are building Saathi
Saathi began as a short project brief in August 2017. The idea was simple: let families keep track of a parent as they travel, and show which flights other families' parents were on, so nobody had to fly alone.
Nine years later the problem is the same. Parents still fly 20 hours to see their grandchildren. Families still post "anyone on AI 101 next Thursday?" in Facebook groups. And on travel day, children still refresh flight trackers and wait for a call that comes hours after landing.
What we've changed since 2017
- The parent comes first. The parent app speaks Hindi as well as English, uses large text, reads aloud and opens with a code instead of a password.
- Privacy by default. The 2017 brief had a public calendar of flights. Today, other families only ever see a first name until both sides agree to an introduction.
- The whole journey, not just the match. A step-by-step guide for the parent, updates for the family and a help button that reaches everyone.
Why we're asking before we launch
The app is built and works. Before we spend money on app store listings, live flight data and messaging, we want to know that families really want it, and what they want most. So we're asking.
If your parent flies alone, or you're a senior who does, or you'd happily keep an eye on someone's parent on your next trip home, please take three minutes to tell us what you think. "This isn't for me" is a useful answer too.
Does your parent fly alone?
We're building Saathi to find them company on the flight and keep you updated at every step. Tell us what would help in our 3-minute survey.