Parachute: A Letter From the CEO
In the fall of 1999, just a week before the start of the school year, a strong earthquake struck my hometown of Athens, Greece. It took just a few seconds for us to be forever uprooted from our childhood home and start over from scratch. I learned early on that life can hold unexpected twists, and that we always have to be prepared for the unknown. In the years since that fateful day, I would often dream of a magic button that would have allowed those trapped in the rubble to get help. It wouldn’t be until 2015 when a series of developments would finally make it possible for this dream to be a reality. For the first time in history, humans had powerful recording devices with them at all times — their smartphones. Video evidence had proven instrumental in several cases of police brutality sweeping across the United States. And the live-streaming revolution had just begun, with the emergence of Meerkat and Periscope, demonstrating that it was possible to instantly broadcast live video from anywhere in the world. Looking at the world through the lens of a computer scientist, I am always drawn to problems that can be solved better with the help of technology. The journey of Parachute began when I entered the TechCrunch Disrupt NY 2015 Hackathon, one of the world’s most prestigious technology events, with a mission to use livestreaming where it mattered most — the most critical moments of our lives. Twenty-four hours later, Witness, as it was originally called, would go on to win the grand prize and news of it quickly went viral all around the world. I knew I had to drop everything else and make it available on the App Store. Parachute’s launch ushered a new era in emergency technology. Designed to do everything your phone can possibly do to protect you in an emergency, and built like a tank, Parachute revolutionized how the world reacts and responds to emergencies. Its unmatched features have made it an indispensable tool for those operating in some of the most dangerous conditions in the world, allowing them to pursue their life’s work unencumbered by fear.
Parachute has played a critical role in major international geopolitical events. It has brought light to some of the darkest corners of the world. It has saved lives. And helped people all around the world, regardless of ethnicity, background, age, and ability, sleep a little better at night. Every line of code in Parachute is meticulously written and rigorously tested knowing that a single error could cost someone’s life. Our crash reports show us that Parachute never crashes in an emergency, unless it’s a crash that comes from iOS itself. Taking a stand against today’s tech dystopia, where customer data is collected, sold, and traded, Parachute has championed transparency and neutrality from day one, at a time when very few were sounding the alarm on this onslaught against our privacy. Parachute data is never shared with anyone but those you choose to share it with. Our choice to run an independent, self-reliant organization, free from venture capital, assures that we will never be pressured to compromise our integrity in exchange for short-term gains. Our neutrality guarantee, which we were one of the first to implement, ensures that user data will not be censored unless required by the democratic processes of the judicial system. Parachute’s members are not faceless. Among them you will find ourselves, our families, and our friends. When you become a Parachute member, we treat you with the same level of care, respect, and attention to detail that we expect for ourselves and our loved ones. We are so grateful that our members have made Parachute one of the most loved apps in the world, with a 4.9/5.0 worldwide average, and more than 4,500 five-star reviews. Whether you use Parachute occasionally or as a regular part of your day, we hope Parachute can make an impact on your life, empowering you to live life fearlessly. We are so honored by your trust and we promise to always keep pushing the boundaries of technology to make the world a safer place.
Marinos Engineer, Parachute Founder & CEO
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