The ZoraSafe app wants to protect older people online and will present at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

In a landscape where cybersecurity solutions have largely catered to businesses, the average internet user—especially the elderly—often finds themselves defenseless against online threats. Recognizing this gap, sisters Catherine and Ellie Karow have founded ZoraSafe, a startup dedicated to empowering older adults with tools to navigate the digital world safely. ZoraSafe is poised to present its innovative app at the upcoming TechCrunch Disrupt conference, participating in the Startup Battlefield. This app not only aims to protect seniors from scammers and hackers but also incorporates gamified microlearning to educate them on online safety. Although the app is not yet available, the founders anticipate a launch within a month, with a subscription price of $12.99 per month for individuals, alongside family and group plans at varying rates. The app's initial features will include a malware and phishing detection mode for scanning QR codes, a mechanism to report suspicious SMS messages and emails, and a community-sharing feature that enables users to report scams. Catherine emphasized the importance of collective awareness, stating, "We're trying to incentivize social sharing of scams, so we can alert the entire Zora network at once, ensuring immediate protection for everyone in the community." Looking ahead, future updates will enhance the app with capabilities that allow users to have ZoraSafe join suspicious phone calls. This feature leverages AI to identify potential scams or deepfake calls without recording conversations. Once a threat is detected, the app will generate a chat to educate the user about the nature of the risk and how to recognize similar threats in the future. Privacy is a core focus of ZoraSafe's AI design, with 85% of data processing occurring on-device and only 15% sent to the cloud, where personal information is sanitized before transmission. Additionally, the sisters plan to introduce an NFC sticker integrated into phone cases for quick access to the app during emergencies, like receiving a deepfake call or alerting caretakers after a fall. The sisters have ambitious plans for ZoraSafe, including expanding its offerings to protect children, collaborating with schools, and launching the app in multiple languages, starting with Spanish. Interested individuals can explore more about ZoraSafe and witness its debut alongside other innovative companies at TechCrunch Disrupt, occurring from October 27 to 29 in San Francisco.