Kidas is the only online bullying and predator protection software for your child’s PC games. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Kidas founder and CEO Ron Kerbs to learn more about the company.
Ron Kerbs’ Background
What is Ron Kerbs’ background? Kerbs said:
“My journey began with six years of service in the Israeli military as an engineer and software developer, focusing on protecting citizens. After that, I pursued higher education in global/international studies and entrepreneurship and innovation at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. It was during this time that I delved into researching significant problems that could be addressed with software. When I discovered the alarming prevalence of children being targeted by online predators and bullies while gaming, I felt driven to apply my software development background to tackle this issue.”
Formation Of Kidas
How did the idea for Kidas come together? Kerbs shared:
“The genesis of Kidas and its flagship product, ProtectMe, stemmed from recognizing the rampant cyberbullying and predatory behavior targeting children during online gaming sessions. As the Founder and CEO, my primary responsibilities revolve around steering the company’s strategic direction, fostering innovation and ensuring that our mission to protect children from online threats remains at the forefront of everything we do.”
Favorite Memory
What has been Kerbs’ favorite memory working for the company so far? Kerbs reflected:
“The best memory is the first immediate alert our system sent to parents about their child setting up a meeting with an online predator. These types of moments make you feel it is all worth the effort and hard work.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Kerbs explained:
“Kidas’ core product ProtectMe, is an AI-powered software designed to monitor and analyze text and voice communications during online gaming sessions, identifying and flagging potential threats such as cyberbullying, scams and predatory behavior. ProtectMe provides real-time alerts to parents, empowering them to take proactive measures to protect their children while gaming. Additionally, Kidas offers the ProtectMe Bot, which integrates with Discord servers to provide voice and chat moderation capabilities, ensuring a safe and positive online environment for users.”
Challenges Faced
What challenges have Kerbs and the team faced in building the company? Kerbs acknowledged:
“In our ongoing efforts to combat online threats, we encounter challenges such as staying ahead of evolving cyber threats and maintaining user trust and privacy. To address these challenges, we prioritize continuous research and development to enhance our technology’s effectiveness and adaptability. We also maintain transparent communication with our users regarding privacy practices and ensure compliance with stringent data protection regulations.”
Evolution Of Kidas’ Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Kerbs noted:
“Since our inception, Kidas has continually refined and expanded our technology to better protect children from online dangers. We’ve implemented advanced AI algorithms to enhance threat detection accuracy and introduced new features to provide comprehensive monitoring of text and voice communications across various gaming platforms. Additionally, our technology has evolved to support seamless integration with popular gaming applications, ensuring widespread accessibility and effectiveness.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Kerbs cited:
“Kidas has achieved several notable milestones, including the launch of ProtectMe, our flagship software, which has garnered widespread recognition for its innovative approach to child safety in online gaming. We’ve also forged strategic partnerships with industry leaders such as Overwolf, expanding the reach of our technology to protect more users. Furthermore, receiving grants and accolades for our efforts in advancing online child protection underscores the impact and significance of our work.”
Customer Success Stories
When asking Kerbs asked about customer success stories, he highlighted:
“One of our team members is a user of our product. She asked to join after Kidas’ system detected that her son was bullied while playing by his middle school friends.”
Funding
Upon asking Kerbs about the company’s funding details, he revealed:
“Kidas raised a seed round led by Contour ventures with participation from strategic investors like Techsars, Comcast, Overwolf, Aura and angel investors with vast experience in the gaming and security markets like Rob Seaver (Sold VIvox to Unity), Bruce Hack (former vice chairman of Activision blizzard and CEO of Vivendi games), Cindy Cook (Former CMO of Vivendi games) and Bharath Madhusudan (Founder and CEO of Securly).”
Total Addressable Market
What total addressable market (TAM) size is the company pursuing? Kerbs assessed:
“The total addressable market size Kidas is pursuing in the US is $4.8 billion. In the US market and beyond, we see a growing demand for our services, driven by the increasing awareness of online safety issues. By offering accessible and effective security solutions, we strive to make a positive impact on the gaming community while providing peace of mind for parents and gamers alike.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Kerbs affirmed:
“Kidas stands out in the online child safety space due to our innovative approach to threat detection and mitigation during online gaming. Unlike traditional solutions that rely solely on keyword filtering, our AI-powered technology comprehensively analyzes text and voice communications while combining them with in-game events enabling us to identify nuanced threats and provide actionable insights to parents.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future company goals? Kerbs pointed out:
“Looking ahead, Kidas aims to further enhance the capabilities of ProtectMe to address emerging online threats and adapt to evolving gaming platforms. We seek to expand our partnerships and collaborations to reach more users globally and continue making a positive impact on online child safety. We aim to partner with more companies in online personal security, parental controls, gaming hardware and telcom providers to expand our reach.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics you would like to discuss? Kerbs concluded:
“Given the evolving landscape of online interactions and the recent APA report highlighting the concerning psychological impacts of social media on young people, it’s imperative to delve into how technology can be harnessed for positive outcomes.”
“The rise of esports and platforms like Discord have created vibrant communities but also brought forth challenges regarding toxicity and online safety. At Kidas, we recognize these challenges and are committed to providing solutions that empower parents, educators and community managers to create safer online environments for young gamers.”
“Our ProtectMe Bot, integrated seamlessly into Discord servers, stands as the first and only bot with voice and chat moderation capabilities. In a world where toxicity can tarnish the gaming experience, our bot’s advanced algorithms actively detect and address threats in real-time. By offering features such as voice chat transcription and customizable moderation modes, we empower server administrators to foster positive and secure gaming environments.”
“As the esports market continues to expand and online interactions become increasingly integral to adolescent experiences, it’s crucial for stakeholders to collaborate in addressing these challenges. By leveraging technology like the ProtectMe Bot, we can cultivate safer online spaces where gamers can thrive.”
