Approximately 40% of Americans use online dating, making it the ideal place for nefarious individuals to find victims. Garbo equips users with the tools to keep them safe through its digital platform allowing people to conduct background checks without a last name; something that has never been offered previously. Garbo accepts submissions to its database and records go far beyond what traditional background searches offer.
AlleyWatch sat down with Garbo CEO and Founder Kathryn Kosmides to learn more about how her own personal experience inspired the launch and how she plans to make the digital world a safer place through Garbo.
Tell us about the product or service that Garbo offers.
Garbo is building a new kind of online background check for the digital age. Whether it’s before meeting an online date, attending a job interview, or getting into a rideshare, we believe you should know who you’re putting your safety in the hands of.
Garbo’s platform enables users to search without a last name – something we often don’t have before the first interaction in today’s digital age.
How is Garbo different?
Garbo’s online background check goes deeper into backlog of unconvicted crimes by providing access to more than just the conviction data traditional background checks share.
We also accept submissions that build our database and provide justice when cases fall through the system’s cracks.
What market does Garbo target and how big is it?
We are very focused on the online dating industry, as that’s where many abusers find their victims in today’s digital age. It’s estimated that 40% of Americans use online dating.
What is the business model?
Garbo is a non-profit technology startup. This means we put protection above profit.
What inspired the start of Garbo?
I spent over $120K fighting an abuser through the justice system. I realized if it was hard for me – a white, educated, privileged woman with access to capital – it must be very difficult for the average individual. I am making it my mission to protect people from becoming a victim of not only an abuser but of the justice system. I believe the way you do this is by preventing potentially dangerous meetings in the first place, or at least arming someone with the information so they can make informed decisions.
Who do you consider to be your main competitors?
Garbo’s main competitors are traditional online background checks like Spokeo, TruthFinder, and InstantCheckmate. We actually call these “stalking-as-a-service” because they almost exclusively provide access to information that can be used for stalking – including every phone number, email, and home address of an individual; meanwhile, in our testing, we’ve found that they’re missing up to 90% of criminal data.
What are the milestones that you plan to achieve within six months?
In the next six months, we will officially launch out of beta with our full platform. Users will be able to search records including convictions, arrests, EEOC filings, and more. If they’ve ever filed any sort of official report (police report, rape kit, order of protection), they can submit these reports to prevent the next crime from happening. We’ve spent the last year working on the platform’s compliance and depth of data and compliance, including building our partnership with Brooklyn Law.
What is the one piece of startup advice that you never got?
What a great question! Having worked in startups for the last several years, I’ve definitely received and given a ton of advice.
The biggest piece of advice I never received is to prioritize your mental health. We deal with some tough stuff and I didn’t always prioritize myself and my ability to emotionally cope with the really dark stuff. I now make sure my team and I are constantly checking in with each other to ensure we’re taking care of.
The biggest piece of advice I never received is to prioritize your mental health. We deal with some tough stuff and I didn’t always prioritize myself and my ability to emotionally cope with the really dark stuff. I now make sure my team and I are constantly checking in with each other to ensure we’re taking care of.
If you could be put in touch with anyone in the New York community who would it be and why?
We’re really looking to connect with philanthropists and impact investors who are passionate about preventing domestic violence, sexual harassment, and abuse. We know that less than 2% of all non-profit funding goes to organizations focused on women, so we’re focused on expanding this conversation.
Why did you launch in New York?
Going through three different courts in New York, our founder had an intimate experience with New York’s justice system and access to records.
What’s your favorite restaurant in the city?
Taco Bell.
