Social Smarts is a social purpose corporation developing travel safety technology for Black and LGBTQIA+ communities. Its flagship app, Travel Smart, helps users avoid sundown towns, locate gender-neutral bathrooms, and find inclusive businesses while driving. The app includes route filtering, customizable alerts, and location sharing with trusted contacts.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Black and LGBTQIA+ travelers face heightened risks of harassment, violence, and discrimination when traveling through unfamiliar areas, especially in regions with historical sundown towns or limited inclusive amenities. Standard navigation apps do not account for these safety concerns, forcing travelers to spend significant time researching routes, restroom access, and business inclusivity before and during trips.
Solution
Travel Smart by Social Smarts provides a mobile navigation app designed specifically to address safety concerns for marginalized travelers. The app integrates standard turn-by-turn navigation with specialized route algorithms that identify and avoid known sundown towns, and it flags stops lacking gender-neutral restrooms. Users receive customizable alerts and comprehensive risk assessments to make informed decisions throughout their journeys. The platform also includes a community-driven feedback system where users can submit help tickets for locations not yet in the database, ensuring the data continues to grow and improve.
Target Audience
The primary users are Black and LGBTQIA+ travelers seeking safer road trip experiences, as well as community organizations and mutual aid groups focused on travel safety and advocacy for marginalized populations.
Features
- Standard navigation functionality with optional route preferences to avoid known sundown towns
- Filtering for gender-neutral bathroom availability at gas stations, restaurants, and stores
- Fuel-efficient route options with local gas price notifications before stopping
- Bookmarking for frequently visited locations and pre-planning for upcoming road trips
- Contact import and circle management for sharing live location with trusted friends and family
- Downloadable directions for offline use during service disruptions
- Shared travel calendar for coordinating trips with a user's circle