Astha - redefining safety by Women Robotics

We believe, this country has lacked the safety provisions for women for decades now. With the stuttering up rise of the rates of violence against women, Bangladesh has reached the “red-alert” mark of the highest number of rapes recorded over the past two years.

Strategically stating, Bangladesh unfortunately recorded AT LEAST 630 rape cases over the past 6 months which equals to an average of 3 cases everyday. With this, the country also stands to be the unsafest for women.

Clearly, law enforcement hasn't been quite successful in demolishing this violence rates which demands the introduction of a new safety method. Hence, in the world of smartphones and technology, what more can you expect than owning a smart watch that also becomes your safety ensuring friend? 

A device that restores your safety control BACK in your own hands!

Today, in Bangladesh, women are subjected to various kinds of violence and harassment. 

They are victims of harassment in public places like transports, hospitals, institutions and even in police stations. Moreover, public transports are becoming riskier and more unsafe for women with the increase in molestation and rape cases reported on-the-go. Furthermore, incidents of rape, sexual harassment and even murder-after-rape on-board are increasing day by day. 

From January 2014 to December 2017 about 17,289 RAPE CASES of women and children were recorded throughout the country. There are numerous cases which are not recorded either due to negligence, societal pressure or invisibly practiced political power. 

94% of women who use public transport have experienced sexual harassment in verbal, physical or in other forms. When these incidents take place on sight, often nobody comes forward to help. In most of the cases, victims do not get the chance to inform their family or to the nearby police stations or even try to take a stand for herself. 

This clearly shows, women security in Bangladesh is now at stake and it now demands an IMMEDIATE ACTION.

Women Robotics introduces the first ever smartphone that attaches a world of community to the safety of women, through the click of a button.

Initially, we have designed a watch that needs to be connected with our application, installed in a smartphone. 

Once the installation of our application is done, the application will prompt the user for two emergency numbers that will be saved as the users' emergency contacts. 

In any emergency situation, you just need to push the button of your watch. Your location will be sent to your saved contacts and also to the police helpline - 999. Moreover, it will also be posted in the online community platform as well so that help can reach you as soon as possible. 

Our further plan is to arrange self-defense programs and campaigns to raise social awareness which will be beneficial for women safety in the long run. In addition, we will be working on more lucrative and simple jewelry like necklaces and gadgets, to be integrated with our basic devices, at very attractive pricing, which will be another extraordinary option to women of all ages and races.

The technology behind the project of providing a smartwatch that also acts as a safety device and links effortlessly with an online community is properly planned and well documented. Also, the unique design of the watch and the application allows user to use it smoothly. 

To add more, one of the biggest challenges is to develop the community option and integrate with the application. Benefit of having the community platform is as that the notification will reach every member and the nearby members can come forward to help in the shortest time possible. 

The back-end application is made with JavaScript and active network is not needed to operate. The whole operation will be executed offline. 

We will add the feature of linking social media platforms in the near future.

Our exclusive competitive advantage: Only we are introducing a wearable device and one of the largest engaging community.

Our added advantage: We are the ONLY all-women team currently in the country, battling the violence against women through one push of a button. Our team consists of engineers and business professionals who can take on challenges in any form.

Our device is viable in certain ways which is unique compared to other business models. Instead of dealing with the situation as a ‘project’, we are more concerned about the ‘issue’. Since this falls under sustainable development goals, there are different organisations who want to participate with our cause, financially or in terms of marketing.

Moreover, we emphasized our dedicated research and development ALL-WOMEN team to come up with such an idea that will provide instant help someone who is in danger, which can prevent many vulnerable events from occurring. Our device is not like a one-time-service product , it will provide continuous service once bought, which in turn, will provide sustainability to our product. 

Our strategy is to arrange self defense programs and campaigns to raise social awareness which will be beneficial in the long run.

Our main focus is to give instant and real-time security to the women to counter any form of harassment. Moreover, the product has been designed  with in two different categories essentially providing the same level of support. 

Furthermore, from girls attending schools or colleges, to women in the service sector such as garments or banks and offices, the watch requires absolute NO training to be used. Through the click of a button, the presence, concern and locality of the individual is sent out to her desired contacts and the nearby police station or helpline.

Our product is still in the prototype phase. 

Here is our analysed Targeted Impact:

Our Targeted Impact (target market, target population, area, age)

Target area: Dhaka

Target population: 50000

Target market: Working women and Female university students

Age: 18-40

Our Goals within the next 3 years ( community development, people engagement) include:

1. Reduction in the number of rapes cases by half or 50% at least.
2. Increase in security measures for women locally, nationally and virtually.
3. Improvising security methods especially concerning women.
4. Raising awareness against rape, molestation and any form of disrespect through campaigns, workshops and anti-demonstrations
5. Developing a large community by engaging more and more people to enclose a social network.

Barriers to our goal:

1. Lack of fund to produce and release the first batch of watches.
2. B2B opportunities with leading companies to advertise and showcase the product during launch, hence encourage sales.
3. Cultural and market barriers as the watch is new-on-its-own, and holds no previous data of success or stability in accordance with the country.

Measures we have taken:

1. Renowned individuals, professionals, institutes and organisations have come forward for a one-to-one session to talk on possible deals and partnerships.

2. Attending conferences and events highlighting women to create the "face value" and get accustomed with high authorized individuals in the country. As a chance, also showcased our working prototype!

We are an all-women team of 8, comprising of Engineers, Business Administrators and Business Management Associates.

We are currently governed by two Founders:

1. Farhana Meghami Zulhash

2. Sadia Kamal

Farhana, one of the two Founders of Women Robotics, is a Computer Science and Software Engineer by profession but a women entrepreneur and leader by passion. The urge to bring in a global change through a national one blended together with her profession which aids in fulfilling her desire in creating a safer place for women in our country.

Sadia, the other Founder of Women Robotics, is a Robot Fanatic with specialization in Artificial Intelligence while being a learned Computer Science Engineer as well as being self-driven to enhance the lives of women across the country and globally, is what describes her as an individual. 

The team that has been formed by these founders have shown utmost dedication and willingness to bring about a national as well as a global change, for over 2 years till now.

Tiger Challenge is one of the biggest platforms to get hands-on experience along with the initial funding that is required to get down to explore the market in real - time!

Also, the opportunity to get to know and be guided by professionals seasonally is the best call that could be made by any stage entrepreneur in today's world.

Leading Women based organisations or firms providing services concerning women like UN Women, Chamber of Commerce for Women.

We would like to form a bond of action where in their programmes, our team gets the opportunity to showcase the product and reinstate the importance of owning a safety device today.