About us
Our mission is to help scale the gift economy.
Mission: AskAround’s mission is to empower individuals to seek assistance from their communities in an efficient and respectful manner. We understand that life’s challenges often require a village, and we are committed to making it easy for caregivers, new parents, and those facing difficult situations to ask for help from their trusted circles.
Vision: Our vision is to create a world where individuals in need can reach out to their communities respectfully and efficiently, knowing they will always find support. We aim to build the platform that connects the giving economy, using AI to connect people with the most likely helpers and automating communication to eliminate unnecessary burdens.
Our core values
- Empathy:
- We prioritize understanding and compassion for those in need and those offering help. We strive to create a caring and supportive environment where everyone feels valued.
- Efficiency:
- We are committed to making the process of asking for help and offering assistance as streamlined and time-efficient as possible. We aim to save time for both requesters and helpers.
- Respect:
- We respect the boundaries and preferences of both requesters and helpers. We believe in treating every individual with dignity and ensuring that consent is central to the help exchange process.
- Community:
- We foster a sense of belonging and connectedness within communities. We believe that together, we can build stronger, more resilient villages that support one another.
- Innovation:
- We continuously explore innovative solutions and leverage AI technology to enhance the AskAround experience. We are dedicated to improving and evolving our platform to better serve our users.
- Inclusivity:
- We are inclusive and accessible to a wide range of users, ensuring that AskAround is a platform for all, regardless of age, background, or circumstance.
- Gratitude:
- We encourage the expression of gratitude and appreciation within our communities. We believe that acknowledging the kindness of others strengthens the bonds between requesters and helpers.
Our founder’s story
The platform I needed when times were hard.
At AskAround, our journey is rooted in the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to ask for help when they need it, and communities should come together in support. It all began with our founder, Dan.
In 2021, Dan found himself as a full-time dad of three small children and a caregiver for his wife during her intense cancer treatments. His friends and family offered tremendous help, and platforms like MealTrain and CaringBridge were invaluable. However, as time passed, Dan realized that these tools, while helpful, couldn’t fully address the complex challenges he faced. Coordinating requests became overwhelming, and he often hesitated to ask for last-minute help, despite ongoing needs.
Inspired by his experiences, Dan envisioned a platform to make it easy for people to reach out to their circles in times of crisis or for everyday needs. AskAround was born from this vision, deeply influenced by Dan’s personal journey.
A new chapter
As Dan’s journey continued, he found love again and began to date, only to meet another challenge: dating with three children and limited childcare options. Coordinating across a pool of babysitters and family became a frequent occurrence in his life.
That’s when Dan realized the same tool he had envisioned for seeking general help could also be used to find babysitters and childcare providers. AskAround’s mission extended beyond crisis situations to include everyday needs, such as finding trustworthy babysitters.
Dan’s story illustrates the power of community support and the importance of simplifying the process of seeking help. AskAround is the realization of this vision, offering hope to caregivers, new parents, and those facing life’s challenges.
FAQs
How does AskAround.ai ensure user privacy and ethical use of AI?
We are deeply committed to both user privacy and the ethical use of AI. Our primary goal is to enhance human connections and support communities, not to replace them. We are transparent about how data is collected and used, and our privacy policies are readily accessible. Users can determine who can see their requests and contact information. We take data security seriously, we always seek consent before using AI to assist with a request, and our AI operates within ethical boundaries. We actively seek feedback and will adjust whenever our AI assistance is not aligned with your expectations.
What sets AskAround.ai apart from other help exchange platforms?
AskAround.ai combines efficiency and respect in the help exchange process. Our platform leverages AI to connect requesters with the most suitable helpers, automates communication, and respects user-defined boundaries. It offers a more streamlined and respectful alternative to traditional group texts or individual messages.
How can I get early access to AskAround.ai during the Beta phase?
Sign up on our website and express your interest. We’ll give you access to the Beta version so you can start using the app before it officially launches.
When is the official launch of AskAround.ai?
We’re actively working towards the official launch, and your feedback during Beta testing will help us determine the launch date. Stay tuned for updates on our progress.
Join us.
We’re small but mighty and looking for collaborators, developers, partners, advisors and investors.