a16z Podcast | Three Kids, One App, One Love -- The Five-O Story

Origin and Motivation

• The 5.0 app was developed by three American teenagers (Caleb, Ima, and Asha) approximately six months prior to the interview.
• Development was triggered by the Ferguson protests, personal negative encounters with law enforcement involving family members, and a directive from their parents to focus on constructive solutions rather than frustration.
• The founders cite a desire to increase transparency in policing and provide a mechanism for citizens to review officers based on badge numbers.

Technical Architecture and Features

• The application is built using the cloud-based SDK program "apri.io."
• Core Functionalities:
  • Incident Reporting: Allows users to log and detail interactions with law enforcement.
  • Community Review: Users can search reviews and ratings by county, zip code, and state to gauge local law enforcement interactions.
  • Message Board: A feature for posting community updates and concerns.
  • GPS Location: Automatically captures the user's address and location on a map for incident documentation, even in the middle of the night.
  • Know Your Rights: Provides immediate access to ACLU-endorsed information on legal rights during police encounters.
• Future Technical Plans:
  • The team intends to migrate from the current SDK to native platforms for improved performance.
  • They plan to update the UI and add SMS functionality to support users without smartphones.
  • The team aims to open-source the project on GitHub.

Strategic Vision and Expansion

• Global Intent: The founders received inquiries from users in the U.K., Brazil, and Canada, prompting plans for international expansion.
• Target Audience: The app is designed to be accessible to all age groups, aiming to bring "customer service" standards to law enforcement interactions.
• Funding and Growth:
  • The team has launched a "5.0 Fund Me" campaign to secure funding for development and hiring.
  • They seek to expand the developer team with individuals more skilled than the founders in specific technical areas.
  • The founders are splitting their time between high school and app development while preparing for college.

Naming and Branding

• The name "5.0" was suggested by the founders' mother, a fan of the show Hawaii Five-0.
• The group subsequently adopted the name due to its dual meaning as a street term for police and its cultural appeal.

Press Strategy and Communication

• The founders developed a strategy for media interviews by anticipating common questions and coordinating responses with their mother prior to engagement.
• They emphasized a non-confrontational approach, explicitly stating they do not believe all police officers are corrupt and aim to support good officers as well.

Community and Guest Feedback

• Nas (Guest): Expressed strong support for the project, noting that police officers themselves should view the app positively as a tool for community benefit.
• Facebook Visit: The team visited Facebook, citing the positive, high-energy environment and the fun culture of coding as a significant learning experience.
• Collaboration: The founders are open to external help and collaboration from the developer community to improve the product's solidity.