TRISHA PARABU of NAPERVILLE | Meet the Founder of the ReThink App
A LOVE FOR HELPING OTHERS
16-Year Old High School Student Who Pitched Her Ant-Bullying App On Shark Tank's Season 8 Premiere Creates First-Ever Pro-Active Solution to Stop Cyberbullying Before It Happens
NAPERVILLE–Welcome to the Shark Tank! Many of us watch the ABC hit show while dreaming of our own inventions that will make us millions after partnering with one of the five titans of the industry. 16 year old, Neuqua Valley Student and Naperville resident, Trisha Prabhu realized that dream after she pitched her anti-bullying app ReThink on the Season 8 Premiere. ReThink is the first ever proactive solution to stop cyberbullying before it happens. When an adolescent tries to post a hurtful message, ReThink detects that the message is hurtful and sends a gentle alert in real time, providing adolescents a second chance to pause, review and rethink before sending hurtful messages. Trisha discovered coding at age 10 and fell in love with it. She currently teaches Girls Who Code classes at the Naperville Public Library; as well as, summer coding programs for girls at North Central College. She is the founder and president of the anti-bullying club, Guardians of the Valley, at Neuqua; and is also a National board member of Tyler Clementi Foundation, NYC to advocate equality and LGBT rights.
She describes her Shark Tank experience as a nerve wracking; yet, exhilarating experience. “They were very candid and gave me great ideas, provided constructive criticisms and were all ears about what I had to say,” Trisha said as she reeled in a joint offer between Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner for a stake in her company!
Even with all the success, every business will have its challenges. An important challenge that Trisha continues to face is being able to scale and grow the business internationally. She sees it as more of an opportunity than an obstacle to further ReThink's impact. Now, the next big step is to release the ReThink technology in international languages and develop the machine learning algorithms necessary to help localize the ReThink technology to regions around the world.
Everyday Trisha gets numerous emails from victims, their parents, teachers, principals, guidance counselors, and law enforcement officials that witness the horrors of cyberbullying every day. The emails inspire Trisha to keep going. In the midst of this digital revolution, there are so many teens suffering in silence - and they are looking to ReThink for help. These stories remind Trisha of why she started ReThink, the gravity of the work she does every day - and most importantly, they show her the magnitude of her impact, and how important it is that she continue her work.
IN TRISHA'S OWN WORDS.....
BUSINESS SUMMARY
"When I was 13 years old, I came home one day to read a news story about a young 12 year old girl that jumped off her town's water tower and took her own life due to repeated cyberbullying. I was heart-broken and shocked. How can a girl younger than me be pushed to take her own life? That was unacceptable to me. I decided to do something about it. Months of scientific research and years of coding led me to my Technology invention ReThink. ReThink is the first-ever original, proactive solution that stops cyberbullying BEFORE the damage is done. ReThink has been introduced to 3 million students around the world." –Trisha Prabhu
AREAS OF SPECIALTY
Technology Innovation
Entrepreneurship
Advocacy
Leadership
Community service
Volunteering
MENTORING OUR FUTURE
"No matter who you are, if you are 110% passionate about an idea, a movement, a principle, or a product, there's no stopping the entrepreneurial success you will encounter in your life. Regardless of your age, gender, socioeconomic background, or the extent of your entrepreneurial expertise, there's nothing more powerful than belief - in yourself, in your product, and its ability to change the world. Along the journey, be ready to encounter naysayers - individuals who claim it's not this product, it's not your time, or that it's not you. It doesn't matter. When you believe in what you're doing - it's contagious - and you will find individuals who support you and the success you deserve. Don't afraid to take a risk - be brave, not perfect." –Trisha Prabhu
THE DATA....
AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS
Invited US Delegate to Global Entrepreneurship Summit by President Obama
Google Science Fair Global Finalist
Invited Exhibitor at White House Science Fair
WebMD Health Hero of the Year 2016 - Prodigy Award
International Diana Award from Hon. British Prime Minister David Cameron
BUSINESS LOCATION
ReThink
Naperville, IL
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