My Group Is Gone! Use This To Alert Them

Group outings can be extremely fun, but for the safety-conscious they can also be a significant source of stress or anxiety. At Virtual Halo, we value your safety, and your sanity, so we have developed a solution that will keep you and your entire group safe, sound and connected no matter where you go. That way if a member of your group scampers off into the unknown on an adventure of their own, you will know how to find them and they will always have a way to get back to you.

Here is how you can stay alert when you are in a group with Virtual Halo:

More Than Just a Personal Safety App

Virtual Halo was designed with adventurers and thrill-seekers in mind, but with all of the features this personal safety app offers, it has become much more than that. The app is now used by travelers, employees, mothers, fathers, children, grandparents, friends… the list goes on!

With features like SOS, Check-In, Going Out and I’m OK, the app has opened up a whole new world of safety. So when it comes to going out with friends or family in a group, making sure you each have the app installed is a vital part of staying together.

Alert Your Group (When You Need To)

When you have Virtual Halo installed, you get to select your own list of emergency contacts. These contacts are the ones that will be notified in the event of an emergency, or if you happen to venture a little too far when you go off on your solo adventuring. You can alert the group with a quick SOS if you are in trouble, or send them an I’m OK so they do not need to worry.

The best part? Only the contacts you approve of will have access to your location information. That means you do not have to worry about the eyes of Big Brother or other unauthorized access to your personal privacy. When you need help, the app will send your most recent GPS location to your emergency contacts, but it will never grant access to your information unnecessarily.

Download the App and Stay Connected

Before your next group outing, be sure to have everyone download Virtual Halo to their smartphones and Apple Watches. This way, you can set each other as emergency contacts and if someone wanders off, you can all get back together again, safely.

Three Life Changing Experiences For The Adrenaline Junkie

“Anything that gets your blood racing is probably worth doing.”

This quote from Hunter S. Thompson rings true with any adrenaline junkie, as any adrenaline
junkie can tell you there’s nothing more satisfying than the thrill you get from living life on the
edge. If you’re reading this and can relate to what we’re saying, then these next three life
changing experiences are for you:

1. Take a Dip in the Devil’s Pool

You’ll find Devil’s Pool at the Victoria Falls, the largest waterfall in the world, in Livingstone,
Africa. Take a trip out sometime between September and December, when the waters are at
just the right level to form a rock barrier between where you’ll be sipping on adrenaline and the
edge of this massive waterfall.

2. Bike Death’s Road

Travel out to La Paz, Bolivia and grab a bike to head out to Death’s Road. The name probably
says enough to get the adrenaline going before you even get there, but this road is an
experience you’ll definitely want to have in your lifetime. It’s a 40-mile long, 11,000-foot descent narrow road that will get your heart racing with sheer drops. Even better? Most places don’t have guardrails.

3. Go Canyon Swinging

Visit Queenstown, New Zealand (any adrenaline junkie’s must-see destination) for the world’s
highest canyon swing. Get ready for some heart-pumping action as you free fall for almost 22
feet. Then relish in the glory as you look over Shotover Canyon. This experience can even be
customized with different types of jumps, so you can get one of the best adrenaline rushes of
your life.

Enjoy the Rush

While you’re out experiencing adrenaline rush after adrenaline rush, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment. So before you go, download Virtual Halo onto your phone. The app makes it easy to keep in touch with friends and family to let them know you’re safe without taking away from your experience.

How To Stay Safe While Going It Alone

If you live for the thrill of adventure, there is one thing you probably already know should be at
the top of your packing list - safety. But when it comes to staying safe while you’re going it
alone, what should you prioritize? The following is a quick guide to help get you ready to hit the road, safely.

First, Think About Survival

What are some basic necessities for survival if you were to go camping, hiking or venture off
road somewhere you could potentially stay overnight? To keep you safe, you should first pack
yourself some food and water, at least enough to last a couple days if not more, and some first
aid items like bandages and antiseptic. If you know you may venture into territories with
dangerous animals, pack accordingly with items such as bear spray or a knife. A knife will
double as a means to acquiring more food, or triple as a survival tool in the case of an
emergency.

Pack Your Bags with Safety in Mind

In addition to these items, you should pack other gear you might need. This should include
weather-appropriate clothing, any harnesses or equipment for hiking or climbing and other tools you may need for the environment you will be in. Always keep in mind that you will be alone, so having all the safety items you may need at your disposable is key in a dangerous, or even life-threatening, situation.

Bring Your Phone!

Even if cell signal may be weak, bring your cell phone. And download a safety app like Virtual Halo as a quick and easy means to get help if you need it. Not only will Virtual Halo let you keep in touch with friends or loved ones to let them know where you are, it will also let you send an SOS if you need help. This SOS will alert them immediately, and they can find out where you are and get help to you - fast. So any time you’re going it alone, be sure to have the app downloaded, and your phone on hand.

3 Awesome Off The Grid Mountain Adventures

Going off the grid can be an exciting way to disconnect from the busy world around you for a
time. But where can you go, and what can you do?

The following are three awesome off the grid mountain adventures to add to your to-do list:

1. Camping in Linville Gorge

For breathtaking mountain views and easy access to hiking trails, drive up into Linville Gorge.
Here, you can find car campsites near Table Rock and Hawksbill Mountain in Asheville, North
Carolina. One of the most notable features of the locally-named “The Gorge” are the lights. The
lights are seemingly globes of different colors that float throughout the trees. They can be seen
at night if you trek to the top of the mountain and look down over the gorge where you will find an endless expanse of trees and mountains that seem to be alive. While science fails to explain what exactly the lights are, you can enjoy this off the grid experience and have a tale to tell when you come back.

2. Climbing Colorado’s 14ers

For a true test of stamina, challenge yourself with any, or all, of Colorado’s awe-inspiring 14ers, like Mt. Elbert, Mt. Massive or Mt. Harvard, If you can make it to the top, you will be rewarded with some of the most mesmerizing views of mountainous landscape that seems endless. Going off the grid for most of these hikes can mean taking extra safety precautions, so be sure to let someone know where you are going.

3. Escaping the Crowds in Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park has plenty to see, with Old Faithful, the Grand Prismatic Spring and
more offering some of the most beautiful pieces of nature you can see up close. However, the
crowds can truly take away from the experience. Escape them by going off the beaten path in
areas such Fairy Falls, Grebe Lake or Lonestar Geyser. These areas will have less people, but
will offer no less photo opportunities. Just be sure to bring bear spray and other safety items.

Remember Your Phone

Your phone will become home to countless photos of your experience, but it is also an important safety device. Download Virtual Halo before going off the grid to have quick access to send an SOS with Virtual Halo if you need help. It will also make it quick and simple for you to check in and let loved ones know you are okay.

The Innovation Showcase Highlights Indiana's Startup Ecosystem

Last week, we had the opportunity to participate in the Innovation Showcase at the Dellara Car Factory in Indianapolis, at the Speedway. What an amazing event! Startups from around the midwest drove adn flew in to showcase their technology.

From agricultural evolution and medical device advances in cancer tissue analyzation to software companies with new apps (like Virtual Halo) to a company that's invented a better toilet seat for people in wheelchairs. The 80 innovative companies given an invitation to exhibit truly were the Best of the Best as dubbed by the Venture Club of Indiana.

I'd like to give a huge shout out to the group at Elevate Ventures, and all of the Venture Capitalists and Angel Investors that attended the events. Those of you that met with us kow who you are; thanks!

The Innovation Showcase was the first regional startup event Virtual Halo has attended, but after winning the two events hosted in Peoria, IL in the past year, it was time to expand. The questions asked and offers made were nothing short of awesome and we are hubled by the excitement and buzz that's surrounding our personal protection app.