The Parasol Cooperative

What The Parasol Cooperative does

The Parasol Cooperative is a U.S.-based nonprofit cooperative that builds trauma-informed technology for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and technology-facilitated abuse. Its flagship product is Ruth, a purpose-built AI chatbot delivered as a free, anonymous, web-based chat supporting 85+ languages and requiring no login, account, or personal data. Ruth runs on AWS Bedrock in zero-data-retention mode with trauma-informed guardrails, and integrates with the National Domestic Violence Hotline's database API to surface real-time local crisis resources.

The organization's revenue model blends three streams: individual donations supporting the free consumer tier, philanthropic grants, and earned revenue from organizational partnerships. The paid tier, Ruth+ for Organizations, is sold to victim service organizations, hotlines, and trafficking support agencies via demo and waitlist, and offers customizable tools and impact reporting. A second product, SafeConnect, is in waitlist phase. Distribution spans self-serve consumer access, direct enterprise sales for Ruth+, and embedded/white-label integrations with major U.S. crisis hotlines. Strategic positioning emphasizes trauma-informed design as a category differentiator from general-purpose AI, supported by 2025 recognition including three Anthem Awards, SXSW and Webby finalist status, and congressional testimony.

Name

The Parasol Cooperative

Legal name

The Parasol Cooperative

Website

https://parasolcooperative.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Parasol Cooperative is a U.S. nonprofit cooperative that builds trauma-informed AI tools, most notably the Ruth chatbot, providing free, anonymous, multilingual crisis support for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and technology-facilitated abuse, with an organizational tier (Ruth+) and embedded integrations with major U.S. crisis hotlines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Crisis Support Software

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Crisis Support, Suicide Prevention & Acute Behavioral Triage Platforms (HLALAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Behavioral Health Crisis Services Management (988/Hotlines/Mobile Crisis Coordination) (HLAEAHAK), MHPSS & Trauma-Informed Support for Displaced Populations (BPADAHAJ)

Keywords

• Trauma-informed chatbot
• AI crisis support
• Victim service technology
• Anonymous crisis chat
• Nonprofit AI tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Hillsborough

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Donations (Individual): Ruth is free for everyone to use, supported by individual donations to keep the service available and online.
2. Organizational Partnerships (Earned Revenue): Earned revenue generated from partnerships with organizations such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Ruth+ is designed for organizations with customizable tools and impact reporting.
3. Philanthropic Support: Nearly $600K in early philanthropy support secured from mission-aligned donors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Parasol Cooperative builds trauma-informed AI tools that provide free, anonymous 24/7 crisis support to survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and technology-facilitated abuse. Its flagship product Ruth is an AI chatbot offering safety planning, practical guidance, and resource connection in 85+ languages without requiring logins or collecting personal data. Ruth+ extends the platform to victim service organizations with customization and impact reporting.

Product overview

The Parasol Cooperative offers a portfolio of trauma-informed technology products centered on its flagship AI chatbot, Ruth, and the organizational version Ruth+. SafeConnect represents a forthcoming product for crisis navigation. The core offering consists of Ruth (free, consumer-facing AI chat), Ruth+ (paid organizational tier with enhanced customization and reporting), and SafeConnect (upcoming product). All products are designed to break down barriers to crisis support without replacing human care, serving individuals affected by domestic violence, human trafficking, and technology-facilitated violence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ruth: The world's first trauma-informed AI chat designed by and for survivors of harm and advocates who support them. Ruth helps people identify and navigate crises, break down barriers to support without replacing human care.
• SafeConnect

Products and services

• Ruth World's first trauma-informed AI chatbot designed by and for survivors of harm and the advocates who support them. Ruth provides free, anonymous 24/7 crisis support, safety planning, practical guidance, and resource connection across domestic violence, human trafficking, and technology-facilitated violence, without requiring login or personal details and with zero data retention.
• Ruth+ for Organizations Subscription tier of Ruth designed for victim service organizations, domestic violence hotlines, and human trafficking support services. Extends Ruth's trauma-informed AI capabilities with organization-specific customization, tailored adjustments, and impact reporting to help agencies reach survivors who are not yet ready to contact a human advocate directly.
• SafeConnect SafeConnect is a product designed to help individuals navigate and identify crises while strengthening the capacity of organizations to reach those in need. Currently available via waitlist at the time of reporting.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% helpfulness rating from users
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• National Domestic Violence HotlinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner integrating Ruth directly into their crisis response infrastructure. Generates earned revenue through this partnership. Ruth connects users to the Hotline's database API for real-time crisis resources.
• Polaris (National Human Trafficking Hotline)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner integrating Ruth into crisis response infrastructure for human trafficking support. Polaris CEO cited Ruth in congressional testimony, validating the partnership's impact.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreTechnology or IntegrationRuth is built on AWS Bedrock infrastructure engineered to protect user privacy. Runs in zero-data-retention mode, ensuring conversations are deleted immediately after use. AWS has committed to 100% renewable energy by 2025 and net-zero carbon by 2040.
• WeProtect Global AlliancestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition membership contributing to global efforts to protect children from online sexual exploitation and trafficking.
• Tech Against TraffickingstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition membership. Selected as one of six organizations to spotlight at the Tech Against Trafficking Summit at Microsoft's headquarters. Participation in field-building efforts.
• Trauma-Informed UX Design WorkgroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkgroup participation contributing to field-building and best practices for trauma-informed technology design.
• Florida International UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOO Sandy Skelaney participates in a research team studying victim advocates' use of AI in their work, contributing to the evidence base for trauma-informed technology.
• Runaway GirlminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a trusted partner organization collaborating in the fight against human trafficking.
• Quest 2 FreedomminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a trusted partner organization in the movement to end human trafficking.
• Social Protect AIminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a trusted partner organization focused on social protection.
• Human Trafficking FrontminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a trusted partner organization working to end human trafficking.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline and related digital crisis services for survivors of sexual violence. Directly comparable as a US-based survivor services organization with a digital crisis response mission overlapping Parasol's target population.
• Crisis Text Line: Crisis Text Line provides 24/7 text-based crisis support via trained volunteers, serving a similar population in distress including abuse and suicide. Directly comparable as a digital, text-first crisis intervention platform targeting survivors and people in acute need.
• Woebot Health: Woebot is an AI-driven conversational mental health platform delivering automated, evidence-based therapeutic conversations. Comparable as an AI chatbot deployed in mental health contexts, though focused on general behavioral health rather than trauma/abuse-specific crisis support.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: The National Domestic Violence Hotline is the leading US resource for domestic violence survivors and an anchor partner of Parasol. Directly comparable as a digital crisis service for the same survivor population, with whom Ruth is integrated via resource database API.
• Wysa: Wysa is an AI conversational mental health chatbot offering anonymous, evidence-based support globally with multi-language coverage. Comparable to Ruth in offering private, stigma-free AI chat for sensitive emotional and crisis scenarios, with a B2B organizational tier.
• Polaris Project: Polaris operates the US National Human Trafficking Hotline and combats human trafficking through data, advocacy, and direct services. Directly comparable as both a partner and peer operating in the trafficking survivor support space with hotlines, resource databases, and policy engagement.

Emerging players

• 7 Cups: 7 Cups offers free emotional support through trained listeners and therapists via anonymous chat. Comparable as a digital, anonymous, text-based emotional support platform, though primarily focused on general emotional support rather than abuse/trafficking.
• Koko: Koko provides AI-augmented peer support and mental health interventions through chat platforms. Comparable as an AI-enhanced crisis/mental health text platform, though broader in mental health rather than abuse-specific.

Broad incumbents

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (Vibrant Emotional Health): 988 is the US national suicide and crisis hotline providing 24/7 support via call, text, and chat. Comparable as the incumbent, federally-backed crisis line that Ruth complements rather than replaces; both serve overlapping populations in acute distress.

Regional players

• SafeLine (Greece): SafeLine is a European helpline and chat service addressing sexual abuse, domestic violence, and online harassment. Comparable as a regional, multi-channel crisis support service for survivors of technology-facilitated abuse but operating primarily in Greece/EU rather than globally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheParasolCoop
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@theparasolcooperative1746
• Facebookfacebook.com/ParasolCooperative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-parasol-cooperative
• Instagraminstagram.com/theparasolcooperative

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Parasol Cooperative