RideAlong

RideAlong operated as a government technology firm that provided a specialized software tool for law enforcement and first responders. The company was founded by Katherine Nammacher, who served as CEO, and Meredith Hitchcock, the COO. Their journey began with a fellowship at Code for America, where they partnered with the Seattle Police Department to develop the initial application, born from a need to improve interactions between officers and vulnerable populations. This foundation in user-centered design within a real-world public safety environment was crucial. Following this, the founders took the company through the Y Combinator accelerator program in the summer of 2017 to refine their business strategy and scale the solution.

The firm's core business was providing software to public sector clients, including police departments, sheriff's offices, and public health agencies. Its business model centered on selling access to its platform to these government bodies. The product was a software tool designed to integrate directly with existing police record management systems. It gave patrol officers critical, real-time information about individuals known to have mental health challenges or substance abuse issues. When responding to a call, an officer could see if a person had a corresponding response plan in the RideAlong system. This plan included tailored de-escalation techniques, behavioral information, and contact details for case managers or family members, aiming to facilitate safer, more effective interventions. The platform's objective was to break the cycle of crisis and incarceration by providing officers with the necessary context to de-escalate situations and connect individuals with appropriate support services. In 2019, RideAlong was acquired by OpenLattice.

Keywords: public safety software, law enforcement technology, mental health response, crisis intervention tool, first responder technology, govtech, police software, de-escalation software, Y Combinator S17, Code for America, justice tech, behavioral health data, officer safety, community policing, emergency response, vulnerable populations data, Seattle Police Department partnership, OpenLattice