Parent Geenee, First-of-its Kind Location-based Parental Control App, Launched in India
Bets on India as its pilot B2C market globally; Actor Madhavan on boarded as Strategic Investor/Partner; Commits to multi-million US dollar investments in India
Chennai, February 26, 2025 – US-based Parent Geenee Inc. announced the global B2C launch of its location-based parental control app in Chennai today. India is among the largest and primary target markets for the B2C part of the new app. Actor R Madhavan who has joined the venture as an investor and strategic partner was present at a press event held on the occasion. Parent Geenee India, based out of Chennai, will be a wholly owned subsidiary and will invest multi-million US dollars in local marketing, support and sales operations.
In his comments at the launch, R Madhavan, Investor & Strategic Partner, Parent Geenee said, “When Sasi approached me with the idea of Parent Geenee I instantly connected as it reminded me of the challenges Sarita and I faced as parents in bringing up our now adult son. It struck me how enormous the challenge would be for today’s parents considering the higher digital exposure and accompanying perils for their children today. Am truly proud to be playing my part in this venture and hope to help millions of parents worldwide, particularly in India, foster healthy digital boundaries in their children and nurture a generation of digitally detoxified children.”
An elated Sasi Naga, Founder & Chairman, Parent Geenee Inc., said, “A father of 3 young children myself, when Hari (Co-founder) approached me with his idea of a location-based parental control app, I fell for it in a jiffy. The first big booster of confidence came when I met Maddy who instantly said yes when I discussed the idea with him. In fact, to my surprise, he went one step ahead and agreed to play an active role in the venture. We chose India as we believe it’s at the cusp of a tectonic digital shift combined with increased wealth, making device access no longer a luxury for a growing number of its urban population. The initial response has been overwhelming, and we look forward to quickly growing in the Indian market and in the hearts of millions of Indian parents.”
"Parenting in the digital age isn’t about restricting technology—it’s about guiding children to use it responsibly. With Parent Geenee, we’re looking to empower parents and children about forging healthy digital boundaries. At its core, the app springs from our strong commitment to building a movement towards responsible, collaborative digital parenting and move the focus away from monitoring,” added Hari Gadiraju, Founder & CEO of Parent Geenee.
Talking of Chennai and the target for the Indian market, Kutraleeshwaran V, Partner & CIO, Parent Geenee, said, “Chennai is where Sasi, I and many of our core team members are from. We have a huge connect to the state and its capital and it was a no-brainer for us to choose which city in India we should do our global B2C launch. Of course, Maddy is loved by the audience here and that just makes it even more relevant that we are starting our India push here. Our initial target is to capture 1 million paid subscribers in the Indian market for the app.”
Parent Geenee allows parents to customize their child’s screen time based on where they are—at home, school, or even specific rooms within the house.
Key innovations are:
Location-Based App Restrictions: Set custom Safe Zones where apps are automatically restricted
Chill zones: With an optional Parent Geenee Bluetooth Beacon, parents can ensure chill zones in an otherwise all apps blocked Safe Zone.
The Wish Feature: Instead of outright denial, Parent Geenee lets children request temporary access to restricted apps—teaching them digital discipline while giving parents the final say.
Effortless Setup & Multi-Device Management: With a one-step QR code linking process, parents can easily manage multiple children’s devices under a single account.
Parent Geenee has a two-tier subscription model: Free and Premium. The Free version allows you to connect 1 child device, set up 1 safe zone, approve 2 app requests per week, filter inappropriate content, and receive location updates and tracking. The Premium version expands capabilities, enabling you to connect up to 4 child devices, set up 6 safe zones, approve unlimited app requests, and filter inappropriate content. Parent Geenee is now available on iOS in India, UK and US with an updated version for the Android is expected soon. The Beacon accessory is available for purchase in the U.S., U.K. and India via the official Parent Geenee website. The primary aim is to be a premium yet accessible digital parenting solution, bridging the gap between traditional monitoring apps and full-scale child surveillance tools.
Parent Geenee for Schools: Parent Geenee isn’t just for parents - it also offers a dedicated school version designed to empower educators. Instead of confiscating student devices, teachers, school administrators and designated staff can use a specialized Schools Dashboard to limit app access seamlessly. This allows students to stay connected for learning while minimizing distractions, creating a more focused and productive school environment. (https://www.parentgeenee.com/for-schools/)
By providing a simple yet powerful solution, Parent Geenee gives parents and educators the tools they need to foster responsible digital habits - without unnecessary complexity.
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About Parent Geenee: Founded in 2024 and based out of Dallas, US, Parent Geenee Inc. is founded by Serial entrepreneur Sasi Naga with Hari Gadiraju. Kutraleeshwaran V & Raj Rongala are part of the core team and Actor Madhavan is an investor/strategic partner. Its first product, Parent Geenee, is an innovative parental control platform dedicated to helping families create safe and balanced digital environments for children globally. Designed with simplicity, flexibility and security in mind, it empowers parents to set healthy digital boundaries, ensuring children can explore technology responsibly—without unnecessary restrictions. The B2C part targets parents directly through its subscriptions model while the B2B part, targets schools with a solution that allows teachers to do the same in their classrooms. More information can be had from www.parentgeenee.com
For editorial queries contact: Harish Babu, PRHUB | 95388 97080 | harish@prhub.com
Notes to the editor:
Dr. C. Ramasubramanian (CRS) Mental Health Expert believes that digital device usage is high in this modern world, and it causes both physical and psychological problems. Internet addiction (IA) is turning out to be a severe health problem across various nations on different continents, including ours. Excessive screen time also affects the cardiovascular system. Digital addiction is real. Like other psychological problems, it is preventable, treatable, and curable if we identify the problem early.
Pooja Srinivasa Raja, a mental health advocate, parent, and entrepreneur believes that mental health is a significant issue for the current generation. The key to addressing this problem is awareness. With our fast-paced lifestyles, we often neglect proper nutrition, adequate sleep, and overall well-being. The endless scrolling on devices, living in urban environments far removed from nature, and a mind that races from one thought to another contribute to these challenges.
Parental Concerns and Screen Time
An alarming 95% of Indian parents are concerned about their children's mobile usage (Happinetz). Statistics show that 42% of children under 12 spend 2 to 4 hours daily on screens, while older kids spend 47% of their day online. Furthermore, 33% of adolescents are addicted to their devices, with boys slightly more likely to be affected (33.6%) compared to girls (32.3%) (Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 2023).
The consequences of excessive screen time are serious. Children are at risk of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, poor sleep, and exhaustion, which can increase the likelihood of suicidal thoughts. Physical health problems, including musculoskeletal discomfort, obesity, and an unhealthy lifestyle, are also common. Additionally, behavioural issues such as reduced attention span, irritability, and social withdrawal are prevalent. Increased mobile device usage among young children is linked to a phenomenon known as virtual autism.
