SocialRadar, the D.C. startup cofounded by Michael Chasen (formerly of Blackboard), Kevin Alansky and Ghafran Abbas, launches its
app in the iOS App Store today. Available exclusively on Apple devices for the time being, SocialRadar integrates real-time information with social-location network data to allow users to take control of their social experiences.
"SocialRadar gives you real-time information about the people around you," explains Shana Glenzer, VP of social marketing for the company. "Whether you want to strike up a conversation, avoid an ex-boyfriend, or when you see someone, and you know you know them, but you don't know from where," SocialRadar helps manage potentially awkward situations.
The app works by mining location check-ins on Foursquare, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and its own network and integrates that data into a single feed. It also creates a profile for users based on information shared on the aforementioned networks, as well as information from Google+ and LinkedIn. "You can figure out who you might want to meet and what you might want to talk about," Glenzer says, whether you're looking for someone to go running with, or someone who loves robots or someone who might want to invest in your next business venture.
With all of that shared data, privacy is an obvious concern. "All privacy controls in other networks transfer over," she explains. "Additionally, we have a high degree of privacy on SocialRadar." Users can choose from among four different categories for their personal information: public, friends only, anonymous and off the grid. "You can also choose to make certain parts of your profile anonoymous."
According to Glenzer, the SocialRadar team (22 at last count) has lots in store in the coming months. A version of the app for Google Glass is coming at the end of Q1, and developers are working to get a version to the Android market at the beginning of Q2. The company is also planning a launch party at 1776 on Feb. 27.
Beyond that? Glenzer is more tentative. "We might integrate with retailers. We think there's great value in the data," she says, "but we have no plans to do in-app advertising. Our open API will launch about the same time as our Android app, and we may end up working with other companies [who might want to use] our data to power other apps."