Actor R Madhavan joins Parent Geenee Inc. as Investor & Strategic Partner
Launches Parent Geenee – first-of-its kind location-based parental control app in India – the pilot market for the b2c app globally!
Chennai, February 26, 2025: US-based Parent Geenee Inc. today announced the global B2C launch of its location-based parental control app in Chennai. Actor R Madhavan has joined the venture in arguably a first-of-its-kind partnership for him as an investor and strategic partner in a startup venture. The collaboration represents a powerful synergy between Madhavan’s advocacy for responsible technology use and Parent Geenee’s mission to empower families in the digital age. As a vocal advocate for education, Madhavan has frequently emphasized the importance of digital discipline in today’s hyper-connected world. His decision to join Parent Geenee reflects a shared belief that technology should empower families rather than overwhelm them. . The Parent Geenee team is bullish on the potential of India and believes that the country with its huge and young population can be its largest B2C market. The app will also be available to parents in the US and UK, along with parents in India. With children averaging 4.5 hours of screen time daily, digital well-being has become an increasing concern for modern parents.
Parent Geenee Inc. is a next-generation parental control app designed to transform digital parenting landscape by offering location-based features that aid responsible screen time management.
In his comments at the launch, Actor 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 stuck with me how enormous the challenge would be for today’s parents considering the higher digital exposure and accompanying perils for their children today. I am truly proud to be playing my part in this venture and hope to help millions of parents worldwide and 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, “The first big booster of confidence for us 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 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 moving the focus away from mere 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 connection 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.”
Unlike traditional parental control apps that rely solely on time-based restrictions, Parent Geenee introduces location-specific digital boundaries, allowing 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—whether at home, school, or a friend’s house.
• Chill zones: With an optional Parent Geenee Bluetooth Beacon, parents can ensure chill zones in an otherwise all apps blocked Safe Zone.
• Real-Time Location Tracking & Travel Alerts: Parents receive instant notifications when their child arrives at school, deviates from a pre-approved route, or leaves a designated 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 and an updated version will soon be available on android. 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:
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 Dark Side of Mobile Addiction
● 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.
Impact on Young Minds
● Increased mobile device usage among young children is linked to a phenomenon known as virtual autism. This condition is characterized by hyperactivity, speech delays, mood swings, and reluctance to engage with others. Many of these children struggle to learn new skills, which further impairs their development.
Shocking Realities
● Tragic incidents emphasize the seriousness of this issue. A 15-year-old girl in Bengaluru died by suicide after being reprimanded for excessive mobile use, and a 17-year-old in Nagpur, who was addicted to online gaming, also took her own life. Recent data from *The Lancet* shows that one in three children is addicted to social media, with 11% experiencing withdrawal symptoms when they are deprived of their devices.