Orbit, A Safer Journey Home for Young People

Many young people do not always feel completely safe travelling home at night after sports, studying or social activities. Parents, partners and friends often worry, but prefer not to monitor or control. Existing safety apps tend to fall into two extremes: either overly controlling, or limited to a simple emergency button. Orbit was born out of that frustration.

To make travelling home safely more natural and accessible, Orbit is being developed as a free mobile app that helps users get from A to B with reassuring check-ins and an arrival confirmation. The goal is to provide peace of mind without creating the feeling of being monitored. The app is designed to be distributed through sports clubs, schools, municipalities and other partners that prioritise safety, enabling wide reach while keeping the barrier to entry low.

Jetpack is working on the positioning and strategic foundation of Orbit together with a student team from Rotterdam Business School. Development only continues when it clearly aligns with real user needs. Input is gathered through short anonymous surveys and conversations with potential users. These insights help refine key concepts such as group travel, virtual support from a trusted inner circle and route suggestions that consider lighting and activity levels.

In parallel, Jetpack is shaping the distribution and funding model. The app remains free for users, while scalability is supported through vouchers distributed via partner organisations, partnerships with insurers and collaboration with municipalities.

Why This Works

Orbit approaches safety not as a rare emergency but as a daily reality. By focusing on prevention and proximity—through check-ins, shared journeys and support from trusted contacts. The platform provides reassurance without creating a sense of surveillance.

Because the concept is continuously shaped by real behaviour and user feedback, Orbit is not designed as a theoretical solution but as a product that fits naturally into everyday routines. With distribution through existing networks such as clubs, schools and local authorities, Orbit has the potential to scale quickly within the Netherlands, with a clear ambition to expand across Europe.