Posted by Leticia Lago – Developer Advertising and marketing

Being trapped inside a home following a significant earthquake as a toddler motivated Álvaro to analysis and enhance the outcomes of harmful, large-scale quakes in Mexico. Utilizing SkyAlert know-how, sensors detect and report warnings of incoming earthquakes, giving individuals worthwhile time to organize and get to security.

Álvaro shared his story in our newest movie for #WeArePlay, which spotlights the founders and creatives behind inspiring apps and video games on Google Play. We caught up with him to search out out his motivations for SkyAlert, the affect the app’s had and what his future plans are.

What was the inspiration behind SkyAlert?

Being in Colima close to the epicenter of an enormous earthquake as a child had a big impact on me. I bear in mind feeling powerless to nature and really susceptible watching every little thing falling aside round me. I used to be struck by how fast and good you needed to be to get to a secure place in time. I bear in mind hugging my household as soon as it was over and searching in direction of the ocean to be careful for an impending tsunami – which happily didn’t hit my area badly. It was at this second that I turned decided to search out out what had triggered this disaster and what may very well be completed to forestall it being so harmful one other time.

By my analysis, I realized that Mexico sits on 5 tectonic plates and, consequently, it’s notably vulnerable to earthquakes. The truth is, there’ve been seven main quakes within the final seven years, with a whole lot shedding their lives. Decreasing the specter of earthquakes is my primary purpose and the motivation behind SkyAlert. The know-how we’ve developed can detect the warning indicators of an earthquake early on, ship alerts to susceptible individuals and hopefully save lives.

How does SkyAlert work precisely?

SkyAlert collects knowledge from a community of sensors and interprets that info into alerts. Folks can put their zip code in an effort to filter updates for his or her locality. We’re consistently investing in getting essentially the most dependable and quick know-how out there so we will make the service as well timed and efficient as potential.

Did you at all times think about you’d be an entrepreneur?

Since I used to be a child I knew I wished to be an entrepreneur. This was impressed by my grandfather who ran a big sweet firm with factories throughout Mexico. Nonetheless, what I actually wished, past simply working my very own firm, was to have a constructive social affect and alter lives for the higher: a feat I really feel proud to have achieved with SkyAlert.

How is Google Play serving to your app to develop?

Being on Google Play helps us to succeed in the utmost variety of individuals. We’ve achieved some superb numbers within the final 10 years via Google Play, with over 7 million downloads. With 35% of our revenue coming from Google Play, this attain has helped us spend money on new applied sciences and sensors.

We additionally usually obtain recommendation from Google Play they usually invite us to conferences to inform us how you can do higher and how you can benefit from the platform. Google Play is a detailed accomplice that we really feel actually takes care of us.

What affect has SkyAlert had on the individuals of Mexico?

The largest benefit of SkyAlert is that it might assist them put together for an earthquake. In 2017, we had been capable of notify individuals of an enormous quake 12 seconds earlier than it hit Mexico Metropolis. No less than with these few seconds, many had been capable of get themselves to a secure place. Equally, with a big earthquake in Oaxaca, we had been capable of give a warning of over a minute, permitting academics to get college students in colleges away from infrastructure – saving children’ lives.

Additionally, many discover having SkyAlert on their telephone offers them peace of thoughts, realizing they’ll have some warning earlier than an earthquake strikes. This may be very reassuring.

What does the longer term seem like for SkyAlert?

We’re working laborious to broaden our companies into new danger areas like flooding, storms and wildfires. The hope is to change into a world firm that may ship alerts on a wide range of pure phenomena in nations around the globe.

Learn extra about Álvaro and different inspiring app and sport founders featured in #WeArePlay.