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HOW IT STARTED

A letter from this guy

I've had the privilege of climbing some of the highest mountains in the world and the communities that surround these natural wonders have left a lasting impact on me.​ Unfortunately, I've also seen the impact that climate change and overtourism are leaving on these mountains and communities, heightening the risk profile of an already risk-ridden sport.​

 

I found myself witnessing first-hand the dangers of high-altitude climbing and struggling to reconcile how, in other contexts, we manage similar problems very differently. For example, my first consulting project was an oil and gas digital transformation where we leveraged emerging technology to make work more efficient, effective, and safer. Instead of putting engineers in risky situations to conduct refinery maintenance, we started sending drones and using internet of things to fix machinery before it broke down.​ In contrast, sherpas and guides risk their lives every year by going blind into the most dangerous parts of the south face to map and maintain routes.

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The deficit of tech solutions, infrastructure, and adoption in mountaineering puts lives at risk. So we asked ourselves, 'what if we did something about it?'

 

Shortly after, Safest Summit was born, a tech startup making high-altitude climbing safer through digital innovation. Since then, we've been climbing high, thinking big, and helping people like you reach your safest summit.

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But as any mountaineer will know, the journey is often more impactful than the destination. While saving lives is our priority, we’re passionate about doing so in a way that helps countries in the Himalayas and beyond stabilize their economic growth by developing new capabilities and infrastructure.

 

Read more about our 10 in 10 goals here.​

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Trevor Thomas, Founder & Executive Director

OUR VISION

For the Future of Mountaineering

HOW IT'S GOING
GREAT. We're actively developing products and services across our 3 digital focus areas...

...all brought together by our Safest Summit app

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

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​​AI-powered algorithms learn from historical weather data and other dynamic inputs to make enhanced weather predictions for summit planning.

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WEARABLES

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A predictive analytics engine looks for patterns in climbers' biometric data for preventive management of altitude-related cardiopulmonary events.

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INT​​ERNET OF THINGS

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Smart climbing infrastructure like IoT-enabled ladders notify guides and sherpas of route fidelity in real-time – even allowing just-in-time maintenance of ladders and fixed rope lines before they break.

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Connected oxygen systems that monitor tank location and fullness for smart oxygen logistics in "death zone" areas above 8000 meters.

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MEET THE TEAM...

Whether it's a mountain or the corporate ladder, a crampon or a computer, this group of climbers brings the expertise, gusto, and passion necessary to make this all possible.

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Founder & Executive Director 

TREVOR THOMAS

Duke-educated amateur mountaineer with 10+ years consulting experience helping clients across industries and the globe solve old problems in new ways using technology. 

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Growth Strategy & IoT Product Owner

HRIDAY BHARADWAJ

IoT expert, entrepreneur, and part-time actor, Hriday built a strong career navigating complex business ecosystems and US-Asia business relationships. Always ready to strategize and go the extra mile, Hriday brings a kind of determination to the Safest Summit team which is second only to that of his 1-year-old daughter.

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Investor Relations & Chief Evangelist 

CHAD FRYE

COO by day, reluctant adventure tourist by night, Chad brings the mouth of a sailor and the mind of a chess champion to tackle all things "people" for Safest Summit. Yes, he will be late to your meeting, and yes, it will run long – especially if you ask him anything about Ancient Rome.

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Partner Ecosystem & Strategic Advisor

GARY NICKRAND

When he's not saving coral reefs, Gary's sharing his deep expertise in partner ecosystem management, advising on strategy and development across Safest Summit products.

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Community Manager

GOOSE

You need two things to be a tech startup these days: an iPhone app and an office dog. So meet our dog, Goose. Like the rest of us, Goose is passionate about the outdoors and terrible on a leash, but he keeps the team moving in more ways than one.

    ...AND OUR PARTNERS

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    HOW
    TO GET INVOLVED

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    Reach out to info@projectsafestsummit.com if you're interesting to becoming a partner, advisor, or investor – or, if you'd like to make a donation greater than $5,000. For donations $5,000 or less, please use the Safest Summit GoFundMe.

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