At 17, Ashwin Chunchu built a GPS tracker to help kids with autism and ADHD stay safe

Ashwin Chunchu got lost in a park as a child. Years later, as a recent St. Francis Xavier Secondary School graduate, he turned that childhood moment into a solution for thousands of families facing a far more pressing version of the same fear.

StepSafe Kids is a GPS tracker designed to help locate children with autism, ADHD, and other disabilities who wander—a problem with few affordable options and long wait times for existing solutions. The 17-year-old Mississauga entrepreneur developed the device over five months after learning how costly and limited tracking options were for families who needed them most.

The device launched on Kickstarter on August 28, and within 14 hours, it had hit its funding goal. By the time Chunchu spoke with reporters, the campaign had surpassed its target by approximately 350 per cent. The campaign is scheduled to close on September 3.

"I did expect it to cross the goal," Chunchu said, pointing to a pre-launch interest list of more than 200 people. "I'm really happy that we surpassed a lot."

How it works is straightforward. Through the StepSafe app, parents create designated safe areas around locations such as home or school. If a child leaves one of those areas, the parent receives a push notification and can track the device's location in real time. Parents can also identify unsafe areas; Chunchu's team is exploring whether entering one could trigger a louder phone alarm, depending on restrictions within Apple and Android operating systems.

The tracker includes an SOS button, though its notification was intentionally made less disruptive after parents warned that some children might press it repeatedly. The microphone has been permanently disabled—no audio recording or two-way communication—a decision Chunchu said makes StepSafe more suitable for schools where two-way devices may not be permitted.

The device comes with a lanyard and a clip that can attach to clothing, a pocket, or a shoe. The team is developing more secure wearing options based on parent feedback, including an adjustable waistband with a locking mechanism that only parents can release with a magnet, and a two-in-one wrist and ankle band.

Battery life is estimated at approximately four days in the recommended smart-tracking mode, which updates less frequently when the child is stationary and increases frequency when movement is detected. Accuracy is estimated at two to five metres outdoors and 10 to 20 metres indoors.

Early-bird Kickstarter backers can order the device for $139, with a regular crowdfunding price of $159 for those who miss the early-bird window. Users would then pay a $13.99 monthly subscription. A $349 lifetime option is also available without recurring subscription fees. Backers can also donate a device to a family that couldn't otherwise afford one.

Shipping is expected to begin in February 2027. For Chunchu, the response signals that families have been waiting for exactly this: a simple, affordable, school-friendly option that gives them peace of mind when their child leaves home.