FAQ

ABOUT KORU

What is Koru?

Koru is a family support platform for parents and teens that uses artificial intelligence with human oversight. We are Alejandra and Sandy, and we created it with a simple idea: to help families reconnect. Our philosophy is "Disconnect to Connect," designed especially for families with teens who want to strengthen their bond. The goal is that, through the personal work each person does on their own, the bond grows stronger and the family communicates better.

What does Koru do?

Koru supports parents and teens in a personalized way. It all starts with the Connection Manual: based on questionnaires designed for parents and for their son or daughter, we prepare a document that helps them discover how they communicate today, what each of them needs, and where to start coming closer. It is a starting point, not a diagnosis. After that, each person has their own assistant on WhatsApp: parents work with Flow and teens with Kai, who support them day to day with tools designed for their family.

Is Koru therapy?

No. Koru is a family support platform. We do not provide diagnosis, treatment, or mental health care, and we do not replace a psychologist, psychiatrist, or therapist. If your family needs professional care, Koru can be a complement, never a substitute.

How much does it cost?

The pilot program is free.

Who can participate?

During the pilot, Koru is invitation-only and open to families who live in Florida.

Parents and legal guardians.

Teens ages 14 to 17, with permission from their parent or guardian and their own agreement.

Young adults ages 18 and 19, with their own consent.

We do not accept anyone under 14.

HOW IT WORKS

What are the steps?

The parent or guardian accepts the Terms of Service and the Privacy Policy. The questionnaire does not open until they are accepted.

Parents complete their questionnaire, and then the teen completes theirs.

Using those answers, Suna prepares the family's Connection Manual. The Koru team reviews it before emailing it to the parents.

Each person starts talking with their assistant: Flow for parents and Kai for the teen.

Who is Suna?

Suna is an artificial intelligence agent, but it does not talk with the family. Its job is to analyze the questionnaires completed by the parents and the teen. With those answers, it prepares the Connection Manual and the "60-second pill," a short summary that gives Kai the context it needs to support the teen from the first conversation. The Koru team reviews what Suna prepares before it is used.

What is the Connection Manual?

It is a document for the family, prepared by Suna from the questionnaires, with guidance to help parents and teens understand each other and communicate better. It is not a psychological evaluation or a diagnosis. The Koru team reviews it before emailing it to the parents.

What are Flow and Kai?

They are artificial intelligence assistants, not people. They say so clearly from the start. They are designed to support wellbeing and family communication, but their responses may contain errors and they cannot assess anyone's health.

What are Neuro and Alma?

They are Koru agents that Flow and Kai consult to offer you something useful: Neuro brings ideas from developmental science, and Alma offers short reflection and wellbeing exercises. They always reach you through Flow or Kai, in the same conversation. They are not therapy and do not replace help from a professional.

Why do you ask for date, time, and place of birth?

Suna uses them to prepare the family profile. We only ask for this information from people who participate in Koru.

Do Flow and Kai talk to each other?

They may share general guidance about what could help the family, such as what kind of support fits best at that moment. They never share the content, the words, or the details of what each person wrote.

Do you recommend content?

Yes. Flow may suggest podcasts and videos to parents from a library selected by the Koru team, based on the topic they are working on. We are preparing a separate library for teens.

What languages does Koru work in?

Spanish and English. The Terms of Service are available in both languages; if they differ, the English version governs for legal purposes.

PRIVACY

Can I read what my son or daughter writes to Kai?

No. What the teen writes is private. Parents only receive the Connection Manual and, if the Koru team considers it necessary, an alert. They don't receive the text of the conversations. If there is a risk situation, only the minimum information needed to protect the teen is shared, never the full conversation. Beyond that, content is only shared if the law requires a report to the authorities, by court order, or if the teen authorizes it.

Can my son or daughter read what I talk about with Flow?

No. Parents' conversations with Flow are also private.

Does anyone else read the conversations?

An automated system reviews conversations to detect warning signs. A person on the Koru team reviews each alert before deciding what to do. The team does not read every conversation in real time.

Do you sell my data or use it to train artificial intelligence?

No. We do not sell data, we do not use it for advertising, we do not share minors' data for commercial purposes, and we do not use conversations to train artificial intelligence models.

Do you ask about immigration status?

No. Koru does not ask about or record anyone's immigration status.

How long do you keep data?

Conversations: encrypted, for up to 12 months.

Account data: while the account is active; deleted within 30 days after cancellation.

Records of crisis situations and reports to authorities: 3 years, for legal reasons, even if the account is closed.

How do I request to see, correct, or delete my data?

Write to privacy@koruroots.com. We will confirm your identity and respond within 30 days. The parent or guardian decides about the data of their son or daughter under 18; from age 18, the young adult decides. Records the law requires us to keep are retained until their term ends.

Do you use cookies or analytics?

We do not use advertising cookies or analytics tools.

SAFETY

What happens if my son or daughter is at risk?

If the system detects a warning sign, a person on the team reviews the alert. The team decides, case by case, whether to contact you as the parent or guardian. If we do, we tell you the type of alert and the support resources. We do not share the text of the conversation: only, if necessary to protect your son or daughter, the minimum essential information about the risk (for example, that they mentioned having access to medication). If we cannot reach you, we contact your second emergency contact. If there is immediate danger, we may call 911 without prior notice.

Are there cases where Koru does not notify parents?

Yes. Florida law requires reporting suspected abuse, abandonment, or neglect of a minor. If there are signs that the risk comes from the parent or guardian, or if notifying them would put the minor in danger, we report to the authorities without notifying them, and contact with the parents depends on what the authorities indicate.

Why do you ask for a verification word and a second emergency contact?

The verification word lets us confirm we are speaking with you during an urgent call: we do not share information about the teen with anyone who does not know it. The second contact is a trusted adult we call if we cannot reach you during a risk situation.

Can Koru call me with an artificial intelligence voice?

Yes, only for notices about your son's or daughter's wellbeing or safety, and the call always identifies itself as automated at the start. A person on the team joins or follows up immediately. These calls are recorded and transcribed, and this is announced at the start. You can withdraw your authorization at any time; in that case, a person on the team will contact you.

Is Koru an emergency service?

No. In an emergency, call 911. For an emotional crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline); for Spanish, press option 2 or text AYUDA to 988.

FOR TEENS

Will my parents read what I write to Kai?

No. Your conversations are private. Your parents only receive the Connection Manual and, if the Koru team considers it necessary, an alert. They don't see what you wrote.

When can that privacy be broken?

Only if you or someone else is at risk, if the law requires a report, by a judge's order, or if you authorize it. Even then, we don't show your parents what you wrote: only the type of alert and, if needed to protect you, the minimum essential information about the risk.

Is Kai a person?

No. Kai is artificial intelligence and tells you so from the start. It can make mistakes. If you are going through something very hard, talk to a trusted adult or call or text 988.

What happens when I turn 18?

From age 18, you decide whether to stay in Koru and whether your parents are notified in a risk situation.

Have another question? Write to us. You can find all our email addresses on the Contact page.