Social Kung Fu (SKF), the passion project of branding guru Matt Purcell that equips kids to defend themselves against verbal abuse, has announced a partnership with Wollongong-based boutique technology house Devika to develop the world's first closed AI-driven anti-bullying mobile app.
The collaboration represents a significant step for SKF which is in the process of securing seed funding to accelerate the development of this next-generation tool that is being developed for students, teachers, parents and the education system.
Purcell, who founded KYU Media and earlier this year launched The Business Academy with Boost Juice founder Janine Allis, established SKF in 2021 to give students communication skills and resilience to help defend themselves from online and verbal abuse.
The young entrepreneur understands from firsthand experience in his youth what it means to be bullied by his peers with physical and psychological violence. Running SKF's Defenders programs through virtual and in-person workshops, he aims to instil confidence for students to thrive.
But the scalability of such workshops is limited compared to what can be achieved through technology.
Purcell explains that by combining SKF’s expertise in adolescent mental health with Devika’s industry leading AI, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mobile application development capabilities, the partnership aims to deliver a personalised, gamified training experience designed to support users’ verbal resilience and emotional intelligence.
"Creating meaningful, lasting change in youth resilience requires more than just theoretical knowledge—it has to be dynamic, engaging, and rooted in real-world applicability," says Purcell, who was a finalist in the 2024 Sydney Young Entrepreneur Awards.
"By partnering with Devika, we are gaining a technological edge and, working together, we are creating an entirely new kind of anti-bullying training experience - one that’s both immersive and evidence-based."
SKF claims Devika’s expertise in developing innovative AI and immersive technologies, such as VR and AR, aligns perfectly its vision of using technology to drive impactful social change.
With a history of successful collaborations with industry giants like Intel, Westpac, and Coachella, Devika has demonstrated a proven ability to turn ambitious projects into high-quality digital products.
The AI-powered app will offer interactive, scenario-based exercises and personalised learning paths, making it an invaluable resource for both students and educators.
Designed to complement existing school programs, the app will help students build essential life skills, such as emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and positive self-expression.
By integrating real-world situations and practical solutions, the platform ensures that students are equipped to handle bullying, peer pressure, and other social challenges.
"We are excited to bring our technology and AI expertise to a project that has such immense potential to change the lives of young people,” says Devika managing director and founder Ken Kencevski.
The application of AI in mental health and well-being is an area we’re excited to explore further, and this collaboration with Matt and the SKF team strongly aligns with Devika's values to continue pushing boundaries to positively affect people and the planet."
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