Startup Puts A Private Investigator At Your Fingertips

Trustify has grown by leaps and bounds since its launch as FlimFlam in early 2015. The company has signed on about 6,000 private investigators, completed more than 10,000 cases and will soon be moving into a new 10,000-square-foot office in Crystal City.

The new digs — designed by D.C.-based Wingate Hughes Architects PLLC, the same firm that designed the offices of 1776 — are a testament to the growth of what the company says is the only national on-demand network of private investigators. And since landing more than $1 million in venture funding in March 2015(Crunchbase pegs total funding at $2 million) the company has changed its name, grown to 22 full-time employees and expanded its services to all 50 states.

So what is Trustify, exactly?

It’s an app that allows the user to anonymously hire a private detective and pay by the hour — $99 split between Trustify and the private investigator — without the frustration of combing through online listings or paying a retainer for services. In exchange, private investigators document their hours, charge for what is used and provide evidence for court when needed.

But its not always standard divorce cases or background checks, according to Trustify co-founder Jen Mellon. She recounted a woman diagnosed with cancer who simply wanted to find her childhood best friend, and used Trustify to do so. Or another customer who had a big crush on her Uber driver, so she used Trustify to find out everything she could about him before she asked him out. All told, 80 percent of the service’s users had never hired a private investigator before using Trustify, she said.

Who’s behind it?

Trustify is the work of two serial entrepreneurs. Co-founder Danny Boice has taught at Georgetown University, written for Forbes and perhaps most notably was the founder of conference call company Speek, which was acquired by Jive Communications in 2014.

Mellon is the former chief development officer and interim executive director for the Joint Council on International Children’s Services. She also founded several startups, including Aqua Pure Technologies, which made high-quality bottleless water coolers and purifiers and was purchased by OneSource Water in 2014, as well as children’s clothing wholesaler Oh My Darling Hand Smocked Designs.

What’s next?

A second version of the app will be launching soon, and will give people the ability to chat directly with their investigator, allowing for quick and easy communication, Mellon said. She also said the company plans on hiring around 11 additional sales employees to further the company’s expansion. She declined to say if and when Trustify might seek another found of financing.

What’s the challenge?

The challenge so far has been uniting a fragmented market and vetting private investigators (only about 10 percent of those who apply get into Trustify). But now Mellon says the company plans a radio and television advertising campaign to get the Trustify brand out there and to attract new users.

Source: Washington Business Journal, Andy Medici
Photo: Trustify co-founder Jen Mellon said the company is planning a media push to get its name out there.