Fox Exec to Launch App for Harassment Reporting

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Fox Exec to Launch App for Harassment Reporting
Claire Schmidt

The current storm of sexual harassment charges in the entertainment industry, politics and elsewhere has spurred a studio executive to set plans for an app that enables employees to anonymously report incidents directly to their company’s chief executives and boards.

Claire Schmidt, vice president of technology and innovation at 20th Century Fox, last week said she would leave her position to become chief executive of Santa Monica-based AllVoices, which is expected to reach the market in the next few weeks.

Schmidt said the company is in the process of closing a $2 million funding round led by Zillow Group Chief Executive Spencer Rascoff, Tinder co-founder and Chairman Sean Rad, and Silicon Valley-based law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, which recently opened offices in downtown Los Angeles.

Rad was demoted from his position as Tinder chief executive in 2015 following a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by Tinder co-founder Whitney Wolfe. The case was settled with no admission of wrongdoing.

Schmidt would not comment on accusations against Rad, and focused instead on his tech background.

“Sean has been an adviser and investor, and really instrumental in helping us think through a program that is easy to use and can reach millions of people,” she said.

Schmidt said the program will encourage bystanders and witnesses to report instances of harassment they observe firsthand. She said AllVoices will aim to develop revenue by providing companies with data rather than solutions.

“Our main objective is to give them the data, give them that transparency to solve a problem that they don’t fully understand,” she said.

– Diane Haithman

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