Palana's Mission

Palana's mission is to enhance out-of-date campus safety transportation systems with modern technology. Palana aims to put students and parents at ease and increasing the quality of safety in universities across the nation by working closely with each institution to ensure that the saftey software they receive accurately reflects their community's needs.

The Story Behind Palana

Founders discussing Palana's mission

The first time Palana founder, Crystal Shen, used the University of Washington's Husky SafeTrip service, she realized how difficult it could be to navigate. After requesting a ride, Crystal waited outside for nearly two hours without clear guidance on where to stand, how long the wait might be, or who exactly she was waiting for. Eventually, Crystal decided to walk home, feeling more uncertain about getting home than when she had started.

Crystal's experience with Husky SafeTrip highlights how the current processes of many campus safety services across the nation can make students feel uncertain in moments when they need reassurance the most. Therefore, every feature that Palana ships is grounded in listening to the students who rely on it, the dispatchers who operate it, and universities who trust it to be a safe and reliable solution, so getting home at night feels thoughtful, intentional, and easier for everyone involved.

Safety for Students

Palana aims to provide students with a user-friendly and reliable way to get home safely. Features like real-time ride tracking, secure driver communication, and live pickup guidance eliminate the uncertainty that leaves students waiting alone in the dark.

Check out Palana's Student Features
  • Student selecting pickup and drop-off locations in the Palana app
  • Student ride confirmation screen in the Palana app
  • Driver view of an incoming ride request in the Palana app
  • Driver waiting at pickup location in the Palana app

Driver Perspective in the Palana App

Simplicity for Schools

Campus safety services work hard to protect students every night. Palana gives their drivers the tools to do that job better with a clear, intuitive app that handles ride requests, routing, and student communication, so drivers can focus on what matters most:
getting students home safe.

See how to set up Palana for your universityCheck out Palana's Driver Features

Convenience for Dispatchers

When a student schedules a ride, every second counts. Palana gives dispatchers a simple form to enter a student's details and instantly connect them to a driver, automatically keeping the student informed so dispatchers don't have to. Palana promises less back-and-forth, less time wasted, and an easier experience for everyone involved.

Check out Palana's Dispatcher Website