Prontopia is an online service that provides friendly, in-person help from pre-vetted local assistants in city centers in Italy, Spain and the U.S.
You can currently book a Prontopia local assistant online for help in Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples, Barcelona and Santa Barbara, California, with more cities coming soon!
About the company: Prontopia is a public benefit corporation focused on fostering human connection and empathy around the globe to drive Sustainable Development Goals of providing decent work and economic growth, creating sustainable cities and communities, and encouraging responsible consumption and production.
CEO and Founder Shannon Kenny launched Prontopia in April of 2017. Shannon had divided her time between Santa Barbara, California ,and Italy throughout her career as a social entrepreneur since 1997 as founder of the Italy family travel website Italiakids.com, the Arte al Sole Italy educational travel programs, and Elaia Travel, a boutique trip planning concierge. Shannon frequently had the need for a service like Prontopia as a mom traveling alone with 2 young children, and also saw the need among her friends, her aging parents, and clients in city centers around the world. She felt that connecting people in the city for just a little bit of help on demand would make life easier for us all, and help build community in the city in meaningful ways.
Shannon Kenny is a historian and social entrepreneur with a background in Travel; Education; and Communications with over 20 years experience leading international, cross-cultural ventures to success. Shannon’s research on medieval and Renaissance Europe chronicled the rise of the city state, based on a fascination with urban humanistic views on living together in harmony. Shannon loves the freedom and invigoration of walking in the city wherever she goes. She dreams of reinventing ancient ideas of civitas through Prontopia as a location-based mobile solution for life in walkable cities that creates positive global-local impacts through meaningful human connections.
Vijay Jadhwani has over two decades of global business experience, working with diverse cultures, across Europe, USA and Asia-Pacific, leading strategic engagements; Consulting and Program Management for start-up organizations; managing multi-million dollar IT sales and delivery; leading strategic IT initiatives involving ERP implementation and BPO activities; & leading non-profit organizations in serving the needs of local communities. With the passion of contributing towards making this world a place where each and every person works toward Peace, building bridges, connecting humans with love, compassion, humility, the philosophy of ONE family is what drives Vijay.
Ilaria Nardone is an experienced digital marketer with a master’s degree in political communication and many years of working and living experience abroad. Born and raised in Venice, Ilaria spent the last 5 years working in Asia in the digital and social marketing industry related to hospitality; she decided to come back to live in her beautiful city because she could not live without her lagoon. Her passion for social issues brought her to take part and develop associations for gender equality, grassroots empowerment and sustainable environment everywhere she lived in, finding innovative solutions to enhance them with digital communication. Ilaria loves adventurous travel, finding solutions for sustainable ways to live and experience Venice and everything about the digital world.
Prontopia - Give to Get!
