At sTARTUp Day 2026, Max Simmonds delivered a talk that resonated deeply with parents, technologists, and privacy advocates alike. His presentation on the hidden dangers of connected baby monitors earned him the top spot in the Speaker Contest, bringing critical attention to an issue that affects millions of families worldwide.
The Scale of the Problem
The numbers are staggering. A single connected baby monitor generates enough data in one year to form a stack of printed paper reaching halfway to the International Space Station. By the time a child turns 13, approximately 72 million data points have been collected about them.
"This data is being sold to marketers and insurance companies, or passed to third-party brokers without proper safeguards. We're creating detailed profiles of children before they can even walk."
From Satellites to Baby Monitors
Max's journey to founding Purple Parrot is unconventional. After growing up near Oxford with a passion for engineering, he studied electrical and electronic engineering at the University of Plymouth. His career took him to some of the most prestigious institutions in aerospace:
- CERN - Working on particle physics experiments
- European Space Agency - Contributing to space missions
- Open Cosmos - Building satellites
- Lloyds Banking Group - Applying engineering to fintech
When Max and his Estonian wife had their first daughter, they began researching baby monitors. What they discovered shocked them: the very devices meant to protect their child were harvesting intimate family moments and monetizing them.
The Purple Parrot Solution
Purple Parrot represents a fundamentally different approach. The system is a hybrid that combines the privacy of traditional monitors with the intelligent features of smart devices, but with one crucial difference: data never leaves your home.
The technology uses Edge AI, meaning all video processing occurs locally on the device hardware rather than in the cloud. This approach ensures inherent GDPR compliance while still delivering the smart features parents have come to expect.
"We shouldn't have to choose between privacy and safety. Purple Parrot proves you can have both."
Overcoming Challenges
Building Purple Parrot hasn't been without obstacles. The team has had to redesign AI algorithms for low-power hardware while maintaining accuracy. Sourcing European-made components has proven difficult given that chip manufacturing is dominated by China. Perhaps most importantly, they've developed their technology without using children's personal data for training.
Looking Forward
The vision extends beyond baby monitors. Purple Parrot is seeking medical approval for deployment in NICUs (neonatal intensive care units), where the technology could help monitor premature babies. The team is also exploring applications in elderly care monitoring systems.
For Max, it all comes back to purpose-driven work that creates meaningful impact for families. "We're building technology that protects the most vulnerable members of our society. That's worth fighting for."
Read the full interview on sTARTUp Day:
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