We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Camille Hall a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Camille, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?

When I tell the story of Unshackle AI, it doesn’t begin with an outsider’s perspective of abuse—it begins with personal crisis. I lived through something I wouldn’t wish on anyone. It wasn’t just one act of harm; it was a pattern that invaded every part of my life. My experience was a systematic campaign of control that included stalking, digital harassment, financial abuse, psychological warfare and the gut-wrenching realization that an abuser can exploit and weaponize the legal and civil systems against you. These kinds of invasive acts were not random, they were methodical, escalating calculations designed to strip away my power, autonomy and everything I had known piece by piece.

In the midst of that, I discovered that the system designed to help was fundamentally broken. The system moves at a bureaucratic speed while danger moves at the speed of obsession. People with “not enough” evidence are simply turned away before they can even get help. If help does come at all, it arrives with a price tag: weeks on a waiting list or a heavy retainer for a legal team you hope is the right fit. If you don’t fall into any of those categories then you’re expected to become your own legal expert overnight all in the while your life is falling apart. That was my experience and at that time I felt an overwhelming sense of hopelessness until one day a switch overcame me and I knew there had to be a better way.

The idea for Unshackle AI was born from a place of transmutation from turning pain into purpose. Unshackle exists because safety shouldn’t be optional. Because waiting days, weeks, or months for answers isn’t good enough when the danger is happening right now. We live in a world where technology can predict what we’ll shop for next but it can’t effectively protect someone in their most vulnerable state. That’s when the question shifted from “Why isn’t anyone helping me?” to “What would it take to build a system that’s there for you 24/7, especially when life is really life-ing?”

I envisioned a platform that didn’t just react—it anticipated. Something that combined advanced AI, psychological insights, and trauma-informed design to deliver support when and where it mattered most. No one else was building this. That’s the blind spot I knew I had to illuminate. While other tools may store evidence, none offer predictive threat assessment or comprehensive behavioral profiling. We are building the only platform with predictive escalation assessment for all users. The most exciting part is not just the immediate relief we provide, but the potential for systemic change. The data we collect will redefine how we understand, prevent, and prosecute abuse. Our insights will shape law, policy, and safety protocols worldwide. We are building the tool I desperately wished existed, and now, we’re sharing it with the world to empower others and help them stay ahead of danger.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a woman who turned life’s hardest lessons into my greatest victories. Some know me as a Software Engineer, others recognize me from the stages where I’ve had the honor of speaking, and those who know me best see me as a philosopher who thrives on transforming challenges into triumphs. For years, I worked with startups such as government-trusted Senseye, Inc and renowned unicorn startup, CHIEF, for executive women. I learned the fundamentals of operating tech-forward companies, managing teams, and prioritizing user experiences. I loved this work, but deep down, I always felt a pull towards helping humanity on another level. My journey to entrepreneurship unfolded in an unexpected way when I survived a domestic violence situation that cost me everything: my six-figure engineer job, my house, and the stability I’d worked years to build for my children. It was then I realized that abuse isn’t a single event; it’s a creeping force disguised as love, as protection, and as concern. It’s a version of you that slowly disappears.
Let’s face it, abuse isn’t sexy. A raised voice here. A boundary pushed there. You make excuses. You keep quiet. You try to fix it. Until one day, you wake up and realize: this is not love. This is not safe. And most people cringe at having to talk about it. But Unshackle is disrupting what abuse support looks like. We’re a mission-driven technology company building AI-powered tools for personal safety and behavioral threat detection. We provide a proactive, digital-first platform for individuals navigating harm in silence—especially those facing coercion, manipulation, or stalking. Our users often arrive with nothing but a gut feeling that something’s wrong. They are denied help or dismissed by the very systems meant to protect them. We address this critical gap. Our system allows users to report incidents in their own words or via photos. We use machine learning and generative AI to analyze behavioral patterns, flag concerning power dynamics, and even recognize “hidden signals” like gaslighting, digital tracking, and isolation. We deliver real-time behavioral analysis, incident tracking, timeline generation, and legal guidance in a trauma-informed way, providing our users with a roadmap to safety and the clarity to act earlier—before escalation arises.
What sets us apart is our relentless commitment to building a system that listens before it’s too late. We are building the world’s largest threat intelligence database, powered by real user reports, machine learning, and a trauma-aware knowledge base. We are disrupting what abuse support looks like, offering actionable, digital-first solutions that can complement existing services like Employee Assistance Programs and be integrated into public safety and outreach programs. I work unceasingly so no other person feels what I did—unseen, discarded, and fighting alone. That’s what I’m most proud of. This is not just a business; it’s a mission to ensure no one has to go through what I did. I want our supporters and new followers to know that Unshackle is a discreet and reliable companion that empowers you to take control of your circumstances without fear of exposure. We are here for those whose voices went unheard.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My resilience is the foundation of Unshackle AI. I started this company while displaced, homeless, and left for dead. The losses were profound—my beautiful sprawling Texan house and my six-figure engineering job were gone, direct aftereffects of abuse. The core of my journey is not just surviving, but converting chaos into my greatest strength.
I embodied the values I saw at CHIEF, a powerhouse collective of women rewriting what leadership looks like. I took my lived experience of surviving an escalating, methodical form of harm and used it as a blueprint. While others may build from a place of mild discomfort, my company was forged from rock bottom. In the beginning I coded thousands of lines from a car, a park, questionable motels, and mice-infested shelters. This isn’t a disadvantage, it’s my superpower.
My resilience is evident in my unceasing work. I have walked through the fire and endured insurmountable pressure, and now, my worth is measured by the change I am building. I show up every day at every street campaign, founder dinner, speaker panel, and tech conferences like SXSW. I show up for those who didn’t make it out the fire.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Our social media growth wasn’t a stroke of luck; it was a direct result of being on the ground, sharing our mission unapologetically. We drove social media views by doing the work—by speaking on AI panels, co-sponsoring HackAI hosted at University of Texas at Dallas campus, and showing up at street campaigns and founder dinners. We proved that when you are a voice for the voiceless and your mission is a matter of life and death, people will find you. The views were simply the digital footprints of a real, grassroots movement.

A big part of that growth came from raw stories and insights we shared on platforms like YouTube Shorts and TikTok. Real conversations. Real struggles. This is what resonated the most because they weren’t polished. They were honest. And people connect with that.

My advice for anyone just starting to build their presence is this:

1) Don’t chase the algorithm; chase your mission. Focus on building a presence in the real world first. Go to conferences, speak on stages, and meet people where they are. Your social media will become an extension of your real-world impact, not a substitute for it.

2) Be a creator, not a mimic. We are building what we never had. We are not copying what’s already out there. That ethos carries over into social media. Tell your story, even if it’s raw and unfiltered. Your unique voice is your greatest asset.

3) Consistency beats virality. Going viral is luck; showing up consistently is strategy. Every post, every video, every conversation is a brick in the foundation. We didn’t blow up overnight—we earned attention by stacking small wins.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://unshackleai.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/camillehall.js/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unshackleai/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ach206/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnshackleAI
• Other: https://creativeambition.net/founder
  https://www.producthunt.com/products/unshackleai
  https://www.linkedin.com/company/unshackle

Image Credits

1. Stella Ahyeon Cho
2. Lucero Studio