About
Vesta is a web application designed to help survivors of abuse by providing a non-threatening and accessible space for reporting incidents and accessing support resources.
Challenge, approach, and impact
Government Grant Application and Technical Foundation Development
Vesta needed technical expertise to prepare an IRAP grant application aimed at ending gender-based violence by lowering reporting barriers through a web-based platform. Ollon helped prepare the successful grant application and became the de facto technology team, providing comprehensive technical support from conception through implementation for the abuse survivor support platform.
High-Security Data Platform for Sensitive Personal Information
Vesta required a secure platform to handle extremely sensitive abuse survivor data that would meet stringent security requirements for Ontario Provincial Police and Queen's University approval. Ollon designed comprehensive security processes including row-level encryption, non-PII identification keys, and multi-factor authentication systems that successfully passed external security audits and cyber insurance requirements.
Multi-Stakeholder Integration and Role-Based Access System
Vesta needed to integrate resources from rape crisis centers, police, survivors, and social workers into a centralized platform with appropriate access controls for each user type. Ollon developed two distinct web applications with role-based permissions, a common API, and database architecture that enabled secure data sharing while maintaining strict privacy controls and organizational separation.
User-Centered Design and Agile Development for Vulnerable Populations
Vesta required intuitive, non-threatening interfaces for abuse survivors while ensuring functionality for professional users across crisis centers and law enforcement agencies. Ollon used agile startup methodologies to build functional prototypes for user feedback, conducted comprehensive UX design including wireframes and user flows, and managed multi-phase development spanning 18 months with up to four team members.
How we built
Testimonials
Project Manager @ Ollon
Ollon
“Working with Vesta Social Innovation Technologies was both a privilege and an inspiring challenge for our development team. From the very beginning, Lucrezia Spagnolo’s passion for the mission, combined with her thoughtful leadership, set the tone for a truly impactful project. Her ability to clearly articulate the needs of survivors and stakeholders while trusting our technical expertise made the collaboration smooth, purposeful, and deeply rewarding. Together, we designed and built a secure, web-based platform that lowers barriers to reporting abuse, integrates crisis centers, police, and social workers, and strengthens offender tracking through streamlined processes. Given the sensitivity of the data, we implemented rigorous security measures and privacy protocols, successfully passing stringent audits from the Ontario Provincial Police and Queen’s University. Throughout the process, Lucrezia’s vision and unwavering commitment to the cause kept the entire team motivated and focused on delivering the highest quality solution possible. Seeing Vesta launch and be adopted by such high-profile organizations, all while maintaining the highest standards of data protection, has been an incredible milestone. Working alongside Lucrezia and the Vesta team was an honor, and we are proud to have contributed to a platform that is making a real difference in the fight against gender-based violence and harassment.“
Team structure
Client team
Lucrezia
CEO
Project stakeholder
The client stakeholders at Vesta Social Innovation Technologies Inc were working closely with the team at Ollon
Agency team
1 x CTO
Governance
3 x Sr Software Developer
Production
1 x Project Manager
Production
1 x UX Designer
Production
