Who is Alpaca and where does it locate?

Hello,

I am looking for a brokerage firm that provide stock trading API. I do google search and it leads me to this website. But I have never heard of this company “Alpaca”.

So is this a brokerage firm like Merrill Edge, or Charles Schwab, where I can do self directed stock trading, and also am able to trade using api?

I don’t do crypto trading. I only do stock trading.

Where is this company’s headquarters? Is it safe?

Many thanks

Frank.