South Africa‑founded proptech expands from Africa and the UK to North America, aims to create global “clearing house” for border‑free emergency dispatch
Fast facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding round | Series B |
| Total raised | €13.5 million / US $15.1 million |
| Co‑lead investors | Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund (CAIF) & Partech |
| Previous raise | US $4 million Series A (2021) |
| HQ | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| New market | United States (alarm‑verification & private security response) |
What AURA does – in simple terms
- Marketplace model – AURA connects public and private emergency providers (police, security companies, ambulances, fire services) on a single software layer.
- API‑first – Any third‑party platform—alarm company, ride‑hailing app, insurance firm, IoT device, or smartphone OEM—can plug into AURA via one API and trigger help in seconds.
- Smart dispatch – AURA’s algorithm automatically routes the closest vetted responder to the user’s live location, cutting average response times from 30 minutes to under 8 minutes in core markets.
- Data & verification – Real‑time GPS, incident metadata, and two‑way comms enable alarm verification, reduce false call‑outs, and free law‑enforcement resources for higher‑priority incidents.
Why the Series B matters
“This funding marks a pivotal moment for AURA,” notes CEO and co‑founder Warren Myers. “We have proven profitability and reliability in the UK and Africa. Now we’re ready to make personal safety borderless—from one API, anywhere on Earth.”
- US expansion – The fresh capital will seed AURA’s first US operations, starting with on‑demand private security response and alarm verification for smart‑home platforms, insurers, and central monitoring stations.
- Global clearing house – Part of the investment is earmarked for building a universal clearing‑house so that a distress signal raised in New York could, in future, receive help from a responder network in Dallas—or Lagos or London—without additional integrations.
- Team & tech – New hires in AI, data engineering, and regulatory affairs will refine AURA’s routing algorithms, strengthen compliance, and support 24/7 security‑operations centres on three continents.
Investors double‑down
Patricia Rinke, Investment Director at CAIF, explains:
“We have worked with AURA since Series A. Their ability to scale profitably, integrate seamlessly, and save lives convinced us to lead again. Partnering with Partech increases fire‑power for US rollout and future geographies.”
Partech Partner Tidjane Deme adds that AURA’s network‑effect model—where every new responder and every new platform improves coverage—creates “a defensible moat in a sector that is crying out for tech‑driven efficiency.”
Impact so far
| Metric (Dec 2024) | Result |
|---|---|
| Active responders on network | 4,500+ vehicles & ambulances |
| Countries live | 5 (SA, Kenya, Uganda, UK, Ireland) |
| Incidents handled | 1.2 million+ |
| Average response time (urban SA) | 6 minutes 40 seconds |
| False‑alarm reduction for partners | up to 55 % |
What’s next?
- Pilot launches in Texas, Florida, and Arizona—states with mature private‑security markets.
- Regulatory partnerships with 911 PSAPs to share verified data and reduce non‑emergency burdens.
- OEM & IoT integrations so panic buttons in cars, wearables, and smart devices summon AURA responders instantly.
- Further market entries in 2026: Germany, UAE, and Brazil are under consideration.
Why it matters for the wider ecosystem
- Consumers gain a single, affordable “safety‑as‑a‑service” layer, no matter their device or location.
- Security firms & EMS providers fill downtime, boost utilisation, and capture new revenue through AURA’s demand pipeline.
- Insurance companies cut claims costs thanks to faster incident resolution and fewer false alarms.
- Cities benefit from reduced load on over‑stretched public emergency lines.
Myers concludes: “Imagine a world where pressing one button routes the nearest qualified responder to you—instantly, anywhere. This raise brings that world closer.”
