Prepared Raises $27M to Revolutionize Emergency 911 Calls
Prepared Raises $27 Million in Series B Funding to Transform Emergency Services
Prepared, a startup aiming to revolutionize the way 911 emergency calls are handled, has raised $27 million in a Series B funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz. The company’s primary goal is to modernize emergency response systems by integrating cutting-edge technologies like real-time GPS tracking, video calls, and multimedia exchange to improve the efficiency of emergency response. Co-founded by Michael Chime, Dylan Gleicher, and Neal Soni, the startup plans to use the fresh capital for product R&D and scaling operations.
Bridging the Gap: Prepared’s Technology to Aid Dispatchers with Real-time Location and Multimedia
Prepared allows 911 dispatchers to access the real-time GPS location of a caller, provided the caller’s phone supports it. This advancement, according to CEO Michael Chime, could significantly reduce response times by offering dispatchers crucial contextual information that would otherwise be unavailable. Dispatchers can also receive and respond to texts, images, and even video calls, thanks to Apple’s Emergency SOS Live Video feature for iPhones.
Chime remarked, “If we can save even a few seconds on a given 911 call, we want to do that,” emphasizing how the technology seeks to ease the burden of emergency dispatchers and accelerate response times.
NG911: A Push Toward Nationwide Modernization
Despite efforts to modernize emergency services through the Next Generation 911 (NG911) initiative, which aims to make emergency response systems internet-based and capable of receiving multimedia, the transition has been slow. Currently, only about 56.2% of U.S. emergency call centers have adopted NG911, leaving many agencies dependent on outdated landline systems that struggle to track callers and process texts or photos.
Prepared’s platform aims to help bridge this gap by providing real-time solutions that allow for multimedia sharing and AI-powered support, even in areas that have yet to fully adopt NG911.
Prepared’s Origins and Pivot from School Safety to 911 Centers
Prepared was initially created in 2019 with a focus on school safety. Co-founders Chime, Gleicher, and Soni, who all grew up near the sites of infamous school shootings, including Sandy Hook Elementary, left Yale University to build a public safety app aimed at school administrators. However, after recognizing a larger need, the team pivoted to helping 911 call centers with their technology.
Today, Prepared offers a web-based platform that gives dispatchers a live transcript of calls. It uses AI to extract critical information, such as addresses and emergency descriptions, and even translates texts for dispatchers, improving overall efficiency. This pivot has allowed Prepared to expand its user base to nearly 1,000 public safety agencies across 49 states.
AI-Powered Translation and Summarization: A Potential Game-Changer with Risks
Prepared recently launched a tool that allows dispatchers to communicate with Spanish speakers using AI-generated voices, reducing the need to rely on third-party translators, which can delay response times by several minutes. This feature has been particularly requested by agencies in larger cities with growing non-English speaking populations.
However, Chime acknowledges the risks of using AI in emergency situations. AI systems can make errors, particularly in transcribing speech from certain accents or dialects. A recent study found that speech recognition systems are twice as likely to misinterpret audio from Black speakers compared to White speakers. These challenges highlight the need for careful implementation and ongoing testing of AI features to ensure accuracy and fairness.
Despite these concerns, Chime remains confident in the platform’s potential to improve public safety, noting, “Prepared’s summarizer allows dispatchers to read short AI-generated summaries of incidents rather than listening to minutes of call audio or reading lengthy notes.”
Prepared’s Expansion Plans: Hiring and Product Development
With nearly 1,000 public safety agencies onboard and plans to add more, Prepared is focusing on product research and development as well as expanding its workforce. The company plans to add 20 staff members to its current 50-person team based in New York by the end of the year.
Chime sees significant potential for growth in the emergency services market, adding that Prepared is just scratching the surface of what’s possible. “We’re moving toward a world where Prepared connects and optimizes the end-to-end workflow from the second a call comes in to when a field responder is on the scene,” he said.
Funding Led by Andreessen Horowitz and Backed by Prominent Investors
In addition to Andreessen Horowitz, other investors in the Series B round include First Round Capital, M13, and several undisclosed angel investors. This funding round brings Prepared’s total capital raised to $57 million, which the company will use to continue developing its platform and increase market reach.
Conclusion: The Future of Emergency Response with Prepared
With its innovative platform, Prepared aims to revolutionize emergency services by leveraging AI, real-time GPS, and multimedia capabilities. By reducing response times, improving communication with non-English speakers, and aiding dispatchers with AI-driven summaries, Prepared is poised to make a substantial impact on how emergency calls are handled across the U.S.
Social Media Reactions
- John Okoye (Twitter – Nigeria): “Revolutionizing 911 calls with real-time data? This is the future of public safety. Can’t wait to see if we adopt this in Nigeria. #EmergencyTech #Prepared”
- Emma Sullivan (Facebook – USA): “This is a game-changer for 911 services. So much faster and more efficient, especially for non-English speakers. #PublicSafety #AI”
- Carlos Hernandez (Instagram): “Wow, AI translating emergency calls in real time! This is going to save lives. #Prepared #EmergencyResponse”
- Suleiman Mohammed (LinkedIn – Nigeria): “Imagine having this level of tech integration for our emergency services in Africa. This is exactly what we need! #911Tech #Nigeria”
- Amanda Taylor (Twitter – UK): “Real-time GPS and video calls for emergency response could be revolutionary. Hopefully, Europe catches up soon. #Prepared911”
- Javier Ruiz (Facebook – Mexico): “Prepared could make a huge difference for people like my family who speak Spanish and struggle with 911 calls. #PublicSafety #AITranslation”
- Lucy Chen (WeChat – China): “Prepared is an innovative platform that could reshape how emergency response works globally. It’s fascinating. #AIInEmergency”
- Sam Ojo (WhatsApp – Nigeria): “Nigeria’s emergency services could really benefit from tech like this. Prepared is setting a new standard. #911Revolution”
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