Prepared Raises $27M to Transform 911 Services with AI

Prepared, a company dedicated to enhancing emergency response systems, recently raised $27 million in a Series B funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz. The funding will support the expansion of Prepared’s platform, which provides 911 dispatchers with advanced tools such as real-time GPS tracking, multimedia message capabilities, and even video calls through Apple’s Emergency SOS Live Video feature on iPhones.

“The goal of our technology is to reduce the burden of each individual call so that emergency response can move faster,” explained co-founder and CEO Michael Chime. “If we can save even a few seconds on a 911 call, we want to do that.”

Challenges in 911 Centers Across the U.S.

Despite the nationwide push for modernization through the Next Generation 911 (NG911) initiative, many of the U.S.’s 5,500 emergency call centers remain under-equipped. According to consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, only about 56.2% of these centers are capable of handling advanced features like accurate GPS tracking and multimedia message processing and still rely on landline phones.

Prepared’s Shift from School Safety to Broader Applications

Originally, Prepared focused on emergency responses related to school shootings. However, the company pivoted in 2019 to address broader 911 center needs. Now, their platform offers real-time call transcripts and AI-driven identification of critical details such as addresses and emergency descriptions, and can translate texts, significantly enhancing dispatchers’ ability to respond effectively.

Enhancing Accessibility with AI-Powered Translation

Prepared has introduced an AI-based tool that allows dispatchers to communicate with Spanish-speaking callers using AI-generated voice technology. This tool transcribes and translates a dispatcher’s speech, then reads the translation aloud over the phone, helping to eliminate delays typically caused by waiting for third-party translators.

“With a growing non-English speaking population, especially in larger cities, this has been a high-priority request from agencies,” Chime noted. This enables faster response times, improving outcomes in critical situations.

Balancing the Benefits and Risks of AI

While AI can enhance emergency response capabilities, it’s not without challenges. Studies have shown that AI transcription systems can sometimes be less accurate for certain demographics. For example, research indicates that leading speech recognition systems are twice as likely to misinterpret audio from Black speakers compared to white speakers. This highlights the importance of monitoring AI applications in critical services to ensure equity and accuracy.

Prepared’s AI features are optional, and core capabilities such as video, GPS location, and texting are available to 911 centers at no cost. “We believe that our translation feature will prove crucial in enhancing accessibility for Spanish speakers while simultaneously improving response times for Spanish-speaking calls,” Chime emphasized.

Future Plans and Vision

With contracts across nearly 1,000 public safety agencies in 49 states, Prepared is set to expand its team and product capabilities. The company plans to grow its New York-based workforce by 20 members by the end of the year, focusing on further developing its technology to optimize emergency response workflows.

“We’re just tapped the surface when it comes to the potential of unlocking critical citizen data,” Chime stated. “We’re moving toward a world where Prepared as a platform connects and optimizes the end-to-end workflow from the second a call comes in to when a field responder is on scene.”

Investment and Expansion

The Series B funding round, which also saw participation from First Round Capital, M13, and several angel investors, brings Prepared’s total funding to $57 million. This capital will be instrumental in driving the company’s growth and furthering its mission to modernize emergency response systems nationwide.