AURA, a life-saving technology platform making emergency response services more accessible and affordable, has secured €13.5 million (R273 million) in a Series B funding round co-led by the Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund (CAIF) and Partech. This latest investment brings AURA’s total funding to €21 million (R423 million), fueling its expansion into the United States and the development of a global emergency dispatch “clearing house”—eliminating borders in crisis response.
Founded in 2017 by Warren Myers, Ryan Green, and Adam Pantanowitz in South Africa, AURA has revolutionized emergency response through its smart auto-dispatch and routing platform. The technology connects individuals in distress with the nearest vetted private security and medical responders, ensuring rapid assistance anywhere, anytime.
Transforming Security Response in the US
AURA’s US expansion aims to disrupt the security industry by offering fast, reliable, and cost-effective on-demand emergency response. By leveraging AI-driven technology, AURA aggregates existing security fleets, improving response times, operational efficiency, and transparency. This innovation addresses the growing reliance on private security amid strained public emergency services.
Founder’s Vision: A Borderless Safety Network
“This funding marks a pivotal moment for AURA,” says Warren Myers, Founder and CEO of AURA. “Having built a profitable and trusted presence in the UK and Africa, we’re now ready to take personal safety global. Our mission is to make access to life-saving services seamless, borderless, and available through a single API—empowering individuals and the platforms that serve them.”
He adds, “We have also kicked off our on-demand private security response model in the United States. Our goals are to make alarm verification faster, homes and businesses safer, and to help law enforcement focus on higher-priority incidents.”
Investor Confidence in AURA’s Global Mission
Patricia Rinke, Investment Director at CAIF, stated: “Having been involved in AURA’s remarkable story for the past two years, strengthening our partnership via this follow-on investment came as a natural decision. We trust the team’s powerful vision and extraordinary execution capabilities as it scales globally.”
Matthieu Marchand, Principal at Partech, added: “AURA has been one of the most innovative players globally in emergency response. We are excited to see such innovation built in South Africa and now winning across the world. It’s only the beginning.”
Impact on Global Safety & UN SDGs
AURA’s mission aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 (Safer Communities) and SDG 3 (Improved Health Outcomes). Since 2017, AURA has:
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Saved over 7,500 lives
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Provided 1.2 million people with personal safety access
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Secured 200,000 properties via fixed-location services
