More frequent climate-driven disasters, wildfires, active-shooter incidents and other emergencies are pushing investors to explore new technologies and models for faster and smarter emergency response. They’re funneling capital into companies like New York–based RapidSOS, which uses AI to tap real-time data from smart buildings, connected devices and public-safety systems to detect, respond to and resolve emergencies more efficiently.
“RapidSOS’s data infrastructure underpins much of modern safety, security and disaster response,” said Patrick Kane of Apax Digital Funds, which led RapidSOS’ latest $100 million financing round. First responders in about a dozen countries, including the US, Canada, Brazil, France, the UK and South Africa, have used RapidSOS to answer more than a billion emergencies.
Emergency infrastructure
RapidSOS will use the fresh injection of capital to expand its international footprint with governments and tech companies. “We’re accelerating R&D efforts into our AI with the aim to prevent one million emergencies by 2030,” said RapidSOS’ Michael Martin.
The latest infusion brings RapidSOS’s total raised to over $450 million, driving the company’s valuation above $1 billion.
Among RapidSOS’ investors is Alumni Ventures, Citi Impact Fund, the Laerdal Million Lives Fund and Energy Impact Partners (see, “Energy Impact Partners invests $25 million in RapidSOS for emergency response”).
