Announcing Prepared’s $16 million Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz

Prepared is proud to announce that we've raised a $16M Series A round led by new investor Andreessen Horowitz. Returning investors Gradient Ventures, Google's AI-focused venture fund, and M13 also participated in the oversubscribed round.

"We’ve already used software to optimize countless tasks across countless industries, and it’s imperative that first-class software also be built to support one of the most important pieces of our public safety infrastructure. In emergency moments, seconds matter, and the right data and context can be a critical determinant in the outcome of the call. That’s why we are so proud to invest in Prepared," says David Ulevitch, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz and leader of the firm’s American Dynamism practice.

The round, following a Pre-Seed raise in late 2020 and a $9.8M Seed raise in 2022, brings our total funding to over $30M. We plan to use the capital to expand our team, specifically in specifically in engineering, marketing, sales, and product.

While our core offering, Prepared Live, which enables 9-1-1 centers to receive livestream, photo, and text directly from 9-1-1 callers, remains completely free, we've leveraged our seed funding to build additional paid features and products, including Prepared OnScene, which extends data directly to responders in the field, and Prepared Live Enhanced, which automatically translates texts in over 140 languages. These advancements have helped us expand our reach to 48 states and over 75 million people protected by partner agencies.

"Software has advanced tremendously, transforming nearly every part of our lives. Yet, for our nation's first responders, their tools have remained largely unchanged for decades. These exceptional public servants sacrifice everything to protect us but are constrained by antiquated technology. At Prepared, we envision a future where responders finally have access to solutions that are as relentless as their service. Making that vision a reality is our purpose,” says CEO Michael Chime.

Here's what a few of our supporters had to say about the round and our growth...

“911 is vital to public safety because it connects our communities with the first, first responders: 911 professionals. For too long, aspects of 911 technology have been lacking and community members have felt the consequences. As a leader in 911 and a member of Prepared’s Customer Advisory Board, I have witnessed firsthand the tremendous partner Prepared has become to 911. Prepared impacts our industry by creating change where it is needed, driving innovation regularly, and spurring important conversations often. They have elevated the service 911 offers to our communities, including my own, and I am excited to see them continue to grow,” says Jessica Loos, 911 Communications Manager, Lincoln Police Department

“I am proud to work as an advisor to Prepared, a company committed to innovation and bridging the information gap between first responders and the public they serve. With this investment, Prepared can extend its important work using technology, when it’s most critical to empower public safety  and communities to obtain the life-saving help they need,” says Marcia K. Thompson, attorney and member of the Board of Directors for the Social Progress Imperative

"This investment is excellent news for police chiefs, fire chiefs, and other public safety leaders across America. Prepared's services are indispensable tools for situational awareness, officer safety, better engaging communities, and saving lives. With a16z's support, Prepared is destined to remain the leading provider of multimedia to 911 and first responders,” says George Turner, 23rd Chief of Police of the Atlanta Police Department

“Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to be a part of SaaS companies that lead waves of change within their industries. With this a16z-led investment round, now more than ever Prepared is poised to make a meaningful and lasting impact in public safety, helping our brave first responders save lives across the country,” says Mitch Tarica, former Head of North America Sales at Zoom and current GTM Advisor to Prepared

About Prepared

Prepared is a leading provider of mission-critical multimedia and text to public safety agencies. The company’s flagship product, Prepared Live, enables emergency professionals to access real-time data from the scene, driving more efficient, effective, and safe responses. Since its founding in 2019, the company has grown its reach to partner with hundreds of agencies in 48 states that protect over 75 million people. In the process, it has raised over $30 million in venture funding from leading investors, including Andreessen Horowitz (a.k.a. a16z), Gradient Ventures (Google’s AI-focused venture arm), and First Round Capital.

We are hiring for multiple positions. If you are interested in joining our team, please email your role, LinkedIn, and resume to talent@prepared911.com.

For more information, visit our website or follow us on on Twitter/X @Prepared_HQ

Media and Press Contact: joshk@prepared911.com