AURA Raises R273M to Expand Emergency Response Tech to US

Emergency response platform AURA has secured R273 million (€13.5 million) in a Series B funding round co-led by investment firms the Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund (CAIF) and Partech. This new funding brings AURA’s total funding to €21 million and is set to bolster the company’s expansion into the United States (US), as well as support the development of a global emergency dispatch system — removing borders in crisis response.

AURA’s expansion into the US is set to transform the security response industry by providing fast, reliable and cost-effective on-demand security response solutions. AURA leverages technology to aggregate existing security fleets and enable rapid response times, better operational efficiency and transparency, while addressing the demand for private security.

“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.”

“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.”

AURA’s US expansion plans align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to health and safety. By improving access to emergency services, the company contributes to building safer communities (SDG 11) and enhancing health outcomes (SDG 3).

The company has also partnered with Samsung to launch Samsung SOS+, a personal emergency service that allows users to dial a dedicated SOS+ number in an emergency, share their live location with AURA’s secure system, and receive immediate dispatch of assistance. A call-back from the SOS+ control centre confirms that help is en route.

“I'm incredibly grateful to our partners and customers for their ongoing trust — and most importantly, to my exceptional team. Their dedication to our vision of a world where everyone feels safe is the true driving force behind everything we do,” concludes Myers.