Summary:
Aurelian raised $14 million in Series A funding to use AI for 911 call centers, automating non-emergency responses.
Co-founders pivoted from a personal search startup after realizing they lacked passion, focusing instead on meaningful work with advanced tech.
Inspired by a salon owner's frustration, they developed a system that reduces wait times and handles over one million calls monthly.
The technology answers calls instantly, gathers information, and can resolve issues without human help, freeing up dispatchers for emergencies.
Investors like NEA and Y Combinator backed the pivot, highlighting it as one of the best AI use cases in recent years.
The Unlikely Journey to 911 Call Center AI
Aurelian, a Seattle-based software startup, has raised $14 million in a Series A round to revolutionize emergency response systems using AI and voice technology. Co-founders Max Keenan and James Liu embarked on a remarkable pivot from personal search tools to life-saving solutions, driven by a chance conversation with a frustrated salon owner.
From Needl to Aurelian: A Series of Pivots
After graduating from the University of Chicago, Keenan and Liu initially founded Needl in 2022, securing pre-seed funding and joining Y Combinator. Their goal was to create a personal search product for digital files, but they soon realized a lack of passion for the mission. "We just didn't love our customers," Keenan admitted, prompting a deep reevaluation.
They shifted focus to conversational AI, experimenting with salon booking automation. However, a pivotal moment came when a salon owner shared her struggle with long wait times on non-emergency police lines. This sparked the idea to apply their tech to 911 call centers, an industry plagued by staffing shortages and outdated systems.
How Aurelian's Technology Works
Aurelian integrates with existing call center phone lines, using an AI assistant to answer calls, gather information, and handle non-emergency issues like stolen wallets or noise complaints. It can resolve calls without human intervention or route them appropriately, even interpreting nuanced language and vague locations. This frees up dispatchers for true emergencies and slashes wait times.
Rapid Impact and Growth
Since launching in May 2024, Aurelian has been adopted by over a dozen agencies across the U.S., including seven in Washington state. During a severe storm, the system answered 500+ calls about power outages instantly, demonstrating its reliability. The company is on track to automate over one million calls monthly.
Funding and Future Outlook
The Series A round was led by NEA, with participation from Liquid 2 Ventures, Y Combinator, and Palm Drive Capital. Investors praised the team's perseverance in finding a high-impact AI application. Keenan emphasizes the importance of working on meaningful problems: "This was the first time we woke up every day excited to work with our customers."
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