AI Startup Hyper Raises $6.3M to Streamline 9-1-1 Call Handling and Reduce Wait Times

Ben Sanders, founder and CEO of Hyper, an AI voice company specializing in automating 9-1-1 calls, has announced a $6.3 million seed round led by Eniac Ventures. The funding marks the company’s official emergence from stealth and aims to address the significant challenges facing emergency response systems, particularly in managing non-emergency calls that often delay critical assistance. Sanders’ personal journey underscores his passion for public service. As a child, he was so enthusiastic about becoming a police officer that his mother sewed yellow stripes onto his navy sweatpants, which he wore with an officer's rain hat for a year. His professional background includes working at the intersection of tech and government, and he even ran for federal office. A news article about his hometown's efforts to use AI to reduce 9-1-1 wait times sparked the idea for Hyper. Despite initial skepticism about AI's readiness for emergency calls, Sanders saw potential for innovation, especially given the large volume of non-emergency calls that burden emergency lines. Hyper’s platform is designed to handle non-emergency 9-1-1 calls, allowing human operators to focus on more urgent situations. The AI can answer questions, send informational links, forward calls, and even take non-emergency police reports. If a call falls outside the approved scope or seems more urgent, Hyper automatically escalates it to a human expert. The company’s co-founder and CPO, Damian McCabe, has partnered with Sanders to develop and launch the product. One of Hyper’s key advantages is its model training on real 9-1-1 calls with local agencies, supporting multiple languages, and having successfully deployed at several centers. This operational experience in government and public safety sets Hyper apart from competitors like Aurelian, which also sorts non-emergency calls but lacks the same level of integration and real-world testing. Sanders describes the fundraising process as highly competitive and quick, taking less than two months to secure the oversubscribed round. Additional investors include Ripple Ventures, GreatPoint Ventures, Tusk Venture Partners, and K5 Global. The funds will be used to expand Hyper’s reach across the United States, integrate further into existing 9-1-1 systems, hire a head of engineering, and develop new products. The need for Hyper is acute, as many 9-1-1 call centers are understaffed and struggle with hiring. Sanders hopes that by handling non-emergency calls, Hyper can alleviate some of the stress and workload on call-takers and dispatchers, who he considers "unsung heroes." By streamlining operations, the technology could potentially improve response times and, ultimately, save lives. Industry insiders laud Hyper’s approach, noting that the company’s focus on real-world deployment and multilingual support addresses significant pain points in emergency response systems. The startup’s rapid fundraising success also indicates strong investor confidence in its potential to make a meaningful impact in public safety. Sanders and McCabe bring a unique blend of tech expertise and public service ethos, positioning Hyper to navigate the complexities of integrating AI into emergency services effectively. Hyper’s innovative solution and experienced leadership aim to revolutionize how emergency calls are managed, addressing a critical gap in the current system and improving the efficiency and reliability of 9-1-1 responses.