AI voice company Hyper raises $6.3M to help automate 911 calls

Ben Sanders, the founder of the emergency response startup Hyper, expressed that his life's journey has perfectly aligned with this pivotal moment. Hyper recently unveiled a successful $6.3 million seed funding round, led by Eniac Ventures, marking its official exit from stealth mode. As a child, Sanders dreamed of becoming a police officer, even going so far as to customize his attire to reflect that ambition. His passion for public service and technology eventually led him to run for federal office and work closely with governmental agencies. The inspiration for Hyper struck him about a year ago when he learned about efforts in his hometown to utilize AI for enhancing emergency service response times. Despite initial doubts about AI's readiness for 911 calls, Sanders recognized a significant opportunity for innovation, particularly in managing non-emergency calls that often bog down emergency lines. Partnering with Damian McCabe, the two officially launched Hyper, designed to streamline the handling of certain 911 calls. As CEO, Sanders explained that Hyper aims to alleviate the burden of non-urgent calls that can detract from critical emergencies. He pointed out the frustrations faced by individuals trying to report non-critical issues, often routed to the same operators handling life-and-death situations. “Imagine spending eight minutes discussing a barking dog, only to miss a distressing call from a child whose parent has collapsed,” he remarked. Hyper's technology offers a range of functionalities, from answering inquiries to forwarding calls and processing non-emergency reports. Importantly, it is programmed to escalate calls that may require human intervention, ensuring safety is never compromised. The fundraising journey was described by Sanders as intense and rapid, culminating in a round that attracted oversubscribed interest from several investors, including Ripple Ventures and Tusk Venture Partners. With these new funds, Hyper plans to expand its reach nationwide, integrate further into existing 911 systems, and hire a head of engineering to develop future products. While competitors like Aurelian also address non-emergency call sorting, Sanders emphasized Hyper's distinct focus on 911 services. “We train our models on actual 911 calls with local agencies and support multiple languages, which sets us apart,” he noted. Sanders is passionate about relieving some of the pressure experienced by 911 operators, hoping to attract more individuals to this challenging field. He acknowledged the difficulties of the job, stating, “It’s such a tough role, I don’t even know if I could handle it.” Through technology, Hyper aims to lessen the load on call-takers and dispatchers, ultimately contributing to a system that saves lives.