Two 19-year-old MIT dropouts joined Y Combinator and raised $2.7 million to arm police with AI. Read the pitch deck.

In a remarkable venture, two 19-year-old dropouts from MIT have successfully secured $2.7 million in seed funding through Y Combinator to enhance police operations using artificial intelligence. Co-founders George Cheng and Dylan Nguyen have launched Code Four, a startup named after police radio terminology that signifies a situation is under control. The innovative technology developed by Code Four aims to streamline administrative tasks, enabling officers to devote more time to active policing. By harnessing AI, the platform can automatically generate reports from body camera footage, which not only aids in legal documentation but also assists in record-keeping. Additionally, Code Four offers functionalities to redact sensitive information from footage and reports, as well as create transcriptions and summaries from video interviews and security recordings. Nguyen expressed the challenges faced by the public safety sector, stating that it often lags in adopting the latest technological advancements, despite the dedication of those working within it. He emphasized the duo's commitment to operating in an impactful space while being mindful of the ongoing debates regarding AI's role in law enforcement. Cheng highlighted that while the technology generates initial drafts of reports, it's crucial that officers review and polish these documents for accuracy. The founders, who bonded over their shared experiences in the international science fair circuit during high school, made the bold decision to leave MIT after their freshman year to pursue their entrepreneurial aspirations at Y Combinator. They are also planning to join the second cohort of the Palantir Startup Fellowship next year. Leading the seed funding round was AME Cloud Ventures, with additional contributions from Pathlight Ventures and Webb Investment Network. The founders intend to expand their team, which currently comprises four members specializing in engineering and sales. Cheng revealed that Code Four is already collaborating with 25 police departments, operating on a subscription model that begins at $30 per officer each month. The startup's pitch deck, which played a crucial role in their funding success, has been edited for public sharing.