Aurelian, an AI company automating non-emergency calls for 911 centers, announced a $14 million Series A funding round. NEA led the investment, with participation from existing investors Y Combinator, FUSE, Liquid 2, and Palm Drive Capital.
The Seattle-based startup will use the new capital to expand its services to more emergency communications centers (ECCs) across the United States. Since launching in May 2024, Aurelian's AI platform now serves nearly 5 million Americans through various communication centers nationwide.
Emergency communications centers across the United States are struggling with severe staffing shortages while managing increasingly high volumes of non-emergency calls. These calls—ranging from noise complaints and parking violations to general inquiries—consume valuable dispatcher time that could be better spent on life-threatening situations.
Aurelian's AI assistant directly addresses this challenge by triaging and resolving non-emergency calls without requiring dispatcher involvement. The system supports over 35 languages through voice, SMS, and web chat, helping ECCs better serve underrepresented communities.
Current data shows Aurelian's system automates an average of 74% of non-emergency calls across its customer base. This automation saves each dispatcher approximately three hours per day, allowing them to focus on true emergencies.
The company plans to use the Series A funding to accelerate deployment across additional emergency communications centers nationwide. This expansion will help more communities benefit from reduced response times and improved emergency services.
Max Keenan and James Liu founded Aurelian with a specific focus on supporting public safety operations. The company headquarters in Seattle and has quickly gained traction since its launch less than a year ago.
"911 is in a crisis: severe understaffing and ever-expanding responsibilities have made ECCs overextended and overworked. At Aurelian, our sole purpose is to help them best serve their communities," says CEO and cofounder Max Keenan. "911 call-takers are trained to handle emergencies, not parking complaints. Aurelian reduces burnout and helps telecommunicators stay focused on the most critical situations."
The rapid adoption rate demonstrates the urgent need for Aurelian's solution in the public safety sector. Within one year of operation, the company has earned trust from ECCs across multiple states while serving millions of Americans.
NEA's investment reflects growing venture capital interest in public safety technology solutions. The firm brings significant experience in scaling technology companies across various sectors.
"We’re proud to support Aurelian’s mission to empower Emergency Communication Centers and their dispatchers to keep our communities safe," said Mustafa Neemuchwala, Partner at NEA. "What excites us most is the passion that Max, James, and the Aurelian team bring to public safety. In a year, they’ve earned the trust and respect of ECCs across the United States and are already serving millions of people."
The Series A round builds on previous investments from Y Combinator, FUSE, Liquid 2, and Palm Drive Capital, demonstrating continued confidence from early backers.
