Eniac Ventures led a $6.3 million seed round that the company announced on Monday, in addition to marking its official transition from covert.
When questioned about the motivation behind the establishment of his emergency response startup, Hyper, Ben Sanders stated, “My entire life has been geared toward this moment.”
Throughout his childhood, he pursued employment at the intersection of technology and government, and he even attempted to run for a federal office.

He encountered a news article approximately one year ago that detailed his hometown’s intention to implement artificial intelligence (AI) to mitigate emergency service wait times.

Sanders, who had previously introduced an AI voice for drive-through restaurants, abruptly developed an idea.
Although he did not believe that AI was yet prepared to assist with 911 calls, he believed that this was an opportunity for innovation, particularly after recognizing that the majority of calls made to the emergency line are not classified as emergency calls Sanders collaborated with his acquaintance Damian McCabe. Hyper, an AI voice company that can manage certain 911 calls, was formally launched by the duo on Monday.

Sanders, the CEO, stated that the product is intended to address non-emergency calls that divert attention from critical calls that are the “deciding factor” between life and death. McCabe serves as the company’s chief product officer.

Currently, the majority of individuals who attempt to contact their local police department will encounter a 10-digit number that directs them to the same individuals who handle 911 inquiries.

“Consider the scenario in which you are compelled to engage in an eight-minute conversation regarding the barking of a neighbor’s dog, only to respond to the subsequent call tardily due to the noise complaint, and to hear the trembling voice of a five-year-old whose father has just collapsed on the floor,” Sanders stated.

Hyper provides answers to inquiries, forwards calls, texts links, and even takes non-emergency police reports. “Hyper always prioritizes safety. Therefore, we can automatically escalate any calls that are outside the approved scope or that appear to be slightly more urgent to a human expert.”

Sanders characterized the fundraising process as “frenzied, manic, and rapid.” The entire round, which was ultimately oversubscribed and included follow-on capital, was raised in less than two months.

The round was also attended by Ripple Ventures, GreatPoint Ventures, VSC Ventures, Tusk Venture Partners, and K5 Global. Sanders stated that he encountered his connection at Eniac Ventures through a mutual acquaintance.

Hyper anticipates that the new capital will be used to expand its operations throughout the nation, incorporate additional features into existing 911 systems, recruit a director of engineering, and develop its next product.

Aurelian, which also organizes non-emergency communications, is a competitor in this market. Sanders asserted that Hyper’s emphasis on 911 distinguishes it from its peers.

“We train our models on actual 911 calls with local agencies,” he stated. “We provide support for a greater number of languages.”
Additionally, we have successfully implemented numerous centers, which presents a significant operational challenge in the realm of public safety and governance.

Sanders aspires to alleviate the tension that is often associated with being a 911 contact, and he believes that Hyper has the potential to attract more individuals to the field.
As of now, he asserts that the majority of contact centers are experiencing difficulty in recruiting and are understaffed.

Sanders stated, “I am uncertain as to whether I am capable of completing such a demanding task.”
“However, I possess the ability to develop technology that can be of assistance; to alleviate the burden of call-takers and dispatchers, who are the unsung heroes; to address the non-emergency calls and noise, and in the process, to ultimately save lives.”