A London-based startup, Where You At, has raised £2.5m to enhance its innovative nightlife safety app.
- The app enables users to navigate crowded venues without a phone signal, using cutting-edge indoor mapping technology.
- Where You At addresses safety concerns in nightlife, with a focus on improving women’s security during nights out.
- Funding will be used to develop new features, such as a video heatmap and improved meeting point system.
- The successful funding round highlights increased investment in safety technologies amidst growing government focus on public safety.
Where You At, a pioneering startup based in London, has successfully raised £2.5m in a pre-seed funding round. This infusion of capital aims to bolster their unique nightlife safety app, which facilitates navigation through congested venues without relying on phone signals. The app employs advanced indoor mapping and Bluetooth mesh networks to maintain connectivity even in signal-compromised environments.
With a growing emphasis on public safety, particularly for women, the app seeks to address the prevalent dangers encountered during nights out. The founder, Tamzin Lent, drew inspiration from personal experiences involving lost connections with friends and incidents of assault. This innovative solution is not only providing peace of mind but is also revolutionising how individuals interact in nightlife settings.
Presently, the app collaborates with several renowned hospitality venues, including Drumsheds, Night Tales, XOYO, and E1, with active locations across Sheffield, Essex, London, Cardiff, and Nottingham. According to James Slater, Venue Operations Manager at Nottingham’s The Level, “WYA links people with their peers and strengthens the ability to keep contact with those that you’re out with, even when they’ve wandered away and phone signal is limited.”
The recent funding round, led by Tony Mallin of Star Capital, will be channelled into developing additional app features. These include a replayable video heatmap for venue operators and a meeting point function to assist friends in crowded venues. This development is part of a broader trend where startups addressing public safety gain traction, supported by high-profile investors such as former Colgate-Palmolive CEO Ian Cook and Carolyn Dawson, CEO of Founders Forum.
The success of Where You At’s funding round underlines the growing importance of safety-focused innovations in the nightlife industry.
