In a significant stride towards enhancing personal safety, particularly for women walking alone at night, London-based startup eNOugh has successfully raised over €280K in pre-seed funding. The startup, co-founded by University College London (UCL) alumni Ina Jovicic and Gaelic Jara Reinhold, is set to launch an innovative AI-powered protection badge designed to deter harassment and ensure the safety of its users.
The inception of eNOugh was deeply personal. Ina Jovicic, one of the co-founders, was attacked by four men during a walk home in London. Although she escaped with knee injuries, the incident left a lasting impact, prompting her to create a solution that could prevent others from experiencing similar situations. This unfortunate encounter laid the foundation for eNOugh, a startup committed to addressing the growing concerns around personal safety.
In the UK, the issue of personal safety has gained widespread attention, particularly in light of tragic events like the murder of Sarah Everard. Statistics show that half of all women and one in seven men do not feel safe walking alone at night, while two-thirds of women have experienced public sexual harassment within the past year. These alarming figures underscore the urgent need for effective safety solutions, which eNOugh aims to provide.
The eNOugh AI protection badge
The eNOugh badge is designed not only to enhance personal safety but also to deter all forms of harassment. As the founders describe it, “Think of it as your miniature personal bodyguard.” When you begin your walk home, you magnetically clip the badge onto your coat or jacket at chest level and activate it. The badge then records your entire journey, with the footage being inaccessible to anyone except the police in the event of an incident. The presence of the embedded camera serves as a powerful deterrent to potential attackers. This deterrent effect is further strengthened by the badge’s visible and easily recognisable design. Additionally, it features a defence light mechanism and a situation de-escalation system, developed in collaboration with criminal psychologists and researchers from prestigious institutions.
Its most innovative feature is its AI-powered threat detection, capable of recognising potential danger through the language and emotions in speech. For instance, if someone says, “Don’t move and give me your wallet,” the badge immediately recognises the threat and sends real-time data, including live stream and location, to an alarm receiving centre, which can take immediate action.
What sets eNOugh apart from other personal safety solutions is its comprehensive, 360-degree approach that prioritises prevention. Previous solutions have often focused on a single reactive measure, but eNOugh aims to be proactive, tailoring its features to various scenarios, making it a never-before-done solution.
Successful funding and future plans
eNOugh’s recent pre-seed funding round, led by PurposeTech VC, raised £240,000, with contributions from global angel investors, including Klara Losert, an EQT Scout. The successful fundraising reflects the widespread recognition of the importance of personal safety and the urgent need for innovative solutions like the eNOugh badge.
Ina Jovicic, reflecting on the funding experience, noted: “What made it easier for us was that many people we spoke with could immediately relate to the problem we’re addressing. Whether as women who have experienced street harassment or as fathers, brothers, or husbands concerned for their loved ones, they instantly recognized the need for our solution.”
Following this funding milestone, eNOugh is gearing up to launch a companion app next month and begin pre-orders for the badge, offering exclusive early-bird discounts. Gaelic Jara Reinhold, Ina’s co-founder, expressed excitement about the next steps, saying: “We are now super excited to get to the next stage. We’re keeping our heads down and putting all our efforts into getting the badge out there to start protecting people and creating a positive impact.”
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2024/08/london-based-enough-raises-over-e280k-to-launch-ai-protection-badges/
