OnStar Expands Work with RapidDeploy to Advance Public Safety Technology
GM Ventures invests in the cloud-based emergency response platform, RapidDeploy, as a commitment to increasing public safety situational awareness with data-driven technology
2021-08-10
DETROIT – GM Ventures today announced its participation in the $40 million Series B funding round for RapidDeploy, a public safety technology company working to accelerate Next Generation 911.
This investment will enable RapidDeploy to help improve the public safety community’s situational awareness with a cloud-native, data-driven solution. The announcement underscores General Motors and OnStar’s commitment to working with the public safety community to support and accelerate Next Generation 911 technology adoption and to advance efforts to keep communities safer.
Earlier this year, OnStar and RapidDeploy launched a first-of-its-kind program to supply every 911 call center in California with OnStar’s Automatic Crash Response1 notifications. Using built-in sensors on vehicles with an active OnStar service plan, OnStar Automatic Crash Response notifications can:
- Help detect a moderate-to-severe crash and send notifications directly to 911 Centers via RapidDeploy RadiusPlus maps.
- Deploy without having to rely on verbal relay of information, including the location, make and model of the vehicle and available crash details.
- Indicate the probability of severe injury and whether the vehicle involved in a crash is electric, providing first responders with information they need to respond safely, and quickly rescue occupants, when applicable.
When a moderate-to-severe crash is detected, OnStar Automatic Crash Response can also automatically connect to a specially-trained Emergency-Certified Advisor2, who can offer help if a member is involved in a crash. OnStar Emergency-Certified Advisors are Emergency-Medical-Dispatch-certified and can provide medical assistance until help arrives, ensuring members will not face the emergency alone.
Today’s investment will accelerate the work of RapidDeploy and OnStar in 911 Centers across jurisdictions within the United States.
“For 25 years, OnStar has served as a leader in safety and security services, providing help to our members in times of need. We value our continued work with RapidDeploy and look forward to scaling this important program within the U.S.,” said Catherine Bishop, senior manager, OnStar Emergency Services. “This latest milestone in our collaboration with RapidDeploy demonstrates OnStar’s commitment to keeping members and first responders safe during emergencies and supporting new innovations to advance Next Generation 911 initiatives.”
“911 centers should not have to pay for critical data needed to save lives,” said Steven Raucher, co-founder and CEO of RapidDeploy. “At RapidDeploy, we are committed to establishing cloud-based, data-driven integrations at no cost to public safety or to the communities we serve. Working with General Motors’ OnStar helps enable our open ecosystem designed to improve public safety workflows.”
“The increased availability and speed of incident data into the hands of responders is a game-changing improvement,” said Deputy Chief Tom Clemo of the Santa Monica Fire Department in California. “Having as much information as possible as we respond to an incident is paramount to not only providing the best emergency services we can, but also to improving responder incident awareness and safety. We owe it to our communities and to our responders to leverage technology so that it improves our services and safety, and the work that OnStar and RapidDeploy are implementing certainly helps us to get there.”
GM Ventures formed in 2010 as the venture capital subsidiary of General Motors. The company makes equity investments in startups that are developing advanced technology to be implemented in future GM vehicles, manufacturing facilities, or operating businesses. GM Ventures’ focus is on key technologies that support GM’s vision and desire to positively impact the future of mobility.
OnStar Launched in 1996, OnStar is a wholly owned subsidiary of GM Holdings LLC (“GM”) and offers emergency, security and navigation services in Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac models. OnStar offers a range of subscription services such as Automatic Crash Response, Emergency Services and Stolen Vehicle Assistance.
General Motors (NYSE:GM) is a global company focused on advancing an all-electric future that is inclusive and accessible to all. At the heart of this strategy is the Ultium battery platform, which will power everything from mass-market to high-performance vehicles. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Baojun and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, can be found at https://www.gm.com.
RapidDeploy is the industry’s only truly open and integrated response platform, transforming 9-1-1 communications centers of any size into data-centric organizations. RapidDeploy achieves new levels of situational awareness and reduces 9-1-1 response time by seamlessly integrating third-party data ensuring it is available when, where and how Telecommunicators and First Responders need it. The company’s cloud-native platform includes analytics, mapping, dispatch and first responder applications. To learn more, visit https://www.rapiddeploy.com/.
1OnStar plan, working electrical system, cell reception and GPS signal required. OnStar links to emergency services. Not all vehicles may transmit all crash data. See onstar.com for details and limitations.
2Certified by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch.