London-based The place You At (WYA), a female-founded app designed to enhance nightlife security, has secured €3 million in pre-seed funding. The app,which makes use of indoor mapping and offline mesh know-how to maintain customers linked in crowded venues, goals to deal with the frequent subject of dropping contact with pals in busy environments the place cellular alerts usually fail. With this funding spherical, led by Tony Mallin of Star Capital, WYA is setting its sights on turning into the “Google Maps for indoor areas.”
Based by Tamzin Lent after a private expertise of assault in a nightclub, WYA has rapidly gained traction within the nightlife scene. The app has already been downloaded over 50,000 occasions and is utilized by outstanding venues like Drumsheds, Night time Tales, Ministry of Sound, XOYO, and E1. Its distinctive performance contains real-time location sharing, offline connectivity, and security alerts, making it vital device for each event-goers and operators.
Pioneering security with cutting-edge know-how
What units WYA aside is its patented offline mesh system, which permits customers to remain linked even when telephone alerts are weak or nonexistent. This technique not solely enhances person security by enabling steady communication but in addition gives occasion organisers with instruments for crowd administration, emergency alerts, and anonymised footfall analytics.
Since securing the pre-seed funding, WYA has made important developments in its know-how. Over the previous three months, the startup has developed a scalable mesh community that provides improved worth for crowd administration. They’ve additionally launched a replayable video heatmap function for operators and upgraded their Assembly Factors device with model 2.0, which provides extra versatile structure choices and enhanced app performance.
Business recognition and strategic partnerships
WYA’s innovation hasn’t gone unnoticed. The startup has garnered a number of accolades, together with a patent for its offline connectivity system, an Ordnance Survey’s Innovation Award, and recognition in Forbes Beneath 30 for Social Affect. Moreover, the staff has partnered with the Night time Time Business Affiliation and is exploring how their know-how might assist venues adjust to Martyn’s Legislation, a brand new UK regulation targeted on public venue safety.
James Slater, Venue Operations Supervisor at NTSU & Broadwick Reside stated: “WYA hyperlinks individuals with their friends and strengthens the power to maintain contact with people who you’re out with, even after they’ve wandered away and telephone sign is restricted. Tamzin and the staff have been a dream to work with, with a contemporary eye for growing buyer and venue security by means of their beautiful app”.
Wanting forward, WYA is increasing its attain. Following a profitable pilot this summer season, the app is now in search of to accomplice with extra festivals and is exploring alternatives to develop into exhibitions, conferences, and arenas. These strategic strikes might additional solidify WYA’s place out there, the place it competes with apps like Woov, Snapchat, and Life360.
