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Based in San Francisco, California, Citizen operates a real-time public safety application that delivers instant notifications regarding local crimes, emergencies, and hazards to urban consumers seeking local incident awareness. The platform aggregates data from official emergency channels and crowdsourced reports, offering live audio streaming from incident scenes and community discussion features through a freemium model with subscription tiers like Citizen Plus and Citizen Premium. Expanding beyond its initial domestic markets, the enterprise recently launched operations in London and introduced an artificial intelligence safety tool called Citizen Agent. Backed by lead investors such as Sequoia Capital, the company has raised over $300 million in total venture funding and achieved a unicorn valuation of approximately $1 billion. Currently serving a user base of more than seven million individuals, Citizen was founded in 2017 by Jake Sigal and Avi Schiffmann.
Citizen has raised $66.0M across 4 funding rounds.
Citizen has raised $66.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Citizen is a personal safety app that provides real-time alerts about nearby incidents such as crimes, accidents, and other emergencies by sourcing data from actual 911 calls. It serves urban residents who want to stay informed and protect themselves and their communities by receiving timely notifications about local dangers. The app aims to enhance public safety awareness and foster community vigilance. Citizen experienced early growth momentum after launching in 2017, expanding from New York City to other major cities like San Francisco, supported by significant venture capital backing including Sequoia Capital[1][2][4].
Citizen was founded in 2017 by Andrew Frame, who envisioned leveraging mobile technology to create a real-time personal safety network. The idea emerged from the need for immediate, actionable information about local safety threats, enabling users to respond proactively. Early traction included rapid user adoption in New York City and successful fundraising rounds, notably a $12 million Series A led by Sequoia Capital in 2017, which helped expand the app’s geographic reach and capabilities[2][4].
Citizen rides the trend of leveraging mobile technology and real-time data to enhance personal safety and community awareness. The timing aligns with growing public demand for transparency and immediate information in urban environments. Market forces such as increased smartphone penetration, urbanization, and concerns about public safety create a favorable environment for such apps. Citizen’s approach influences the broader ecosystem by pushing innovation in public safety tech and raising discussions about the balance between information sharing and privacy[2][3][4].
Citizen’s future is uncertain following Sequoia Capital’s decision to cease further funding and resign from its board amid financial struggles, which signals challenges ahead for the company’s growth and sustainability. The evolving landscape of public safety technology, regulatory scrutiny, and user trust will shape Citizen’s trajectory. If it can navigate these challenges, Citizen may continue to influence how communities use technology for safety, but it must address concerns around privacy and business viability to maintain relevance[3].
This outlook ties back to Citizen’s original mission of empowering individuals with real-time safety information, highlighting both the promise and pitfalls of innovating in a sensitive and critical sector.
Citizen has raised $66.0M across 4 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $50.0M Series C in January 2021.
Citizen has raised $66.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Citizen's investors include Bam Ventures, Gradient Ventures, Greycroft, Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Chloe Sladden, BoxGroup, Brewer Lane Ventures, C2 Investment, Coatue, Coelius Capital, Collaborative Seed & Growth Partners.
