A finance graduate, he works in emergency and security services. Through his tech startup, he is rethinking solutions to security and efficiency challenges in Africa and around the world.

Warren Myers (photo), a South African finance expert and tech entrepreneur, is the founder of Aura, a smart emergency response platform that connects users to the nearest private armed or medical responder in real time.

Founded in 2017, Aura aims to make emergency services more accessible and affordable, especially in regions where public infrastructure is often overstretched. Using intelligent technology, the platform links individuals in distress to a network of verified private responders. In South Africa alone, Aura’s network includes more than 2,500 security personnel and healthcare professionals on standby.

Aura’s tech integrates seamlessly with existing client interfaces through APIs, WhatsApp, custom-built apps, or a range of IoT devices. This flexibility allows security and medical companies to reach new customers especially large corporations while diversifying revenue streams.

On May 16, 2025, the company, already operating in South Africa, Kenya, and the United Kingdom, announced it had raised $15.1 million to support its expansion into the United States.

“I'm incredibly grateful to our partners and customers for their ongoing trust and most importantly, to my exceptional team. Their dedication to our vision of a world where everyone feels safe is the true driving force behind everything we do,” Myers said in a statement.

Myers earned a Bachelor’s degree in Management and Finance from the University of the Witwatersrand in 2007. In 2009, he joined Myertal Tactical Security, a company focused on surveillance solutions, as Chief Operating Officer. He was promoted to CEO in 2010, a role he held until 2019.

By Melchior Koba,

Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji