How Augur is Strengthening National Security and Critical Infrastructure with AI

Augur, the UK sovereign AI platform revolutionising the security capabilities of critical national infrastructure, led by Harry Mead, Imran Lone, Stefan Kopieczek, and the team, has announced a $15 million seed round led by Plural, with participation from 1st Kind, Flix, Tiny VC, and SNR VC.

The funding will support the rapid deployment of Augur’s technology as governments, operators, and venue owners across Europe address growing security threats to public spaces and critical infrastructure.

The Changing Threat Landscape

Security threats are becoming more complex, with attacks targeting civilian infrastructure such as power grids, rail networks, and airports. Research by the Royal United Services Institute highlights a rise in “grey-zone” activities, including sabotage, arson, and infrastructure attacks, between 2023 and 2024.

At the same time, terrorism-related arrests in the UK have increased, according to the UK Home Office, as venues prepare for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (Martyn’s Law). As risks grow, many organisations are finding that legacy surveillance systems offer limited value during real-time incidents and investigations.

Turning Existing Infrastructure into Operational Capability

Augur’s platform integrates with cameras and sensors already deployed across transport hubs, energy infrastructure, stadiums, and other sensitive sites. Using AI and machine learning, the system detects abnormal behaviour, tracks incidents across locations, and reconstructs events in seconds.

The platform supports the full security lifecycle, from early threat detection to real-time response and post-incident investigation, helping teams act faster when it matters most. Instead of facial recognition, anonymised behavioural and movement patterns are analysed to maintain strong privacy protections.

Augur was founded by CEO Harry Mead, alongside CTO Imran Lone and Head of Engineering Stefan Kopieczek, bringing extensive experience working with European governments and defence organisations on data-driven security challenges.

Privacy and Responsibility by Design

Augur has been built with a privacy-first architecture, applying anonymisation by default and aligning with regulations such as the GDPR and the EU AI Act.

Since launching in 2024, the company has grown to a 30-person team in London and started deployments with major UK infrastructure and venue operators. The new funding will accelerate product development and expand support for organisations responsible for protecting public spaces.

Harry Mead, co-founder and CEO of Augur, said the nature of threats to public spaces and critical infrastructure has become faster, more dispersed, and increasingly designed to exploit security gaps. Augur aims to close those gaps by helping operators detect early warning signs and make better use of existing infrastructure to protect people where they live, travel, and gather.

Khaled Helioui, partner at Plural, highlighted the growing risks from grey-zone warfare and domestic sabotage, describing the protection of critical infrastructure as one of the defining challenges of the current generation. He noted that Augur combines deep operational experience with advanced technology while maintaining a strong commitment to democratic values.