Citywomanlands£800k funding for attack alarm
A 23-YEAR-OLD Glasgow woman who has developed an alarm for lone workers and people who are at risk of attack has secured investment of more than £800,000.
Rebecca Pick founded Pick Protection two years ago after a neighbour was assaulted.
Her new Personal Guardian will be the only monitored personal attack alarm available to consumers capable of alerting the police.
It will be launched in the UK early next year at a cost of £120 and will be manufactured in Scotland.
Rebecca said: “This is the first time such a high level of protection will be available at such a reasonable price.
“Before now, users had to make the choice between good and affordable, but the Personal Guardian will tick both boxes.”
The device is a wearable alarm that utilises smart technology to provide the police with information on the user’s exact location.
It can be attached to a belt, lan- yard or clothing and will send a text containing the wearer’s location to pre-determined phone contacts. It will also use a recording system to gather evidence that can be used in court to gain a conviction.
The recording allows staff at a monitoring station to decide if the attack warrants police evidence and can also alert family and friends.
Rebecca secured £60,000 of investment from an investment syndicate last year and this month obtained a further £744,000 as the company moves closer to launching the alarm to the market.
The investment is led by Equity Gap Angel Investment Syndicate and other backers include Strathclyde University, Gabriel Investment Syndicate, Scottish Investment Bank and Unipart Group, which will help with the product’s delivery.
John Neill, the chairman and chief executive of the Unipart Group, said: “Unipart is delighted to be supporting a young entrepreneur like Rebecca with the passion and drive to make a difference.”