77. Purple Transform: meet the startup using AI to detect danger in real time

Founder: Neil Latter and Gregory Butler
Year founded: 2021
Website: purpletransform.com

According to the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), there are 7.5 million CCTV cameras in the UK designed to keep us safe and secure. However, to spot security risks in real time, they require constant supervision by human personnel.

Enter Purple Transform – a platform that can evaluate video, sensor and third party feeds to detect events that pose a risk, like trespassers on train tracks or a vulnerable person leaving their hospital room, and alert appropriate personnel.

Its AI-powered approach to automated analysis and anomaly detection offers a scalable and adaptable solution for a wide range of sectors. The technology represents a significant leap forward in AI-powered monitoring that can improve efficiency, safety and decision-making across industries, something our judging team were particularly impressed by.

Recognition has also come in the form of a recent £4.5m investment led by Mercia Ventures via the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II and backed by Sure Valley Ventures.

Working with Govia Thameslink Railway, Cisco CDA, and technology experts at Lancaster University, Purple Transform also delivers social value by addressing the prevalent issue of suicide prevention on the railways; a project that is being backed by Innovate UK.

The company is training its platform to identify and assess the behaviour of people who could be at risk of a suicide attempt. As part of the trial, the system is analysing CCTV footage for subtle signs of distress such as pacing, loitering or sitting on a platform edge. Detections trigger an automatic response callout to nearby staff, mental health professionals and/or the police.

Building on its success to date, Purple Transform’s vision is to be the global leader of innovative and trusted AI-driven solutions over the next five years.

This incredible mission to alert organisations to serious risks makes Purple Transform a trailblazer in the UK’s adoption of AI, and a worthy addition to the Startups 100 for 2025.