BLOOMINGTON, IN, October 3, 2014 - Envisage Technologies, the leading software company for the public safety training and compliance industry, announced that it received a major investment led by Armory Capital, a family investment office. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Envisage will use the new capital to solidify the company's position as the dominant training and compliance software platform in the law enforcement and public safety sector. Envisage Technologies is the developer of the Acadis Readiness Suite®; the only training ecosystem platform focused on the needs of public safety. The new funding also will enable Envisage to accelerate its rollout of FirstForward, the Nation's first secure professional learning network for first responders.
Envisage's mission is to improve the readiness of our Nation's public safety professionals to ensure they come home alive. The company's training and compliance software platform leads the industry, serving over 500,000 first responders and 5,600 public safety departments, across multiple states and the Federal Government.
"We chose Armory as a financial partner because they focus on building great businesses for the long term, and we are excited to have access to the capital we need to rapidly grow this business while keeping it within our Bloomington community," said Ari Vidali, CEO of Envisage Technology. "What we value most is that Armory cares deeply for the welfare of our first responders and all those in uniform who risk their lives to keep us safe. This is more than just an investment to them; Armory understands the positive impacts we can make on public safety."
"Envisage has an outstanding reputation for quality software products and services with impressive market penetration and opportunities for growth," said Jacob Ambrose, Managing Partner of Armory Capital. "We are excited to partner with Ari and his talented team in their quest to fundamentally improve the public safety industry."
As part of the investment, Chris Bennett, a public safety and emergency preparedness veteran, will become Envisage's new Chairman of the Board.
"I am very pleased to join Armory Capital, Ari Vidali, and the amazing team at Envisage Technologies," said Bennett. "Envisage is an impressive technology innovator, but the employees' passion to transform public safety readiness is what makes it special. I'm proud to align with a mission-driven business that is dedicated to helping our nation's first responders and enabling systems that will ultimately save more lives."
Envisage was advised by GSV Advisors, a leading Chicago-based merchant bank focused on innovative technology businesses that are transforming their industry segments.
About Armory Capital
Armory Capital is a family investment office founded by Jacob Ambrose, Rusty Freeland and Greg Lykins, in association with the August C. Meyer, Jr. family. Armory has a legacy of more than 50 years of investing in private businesses. Unlike traditional private equity groups, Armory is funded with permanent capital. This unique funding structure means that the firm's decisions are not driven by the limited life of a particular fund. Armory holds investments based on the merits of the opportunity and the needs of its management partners.
About GSV Advisors
GSV Advisors , LLC is a modern merchant bank focused on the education and human capital sectors. Leveraging deep domain expertise, relationships and entrepreneurial experience, its principals provide merger, strategic advisory and private placement services. GSV Advisors also co-produces the annual ASU+GSV Education Innovation Summit.
About ENVISAGE
Envisage is a high tech software company founded in 2001 to automate complex training operations for high liability industries. We create solutions that make our world a safer place. Our clients are federal law enforcement agencies, including the U. S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and many state law enforcement and public safety organizations.
About the Acadis Readiness Suite
The Acadis Readiness Suite is designed to make certain that our law enforcement, military, and emergency services are trained, equipped and ready to respond. The Suite measures readiness by automating complex, high-risk training and compliance operations. Acadis increases the accuracy and effectiveness across every level of critical incident response by consolidating information about personnel and resources. The modular system enables organizations to implement functionality where needed to support the compliance lifecycle. Acadis embodies a single, powerful idea: To make certain our first responders come home alive.
About FirstForward
As the nation's first professional learning network for public safety, FirstForward creates a space where first responders can connect with their peers, collaborate and access the training and tools they need to do their jobs and come home alive. FirstForward celebrates and honors the stories of heroism and compassion common to all first responders.
