• Flock Safety raises $275 million, reaching a $7.5 billion valuation with support from Bedrock Capital and other returning investors.
  • The company reports $300 million in annual recurring revenue with 70% year-over-year growth despite privacy controversies.
  • Founded in 2017, the Y Combinator alum has now raised over $950 million for its surveillance technology products.

Flock Safety, the surveillance technology provider known for its license plate recognition systems, announced Thursday it has secured $275 million in new funding at a $7.5 billion valuation, co-led by long-time investor Bedrock Capital.

The Atlanta-based company, founded in 2017 and a Y Combinator graduate that same year, has experienced explosive growth, reaching over $300 million in annual recurring revenue in 2024—representing 70% year-over-year growth, according to spokesperson Holly Beilin.

Flock's technology portfolio includes computer vision-enabled video surveillance systems that law enforcement agencies and businesses widely use.

Beyond its core license plate recognition technology, the company produces gunshot detection systems marketed to schools and recently acquired public safety drone company Aerodome.

The funding round featured participation from returning investors Andreessen Horowitz, Greenoaks, Meritech Capital, Matrix Partners, and Y Combinator.

This latest investment brings Flock's total funding to over $950 million, with its valuation jumping significantly from $4.8 billion just a year ago.

Despite its financial success, Flock Safety has faced scrutiny over privacy concerns. The ACLU has criticized the company for enabling mass surveillance and called for independent product reviews.

Privacy advocates in Norfolk, Virginia are currently pursuing legal action to prevent Flock's deployment, while the company also faces a wrongful termination lawsuit from a California town mayor.

Nevertheless, Flock remains a venture capital favorite, with early backer Geoff Lewis of Bedrock Capital having invested over $164 million since first pursuing the company in 2018.

Edited by Annette George