South African startup Community Wolf has secured £340,000 (R8.3 million) in funding to expand its anonymous crime reporting platform globally, using WhatsApp as its core communication channel.
This investment round, led by UK-based Fuel Ventures, was announced on Wednesday, marking a major step for the company’s mission to improve public safety worldwide.
Community Wolf’s Whatsapp-based crime reporting revolution
Community Wolf transforms WhatsApp, the world’s most widely used messaging app, into a public safety platform that allows users to report crime and suspicious activity anonymously and in real-time.
The platform integrates AI-driven tools that analyse messages from community groups, extracting actionable intelligence for law enforcement, private security, and local authorities.
This approach leverages existing communication habits, making crime reporting accessible without requiring new apps or complicated interfaces.
Mark Pearson, founder of Fuel Ventures, said, “We’re backing Community Wolf because they’re building something truly game-changing; a public safety network that puts the power in the hands of the people, using tools we already know and trust. The platform’s impact in South Africa has already proven just how vital this service is. We’re excited to support the team as they scale their technology and make communities around the world safer”.
Funding to Accelerate Global Expansion and Innovation
The £340,000 investment will support Community Wolf’s efforts to grow its in-house tech team, enhance platform features, and expand marketing campaigns to establish the brand in key international markets such as Nigeria, Brazil, and wider South America.
The startup aims to become a trusted name in public safety by combining anonymous multilingual reporting, real-time dashboards, and predictive modeling to make community safety more data-driven and effective.
Nick Mills, co-founder of Community Wolf, emphasized: “This investment is a huge validation of our vision. Community Wolf started as a grassroots idea to help people feel safer in their own neighbourhoods, and we’ve seen just how transformative it can be. Fuel Ventures’ belief in what we’re building gives us the rocket fuel we need to scale our impact, both in South Africa and far beyond”.
Michael Houghton, co-founder, added, “We want Community Wolf to become a household name. A brand people can think of, rely on, and thank for ensuring their safety. With this investment, we can continue growing our platform with care, scale our reach, and stay true to the personal and hands-on approach that makes Community Wolf different”.
Community Wolf’s AI-powered “Wolf Agents” sift through WhatsApp group messages in real-time, identifying and categorizing incidents to ensure no critical information is missed. This technology provides faster response times and enhances coordination among community members and public safety providers.
By turning everyday WhatsApp activity into structured, actionable intelligence, Community Wolf is redefining how communities participate in crime prevention. It started in South Africa and is now aiming to impact global public safety.