The capital injection is the first for Boston-based Aura since it split off in September from Pango Group, which owns cybersecurity brands including Betternet and Financial Shields.
The $140 million Series G round, which included equity and debt, was led by Ten Eleven Ventures and Madrone Capital, the family office of Rob Walton and other family members. AT&T Ventures also participated. The deal values Aura, which reported recurring revenue of $150 million last year, at $1.6 billion. “Aura’s innovative and comprehensive approach to online digital health and safety clearly positions it as a leader in protecting families in our increasingly connected world,” said Alex Doll of Ten Eleven Ventures.
Youth mental health
Aura’s ‘all-in-one’ online safety app combines AI-based tools that protect users from financial fraud, identity theft and malware, along with password protection, online privacy and encrypted file sharing tools.
This week the company added new features to help parents monitor the mental health of their phone-obsessed kids. Parents receive summarized insights that respect their children’s privacy but flag signs of stress and other behavior changes. “You get your kid a helmet when they learn to ride a bike, you sit in the passenger seat when they have their learner’s permit, but you do nothing to prepare them for life online,” said Aura’s Hari Ravichandran.
Aura also touts its consumer rights standards, including the right to be “forgotten.”
