On the Front Lines: JMI Invests in First Due to Redefine Public Safety Software
First responders operate in some of the most complex, high-stakes environments and often rush into life-or-death situations—from active fires to medical emergencies—with incomplete information. They’ve had to rely on manual processes, outdated technology, and unreliable communications—sometimes with disastrous consequences.
First Due has emerged a clear category leader changing that reality.
By delivering a unified, end-to-end platform purpose-built for fire and EMS, First Due is consolidating mission-critical workflows into a single, AI-powered system of record – turning data into real-time intelligence that drives faster decision making, operational clarity, and better outcomes for patients, agencies, and our communities when every second matters.
First Due’s leadership position, and the scale of the opportunity ahead, is why JMI is proud to partner with First Due as it continues to modernize mission-critical public safety operations.
From JMI’s first meeting nearly five years ago to our growth investment in 2025, it became increasingly clear to us that First Due represents a category-defining platform with the potential to fundamentally reshape public safety technology.
“These markets have been underserved for decades,” said Bob Nye, Partner at JMI. “The existing tech stacks are fragmented, forcing agencies to juggle multiple systems. They’re not making lives easier for our first responders—they’re making first responders’ jobs harder and thus putting our communities at greater risk. The next generation of software – powered by AI, built with automation in mind – has the potential to fundamentally transform how first responders prepare, respond, and protect their communities. There’s a huge opportunity to better serve our first responders.”
Mission-Critical and Mission-Driven: Protecting those who protect our communities
First Due was co-founded ten years ago by CEO Andreas Huber and COO Rami El-choufani with a mission grounded in the realities of life for first responders – and the consequences when critical information isn’t available in time.
As Huber recounted, the idea for First Due was shaped by a tragic incident in which a firefighter battling a house fire fell through what looked like a solid floor during a structure fire. Planning and permitting records later revealed structural vulnerabilities that could have informed response tactics, but the data was inaccessible in the moment.
“Crews are running into buildings without knowing what’s inside or what hidden risks they face,” said Huber. “The data exists, but it hasn’t been delivered in a way that’s usable in real time. We built First Due to change that.”
First Due is now the fastest-growing AI-powered software platform for fire and EMS, purpose-built to help agencies make better decisions under pressure and keep responders safe. The platform comprises a unified, fully integrated suite of 15+ modules applying AI across pre-incident intelligence, real-time response, post-incident reporting, and operational workflows.
Today, that mission reaches well beyond the firehouse to the heart of patient care. First Due uses AI to automate EMS documentation, review every patient care report, and connect field providers with hospitals in real time – enabling faster decisions, better care, and stronger outcomes.
First Due now serves more than 5,000 local, state/provincial, and federal agencies across the U.S. and Canada, including agencies in New York City, Cal FIRE, Denver, Charlotte, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Indianapolis, Baltimore, and Charleston. With FedRAMP authorization, First Due is also trusted by federal agencies such as the Department of Defense.
JMI’s Partnership with First Due
For JMI, First Due represents a rare combination of category leadership, mission-driven impact, and long-term growth potential. It is 1 of 1.
JMI brings deep experience in GovTech, having invested more than $1 billion since 2007 in software companies serving public sector and public safety agencies, including Intergraph, Appriss, Raptor Technologies, AlertMedia, Granicus, Ontic, SimpliGov, and Swiftly, among others.
“We’ve studied and invested in this market for decades,” said Mac Williams, Partner at JMI. “First Due stands apart – not just because of its AI-enabled technology, but because of how strongly customers respond to it. Agencies consolidate onto the platform, expand usage over time, and become advocates. First Due puts customers and first responders at the heart of everything it does. That’s the hallmark of a true market leader.”
JMI’s network of experienced operating advisors and industry partners allows us to support First Due’s product innovation and long-term growth.
The Next Frontier for Public Safety Technology
We see AI-native transformation, not simple digitization, as the defining factor in the next generation of public safety technology. First Due is one example of how that thesis shows up across our portfolio.
The new investment will be used to accelerate platform development, enhance customer support, and expand service delivery with AI.
Near-term priorities include AI-driven improvements to EMS QA/QI workflows that raise the quality and consistency of patient care, intelligent scheduling automation, advanced data and analytics through simple language queries, and conversational tools to significantly streamline platform implementation.
AI is also accelerating First Due’s own product velocity through AI-assisted development, enabling faster feature releases and continuous innovation across the platform.
These developments are designed to support every stakeholder—command staff, frontline personnel, the patients they treat, and the communities they serve—solidifying First Due’s position as a leading provider of mission-critical solutions in the industry.
Powering the Front Lines of Emergency Response
As demands on public safety agencies continue to rise, technology must do more than digitize paperwork; it must apply AI to improve readiness, reduce friction, and improve safety for the people who put themselves in harm’s way every day—and the quality of care they deliver to patients.
JMI is proud to partner with First Due and support its mission as the Company scales its platform, expands its reach, and continues setting the standard for what AI-powered public safety technology can be.
Together, First Due and JMI are helping to ensure that first responders have the intelligence, tools, and time they need to do what they do best: safeguard lives, improve patient outcomes, and protect our communities.
Disclaimer: This press release includes views and opinions of external contributors. JMI believes this information to be accurate and current as of the date of publication but cannot guarantee its accuracy. JMI disclaims any duty to update this press release, or any content contained therein based on future developments. The JMI portfolio company(ies) identified above are not necessarily representative of all JMI investments, and no assumption should be made that the investments identified were or will be profitable. For a representative list of JMI investments, please visit https://www.jmi.com/companies/. The use of artificial intelligence technologies (“AI”) by JMI portfolio companies presents both significant opportunities for growth and competitive advantage, as well as substantial risks. Future developments in AI capabilities, adoption, and other factors may materially alter these assessments, and no assurance can be given that these views will prove to be accurate
