SafetyCulture’s Path from a Garage Startup to a Global Powerhouse

SafetyCulture’s Path from a Garage Startup to a Global Powerhouse

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Workplace safety and operational efficiency have become top priorities for organizations across every industry, from bustling construction sites to sleek corporate offices. As global standards evolve and the pressure to maintain compliance increases, companies find that traditional methods like manual inspections, scattered reporting, and reactive problem-solving no longer cut it. The stakes are higher than ever. Ensuring that teams are trained, processes are followed, and hazards are addressed early isn’t just a regulatory requirement but an essential for protecting lives and sustaining operations. Businesses realize that building a safety culture takes more than protocols and requires participation, clarity, and the right tools.

This is where technology has changed the game. The rise of mobile-first platforms and AI-powered solutions has allowed organizations to embed safety and quality practices directly into their daily workflows. Inspections that once took hours can now be completed and submitted in minutes. Real-time reporting helps identify risks before they escalate. Training is more accessible and engaging, empowering employees to take ownership of their roles in workplace safety. What was once a reactive burden is now an integrated, proactive improvement system? This shift doesn’t just meet standards but raises them. At the center of this transformation is SafetyCulture, which has reimagined how businesses approach safety, quality, and efficiency through innovation and purpose-driven design.

SafetyCulture is a leading Australian technology company dedicated to transforming workplace safety, quality assurance, and operational efficiency through innovative, mobile-first solutions. The company was established in 2004 by a former private investigator, Luke Anear, in his Townsville garage and began its operations around digitizing safety inspections and audits under the flagship product “iAuditor,” launched in February 2012.

Over time, as its offerings expanded beyond inspections to include training, incident reporting, asset management, and real-time data insights, the company officially rebranded to SafetyCulture in 2019, signaling its broader mission to enhance frontline operations at scale. Headquartered in Sydney, SafetyCulture has built a strong global footprint with regional offices in Kansas City, Manchester, Manila, and Amsterdam, supporting a diverse and growing customer base across the globe.

The company leverages SaaS technology, cloud-based infrastructure, and integrations with IoT devices to provide businesses with the tools to identify risks, ensure regulatory compliance, and foster a culture of continuous improvement. Its platform has become essential in high-stakes industries such as construction, manufacturing, logistics, mining, and hospitality, where safety, efficiency, and adaptability are critical. Through user-friendly technology and a deep understanding of operational challenges, SafetyCulture has reduced incidents everywhere and delivers consistent quality at scale.

SafetyCulture’s early years were marked by rapid innovation and steady financial backing that fueled its evolution from a simple checklist tool into a workplace operations platform. In 2013, the company secured its first seed round, raising $2.9 million from Blackbird Ventures, a milestone that laid the groundwork for future growth.

Two years later, in September 2015, SafetyCulture closed its Series A with $6.1 million in new funding, bringing its valuation to $47 million. During this time, the company was already thinking ahead, launching key tools like Incidentally to simplify incident reporting and Edify to streamline employee training. Expansion followed swiftly: new offices opened in San Francisco, Kansas City, and Manchester in 2016, the same year SafetyCulture raised $30 million in its Series B from Index Ventures, nearly tripling its valuation to $120 million.

The momentum continued with the 2017 launch of Spotlight, another incident reporting solution, and a Manila office to bolster global operations. In 2018, TeamTrain was added to its suite of training tools, further strengthening its commitment to workforce development. That same year, a significant Series C round brought in $60 million from top-tier investors, including Tiger Global, Blackbird Ventures, and Atlassian’s co-founder Scott Farquhar, propelling the company’s valuation to $420 million.

By 2019, SafetyCulture had firmly positioned itself as a frontrunner in workplace safety technology and launched Mitti, an insurance joint venture with QBE. That same year, it acquired EdApp, a mobile training platform designed for dispersed teams, further broadening its capabilities. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 significantly heightened the importance of workplace safety, accelerating the company’s growth as organizations sought tools to navigate rapidly evolving health regulations.

In March 2020, SafetyCulture raised $35.5 million in a Series C round, pushing its valuation to $1.3 billion and officially earning unicorn status, while TDM Investments evaluated the company at $1.36 billion. Its role became increasingly vital as businesses turned to its technology for compliance and risk management during the global crisis. In April 2021, the company raised an additional $99 million in a venture round led by Insight Partners, increasing its valuation to $2.3 billion.

That same year, the EdApp Instructional Design team was established in Manila, and in 2022, SafetyCulture expanded its footprint with a new headquarters in Sydney and an office in Amsterdam. In 2023, a $34 million funding round led by Morpheus Ventures and Marbruck Investments, with continued support from Index Ventures, raised the company’s valuation to $2.7 billion. This momentum was accompanied by a significant leadership transition, with founder Luke Anear stepping into the role of Executive Chairman and Kelly Vohs assuming the position of CEO. The company’s strategic direction continues to be shaped by a strong leadership team, including board members Robyn Denholm, Craig Tiley, Jan Hammer, and advisor Scott Farquhar.


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