From Velocity to EY Entrepreneur Of The Year: Retail Crime Intelligence Platform Auror 

Auror Co-founders: Tom Batterbury, Phil Thomson and James Corbett

23 March 2023

Every year, retailers lose $150B USD to theft and organised retail crime. Auror, the 2012 runner-up of the Velocity $100K challenge, is changing the game with its world-leading crime prevention and detection intelligence platform.  

With a mission to reduce crime in stores, Auror initially targeted small retailers in Newmarket. They soon realised they could have a greater impact on the problem and create safer communities at scale with a focus on enterprise retailers and landed a partnership with New Zealand’s largest supermarket and the national police force. Auror now services over 90% of the retail enterprise market in New Zealand, saving police over 600, 000 hours a year in investigations. The company has expanded to Australia, North America, and most recently, the UK, supporting law enforcement agencies and some of the world’s largest retailers, including Walmart, Woolworths, and Coles. Their staggering growth has been acknowledged through inclusion on the Deloitte Fast 50 list in both 2021 and 2022. 

Auror offers a comprehensive crime intelligence solution for retailers by simplifying the crime reporting process and efficiently connecting the dots on repeat offenders and organised groups. The digitisation of the police relationship allows for seamless information sharing, enabling retailers to collaborate in solving crimes. Auror also provides retailers with valuable insights into potential risks and vulnerabilities in their store operations, empowering them to take proactive measures to protect their customers and employees and prevent losses. 

Auror protects over 32,000 stores globally, and works with 2,000 law enforcement agencies, resulting in a substantial reduction of losses and the creation of safer communities. Earlier this year, Auror facilitated extensive collaboration and investigation that led to the arrest and charging of an individual who had committed over 200 criminal events across multiple retailers in North America, worth a staggering sum of more than $150,000 NZD. 

Last year, Auror’s co-founders Phil Thomson, James Corbett, and Tom Batterbury were honored with the EY Entrepreneur of the Year New Zealand 2022 award, acknowledging their outstanding innovation using technology to fight retail crime. They will now compete against more than 50 other countries for the world title at the EY World Entrepreneur Awards in Monaco, taking place in June this year. 

Auror’s success is the result of many calculated risks. Phil, a lawyer specialising in intellectual property and privacy, Tom, a management consultant, and James, a software developer, left their full-time jobs to devote themselves to the company.

Auror had its initial beginnings back in the founders’ university days, when they competed in a Velocity entrepreneurship development competition, run through the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE). Reflecting on their journey, Phil says, “Velocity enabled us to put our company strategy down on paper. We didn’t walk away with just seed funding. It helped us create the real basis for the company and to stress test it with judges and mentors. It’s surprising how much of it still holds true today. We want to inspire the next generation of founders and risk-takers. We’re building a world-changing company that has part of its origins at Velocity. It’s important to take risks, think big, and change the world. The world needs more founders willing to commit to big ideas and be a force for better.”