Morris County native raises $1 million for safety tech startup, relocates 3rd-i headquarters to Morristown

MORRISTOWN, N.J. (Morris County) — Chester native and University of Miami graduate Dillon Abend has raised $1 million in funding for his mobile safety startup, 3rd-i Technology Inc., and recently moved the company’s headquarters from Miami to Morristown.

The funding, which includes more than a dozen institutional and angel investors — among them a $100,000 seed investment from the University of Miami — will support the continued growth of 3rd-i’s personal safety platform. The platform is already expanding across U.S. cities and college campuses.

Abend, 22, who graduated in May 2025, returned to Morris County and officially relocated the company to Morristown that same month.

“This is more than an app — it’s a mission built on personal experiences, real safety concerns, and years of development,” Abend said. “With rideshare-related incidents on the rise, people need more than just alerts — they need real-time, proactive protection.”

The concept for 3rd-i was born during Abend’s high school years in Chester, when he frequently ran outdoors in remote areas and would stay on the phone with family for reassurance. That experience sparked the idea for a technology-driven, real-time safety solution. The concept evolved further while he was in college, where he heard repeated stories of rideshare-related incidents.

After more than 100 product iterations, the 3rd-i app now includes several key features:

• Trip Mode, which shares your live feed and location with trusted contacts;
• Dual-camera live streaming and Picture-in-Picture recording;
• AI transcription and summary of events; and
• An SOS button that connects to a 24/7 Emergency Dispatch Center in contact with law enforcement.

Additional features in development include an AI-powered crime map, real-time threat detection, and expanded plans for families and businesses.

The startup has already received multiple honors, including first-place awards at the University of Miami’s Business Plan Competition and the Harvard Business School Alumni Angels of South Florida Pitch Competition.

Abend has grown the company with the help of the University of Miami’s USTARR accelerator program and partnerships with national safety organizations like the #WHATSMYNAME Foundation and Baylie’s Wish Foundation. The recent investment round allowed him to hire seven new staff members and redesign the app for improved scalability and user experience.

3rd-i’s relocation to New Jersey signals a new chapter for the company and for Abend, who said the platform reflects both innovation and personal purpose — including honoring the memory of his late father.

For more information or to download the app, visit www.3rd-i.com.