Project NOLA

What Project NOLA does

Project NOLA (Project N.O.L.A. National Crime Camera Program) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2009 by criminologist Bryan Lagarde and headquartered at the University of New Orleans. It operates a community-based networked HD crime camera platform in which cameras are purchased using charitable donations and government grants, then loaned to individuals, associations, faith-based organizations, schools, and municipalities; the camera hosts pay only for cloud recording and transmission services (subscriptions ranging from $20/month for entry-level stationary cameras to $2,200/year for long-range PTZ cameras), with optional add-on modules such as Live Facial Recognition ($450/year) and LPR + Video Meta Data ($550/year). Video is streamed over the Internet to the Project NOLA National Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) at UNO and to local law enforcement agencies, where analysts and AI tools provide 24/7 monitoring, evidence collection, and real-time alerts to responding officers.

The underlying technology spans a tiered portfolio of Sony STARVIS NightVision-equipped cameras (1080p stationary wide-angle, 4MP-4K UHD Active Deterrence, 180-degree panoramic, multi-lane LPR, and 25x zoom long-range PTZ with auto-tracking), supplemented by on-device AI for activity detection, gunshot detection, license plate and vehicle/clothing recognition, and gated live facial recognition for felony investigations. Architectural differentiators include redundant recording that continues during internet outages, no requirement for port forwarding, 24/7 constant lossless recording rather than motion-based capture, and claims of up to 156x higher definition than legacy programs and 1/100th the cost of traditional municipal camera systems. Educational seminars on installation, configuration, video analysis, and responsible use of LPR and facial recognition are offered as a separate fee-based service.

Go-to-market is sales-led and community-led: a direct phone line (504-736-9187) routes prospective hosts and municipalities to staff who custom-tailor programs, help raise funds, and integrate with existing camera deployments. Reported outcomes include a 47-year murder low in New Orleans in 2018, an 82% reduction in gun violence in targeted areas, a 92% reduction in homicides in Natchez, MS within three months of deployment, and support on more than 500 homicide investigations since 2010; documented law enforcement customers include NOPD, Natchez PD, Fairfield PD, Woodbury PD, and Jefferson Parish SO, with the program marketed as available nationwide.

Name

Project NOLA

Legal name

Project N.O.L.A. National Crime Camera Program

Website

https://projectnola.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Project NOLA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that subsidizes and deploys networked HD crime cameras with AI analytics for individuals, associations, and municipalities across the U.S., streaming video to a National Real-Time Crime Center at the University of New Orleans to support law enforcement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Safety Surveillance Services

akta.pro primary industry

Video Surveillance System Design & Site Assessment (HSAHACAD)

Keywords

• Crime camera systems
• License plate recognition
• Real-time crime monitoring
• Public safety surveillance
• Gunshot detection systems

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Camera Hosting Fees: Annual fees charged to camera hosts/sponsors for cloud recording and video transmission services. Fees range from $300/year per stationary crime camera to $1,100/year per LPR camera. Monthly cloud fees also available ($20/month). Optional add-ons for facial recognition ($450/year) and LPR+Video Meta Data ($550/year). No additional cost for PC software, mobile apps, software upgrades, or licensing charges.
2. Charitable Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals, businesses, and community organizations. EIN Number 27-0786903. Donations subsidize camera costs and may allow cameras to be provided free of charge in areas with additional financial support.
3. Government Grants: Grant funding from local government and other sources that subsidizes camera costs in qualifying areas.
4. Educational Services: Fee-based seminars and training sessions covering crime camera installation, configuration, video analysis, and socially responsible use of advanced technologies like LPR and facial recognition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Project NOLA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a community-based networked HD crime camera program. The organization purchases cost-subsidized cameras using charitable donations and grants, then loans them to individuals, associations, and municipalities, with hosts paying only annual cloud recording/transmission fees. Cameras stream video to the Project NOLA National Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) at the University of New Orleans, where analysts monitor feeds, detect gunshots, run LPR/facial recognition, and transmit actionable intelligence to local law enforcement.

Product overview

Project NOLA is a networked HD crime camera platform operated by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, providing cost-subsidized crime cameras to communities nationwide. The platform offers a comprehensive portfolio of crime camera products spanning stationary wide-angle cameras, 360-degree auto-tracking PTZ cameras, and License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras—all featuring advanced AI capabilities including human/vehicle auto-tracking, gunshot detection, and optional facial recognition. The core offering is supplemented by add-on AI modules (Live Facial Recognition, LPR+Video Meta Data, Intelligent Alerts) and supported by the Project NOLA National Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) for 24/7 video monitoring, analysis, and law enforcement coordination. Cameras transmit via the Internet to the RTCC at the University of New Orleans, with pricing starting at $300/year for stationary cameras and $1,100/year for LPR cameras, plus optional add-on services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 1080p HD Stationary Wide-Angle Crime Camera with Active Deterrent White Light and Forensic Gunshot Detection

Quantifiable outcome

• Murder rate reduced to 47-year low (lowest since 1971) in New Orleans in 2018
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• University of New OrleanscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Project NOLA's National Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) is located at the University of New Orleans campus in the Oliver St. Pe TRAC Building. This partnership provides academic resources for data analysis, at-risk juvenile outreach, and educational programs. The university partnership enables Project NOLA to be the first and only national crime camera program partnered with a major university for analyzing data to help communities address local crime.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SoundThinking (ShotSpotter): SoundThinking's ShotSpotter product is the dominant U.S. provider of acoustic gunshot detection used by police departments — a category that Project NOLA explicitly attacks by bundling gunshot detection into its crime-camera platform at a fraction of the cost. Both compete for the same law enforcement safety budgets.
• Eagle Eye Networks: Eagle Eye Networks is a cloud-managed video surveillance platform used by businesses, schools, and governments with AI-based video search and analytics. It overlaps with Project NOLA's cloud recording architecture and remote access for law enforcement partners.
• Rekor Systems: Rekor provides AI-driven license plate recognition, vehicle and roadway analytics, and traffic safety solutions for law enforcement and municipalities. Project NOLA's LPR-plus-Video Meta Data offering directly competes with Rekor's LPR and vehicle-classification capabilities.
• Flock Safety: Flock Safety operates a nationwide network of license plate recognition and video surveillance cameras primarily for neighborhoods, HOAs, businesses, and law enforcement. It is the closest commercial analogue to Project NOLA's community-based, subscription-funded crime camera model and directly competes for the same municipal and law enforcement RFPs.
• Verkada: Verkada sells cloud-managed HD security cameras with integrated AI analytics (motion, people/vehicle search) to businesses, schools, and government. It competes with Project NOLA on cloud camera architecture, AI analytics, and ease of remote access for property owners and law enforcement.

Emerging players

• Rhombus Systems: Rhombus delivers cloud-managed physical security cameras with AI analytics for schools, enterprises, and government. It overlaps with Project NOLA's value proposition of cloud-hosted cameras, remote access, and AI-driven alerts for security and safety teams.
• BriefCam: BriefCam provides video analytics and AI-powered search/summarization for surveillance footage used by enterprises and public-safety agencies. Its video-analytics capabilities overlap with Project NOLA's AI activity detection and instant-search features.

Broad incumbents

• Axon: Axon (formerly TASER International) provides body cameras, TASER weapons, evidence management, and increasingly in-car and fixed video for law enforcement. It competes indirectly with Project NOLA for the same public-safety technology spend and increasingly offers networked video and AI analytics.
• Motorola Solutions: Motorola Solutions owns Vigilant Solutions (LPR) and CommandCentral public-safety software, providing integrated cameras, LPR, and analytics for law enforcement. It is a broader incumbent competing for the same municipal public-safety technology budgets as Project NOLA.
• Genetec: Genetec is an enterprise security and video management software vendor that Project NOLA explicitly benchmarks against, claiming 16x higher definition than 'Genetec-powered programs.' It represents the incumbent municipal/enterprise VMS alternative that Project NOLA positions against on cost.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ProjectNOLA
• Xx.com/projectnola

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Project NOLA