About Neal Team Six
Neal Team Six is a newsletter about building technology that saves lives — and what it really takes to do meaningful work in high-stakes environments.
I write for people who believe it’s possible to do good and do well: builders, operators, founders, and anyone curious about entrepreneurship in the service of the public good.
I intend this to be a collection of real stories, hard lessons, and behind-the-scenes moments from my experience building Prepared and being on the front lines of Public Safety.
Why I Write This
Over the last seven years, I helped build Prepared — a company focused on ensuring every emergency gets the perfect response.
What started as three founders in a dorm room became a platform used by nearly 1,000 911 centers, covering about 25% of the United States, and helping save lives every single week. Prepared raised over $130M from investors including a16z, General Catalyst, and First Round, and was acquired by Axon in 2025 for $640M.
I’m writing this blog because:
To encourage folks to pursue entrepreneurship
Encourage startup-minded folks to work on public good technology.
More people should consider building companies that directly improve human outcomes.
This newsletter is my way of sharing what I’ve learned — honestly, imperfectly, and in real time.
What You’ll Find Here
On Neal Team Six, I write about:
Lessons from building high-stakes products where failure isn’t an option
What it’s like to scale a mission-driven startup from zero to acquisition
Stories from inside real 911 calls and emergency response moments
Leadership, product decisions, and tradeoffs under extreme pressure
Reflections on impact, responsibility, and building for public good
Some posts are tactical.
Some are personal.
All of them are rooted in my human experience.
Note: Much is based on my current opinions, and opinions change as new information or experiences come to light.
Who This Is For
You’ll probably enjoy this newsletter if you are:
A founder or aspiring founder interested in social impact entrepreneurship
A product leader or engineer curious about mission-critical systems
Someone exploring how to build a meaningful career beyond traditional tech paths
Or simply someone who wants to understand what happens before help arrives
About Me
I’m Neal Soni, a technical co-founder and VP of Product at Prepared.
I’ve spent my career building software for public safety — from school safety systems to live video for 911 to AI-powered emergency response platforms. My work has focused on empowering emergency responders to act with better context, clarity, and confidence when seconds matter most.
I currently live in New York City.
Why Subscribe
If you subscribe, you’ll get:
New essays delivered directly to your inbox
Unfiltered stories you won’t find in press releases or case studies
Reflections written for builders, not headlines
A front-row seat to what it actually takes to build technology that saves lives
This newsletter exists because I believe more people should see — and seriously consider — building for public good.
If that resonates, I’m glad you’re here.
— Neal
