LENS Detect
Earned media strategy to secure featured television coverage for an AI startup that prevents traffic accidents.
Situation
LENS Detect is an AI startup dedicated to ending traffic accidents. Analyzing existing highway safety camera footage, LENS’s specific math-based AI detects road hazards in real time and sends alerts directly to emergency dispatchers before collisions occur. LENS has partnered with California Highway Patrol to deploy this first-in-the-nation technology through which it monitors millions of frames of traffic footage and detects stalled vehicles and pedestrians on freeways – preventing thousands of accidents before anyone calls 911.
LENS Founder and CEO Kevin Pomplun approached Miller Ink to secure earned media to strengthen investor confidence and accelerate business growth.
Approach
Miller Ink worked with Pomplun to identify LENS’ existing success stories. One such story was that of California Highway Patrol Captain Andrew Gregg, who was eager to discuss LENS because its 91% accuracy rate helped his command earn the Southern California APCO #1 Public Safety Access Point Award in 2025. Capt. Gregg planned to retire from his distinguished 25-year career in a few short weeks.
Miller Ink pitched LENS’ success with California Highway Patrol to CBS Los Angeles, which took immediate interest in airing a feature story about the life-saving technology. Ahead of filming, Miller Ink conducted media training sessions with Kevin Pomplun and Capt. Gregg, developing coordinated talking points, messaging and statistics to prepare them for the interviews. Miller Ink arranged and coordinated filming at California Highway Patrol’s Los Angeles Communications Center (LACC) headquarters, featuring emergency dispatchers using LENS technology. This approach ensured the story consistently highlighted the partnership’s credibility, measurable results and public safety impact, alongside strong visuals for television.
Impact
Within 24 hours of onboarding the client, Miller Ink secured an in-depth 3-minute CBS Los Angeles feature television segment. The story featured Pomplun, LACC dispatchers, and CHP Captain Andrew Gregg, providing powerful third-party validation of LENS technology from one of the nation’s leading public safety agencies.
Immediately after the story aired, 50 traffic agencies across the United States contacted LENS expressing interest in adopting its patent-pending technology. Those inquiries represented approximately $150 million in potential revenue. More importantly, broader adoption of the technology can save one life every day.