AI-powered security startup Neural Defend has raised over $600,000 in a pre-seed funding. The funding, announced on Thursday, was led by Inflection Point Ventures (IPV) with participation from other investors including Boston-based MIT SBXI, TechStars San Francisco, and Soonicorn Ventures.
The company, which is registered in India as well as the United States, plans to use the funds to enhance their capabilities for real-time, multimodal deepfake detection, accelerating its R&D and product development.
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The World Economic Forum estimates that deepfake financial fraud and AI-related crimes could cost $10.5 trillion globally by 2025, leading to significant social and economic disruption. Neural Defens’s mission is to promote a transparent and trustworthy digital world, protecting institutions and individuals from such threats.
Founded in 2024, Neural Defend specializes in cutting-edge deepfake detection and cybersecurity solutions. It deals with the growing risks posed by AI-driven deepfake technology, which can be used for deception.
The startup, headed by founders Piyush Verma (CEO), Shivashankar Selvarajan (CTO), and Sumit Singh (Chief Data Officer), aims to redefine identity protection and fraud prevention globally, and has pilot projects underway in New York and Singapore.
Neural Defend was born out of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)’s Venture Mentoring Service. “We believe that the thoughtful integration of technology with human expertise has the potential to drive unprecedented, transformative change across the globe,” the team noted on their blog.
While Verma is also the founder and CEO of Manush Labs, an interdisciplinary collaborative program that attempts to solve societal problems by empowering innovators and entrepreneurs, Selvarajan previously worked as an AI and ML engineer, and Singh was a data engineer.
“Cyber threats are evolving rapidly, posing risks to businesses and individuals. Neural Defend’s AI-driven real-time detection technology addresses a critical need in cybersecurity and identity protection. Their vision and early traction make them a compelling investment,” said Vikram Ramasubramanian, partner and CIO at IPV.
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While Neural Defend is currently in its pre-revenue stage, it is engaging with global enterprises, fintech firms, and financial institutions to validate its technology. The company’s proprietary AI models detect deepfakes across multiple formats, including video, images, audio, and real-time streams, ensuring robust fraud prevention.
“Our goal is to protect real identities against digital deception through innovative AI agentic technology,” CEO Verma said.
Considering the rising concerns over the misuse of AI deepfake technology, Neural Defend’s advanced solutions position might end up making it a key player in the industry.