InfoHawk, an AI-powered platform designed to combat online deception, has successfully closed a $2.25 million pre-seed funding round. The investment was led by seed-stage venture firm Moonshots Capital and will fuel the company's mission to neutralize digital fraud at an internet scale. This financing marks a significant step for the startup, founded by industry veterans Rob Leathern, Ben Poiesz, and Jamie McCrindle, as it tackles a rapidly escalating global issue.
The Escalating Threat of Digital Deception
The digital landscape is increasingly plagued by fraud and scams, which have evolved into a significant global threat. Consumers worldwide lost an estimated $442 billion to these schemes in 2025, a figure comparable to the GDP of a mid-sized country. The problem is compounded by the trade in counterfeit goods, which adds another estimated $467 billion in illicit economic activity annually, eroding trust and causing substantial financial harm.
The proliferation of artificial intelligence tools has dramatically amplified the capabilities of malicious actors, making scams more sophisticated and automated. Fraudsters can now effortlessly replicate legitimate websites, videos, and other digital assets, enabling widespread brand impersonation and targeted attacks on enterprise employees. This AI-driven evolution has created a fraud ecosystem that is faster, cheaper, and more difficult to detect than ever before.
InfoHawk's Strategic Approach to a Complex Problem
In response to this growing crisis, InfoHawk is developing a specialized platform to detect, analyze, and neutralize online deception at scale. The company's software utilizes a combination of advanced content detection and deep infrastructure mapping to identify fraudulent activities. Delivered through high-performance APIs, this technology provides enterprises with the tools needed to protect their users from a wide array of online scams and digital fraud.
The founding team, comprising Rob Leathern, Ben Poiesz, and Jamie McCrindle, brings extensive experience from their time at some of the world's largest technology platforms. This insider knowledge gives them a unique perspective on the complex ecosystem where fraudsters operate across jurisdictions and platforms. Their expertise is crucial for building the specialized intelligence and infrastructure required for effective attribution and enforcement against these elusive networks.
A Vote of Confidence from Seasoned Investors
The financing round was spearheaded by Moonshots Capital, a venture firm known for backing leaders solving difficult technological challenges. Kelly Perdew, a founding partner at Moonshots, expressed strong confidence in the InfoHawk team, highlighting their deep industry experience and understanding of the fraud ecosystem. He noted that with AI turbocharging scams, InfoHawk is building the independent, data-driven infrastructure the internet urgently needs to restore trust.
The investment is further bolstered by a group of prominent angel investors with deep expertise in building, defending, and regulating large-scale online platforms. This impressive roster includes former two-term FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz and executives from Meta, Google, AppNexus, and GitHub. Their collective backing underscores the industry's recognition of the critical need for InfoHawk's solution and the credibility of its founding team.
This $2.25 million pre-seed funding provides InfoHawk with the necessary capital to accelerate its platform development and expand its reach in the fight against digital deception. As AI continues to lower the barrier for fraudsters, solutions that can operate at internet scale are becoming indispensable for protecting consumers and businesses. With strong financial backing and a team of seasoned experts, InfoHawk is well-positioned to become a critical component of the internet's defense infrastructure.