London-based AI counter-disinformation company Refute has successfully secured $6.8 million in a seed funding round to combat escalating digital threats. The investment was led by deep tech specialist Amadeus Capital Partners, with significant participation from the UK Government's National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF). This funding arrives as both public and private sector organizations face a surge in sophisticated, AI-driven disinformation campaigns.
The Evolving Threat Landscape
The modern information environment is increasingly hostile, with malicious actors deploying advanced hybrid warfare tactics. These campaigns blend automated bot farms with influential online personalities and are now supercharged by agentic AI for end-to-end automation. Consequently, disinformation has evolved from a peripheral nuisance into a strategic weapon targeting not just nations but also corporations, posing severe reputational and operational risks.
Refute's Technological Advantage
Since emerging from stealth in 2024, Refute has developed a military-grade AI platform to provide a robust defense against these threats. The technology is engineered to detect the earliest indicators of online manipulation, offering clients near real-time intelligence and actionable response recommendations. This proactive capability enables organizations to anticipate and neutralize campaigns before they can inflict significant damage on credibility or market stability.
Demonstrated Impact in High-Risk Sectors
Refute has already demonstrated the efficacy of its platform in identifying coordinated influence operations across various sectors. During recent European elections in Romania, its system detected over 32,500 inauthentic TikTok videos designed to artificially amplify extremist candidates among expatriate communities. In the commercial sphere, the company's monitoring revealed that 40% of tracked mining sites were being targeted by misleading or fake actors.
Investor Confidence in a Critical Mission
The funding round reflects strong investor confidence in Refute's ability to address a critical global challenge. James Baker, Principal at Amadeus Capital Partners, described the company's work as "critical infrastructure for the future of a well-functioning society." This sentiment was echoed by an NSSIF spokesperson, who praised Refute's advanced, dual-use capabilities for their potential to safeguard democratic processes and enhance collective security.
Fueling Future Development and Expansion
The new capital will be strategically deployed to enhance Refute's technological capabilities and expand its market presence across Europe. CEO Tom Garnett emphasized that the goal is to help organizations "outpace their adversaries," while CTO Vlad Galu noted the funds will grow the engineering team to advance detection models. This investment is crucial for scaling the company's capacity to neutralize emerging threats at an exponential rate.
This $6.8 million investment marks a significant milestone for Refute, positioning the company at the forefront of the fight against digital manipulation. It underscores the growing recognition that sophisticated AI tools are essential for protecting both commercial enterprises and democratic institutions from hybrid threats. As the information landscape becomes more contested, Refute's enhanced capabilities will be vital in building resilience and ensuring stability.