September 12, 2024, 11 am (CET)
Delaware & Kyiv — Osavul, an AI-powered media intelligence company, receives a seed investment of $3 mln (€2.78 mln) from three European investors: 42CAP, u.ventures, and SMRK. This makes it one of the biggest investments in Europe in this sector.
Founded in February 2022 in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and aimed at tackling disinformation, Osavul has developed an AI-driven intelligence platform for information environment assessment. The solution is capable of working with data from text, video, audio formats across various platforms such as websites, social media, etc.
Osavul has built a trusted reputation on the market. It started as an innovative approach to propaganda, disinformation, and deception and achieved the title of an Honorary Digital Ambassador of Ukraine. Then, it advanced to become a technology partner for the EU Commission-funded projects. Most recently, Osavul assisted in the analysis of information warfare targeting NATO.
With this round of funding, Osavul aims to scale its operations globally, enhance its AI algorithms, accelerate its outreach, and offer new opportunities for the B2B segment.
With tools for analyzing information narratives, their sources, and ways of spreading, it’ll be possible to prevent reputation threats and run media intelligence analytics without costly research.
The largest investment is made by 42CAP, an early-stage German VC.
"Osavul is already the industry-leading startup in the EU in its sector, and it is driven to scale its opportunities to the US market and offer new opportunities for the business sector. So it is a perfect match for us as the fund specializes in seeding the next generation of tech and data-driven B2B software companies across Europe, with a sharp focus on those poised for international success.”
Alex Meyer
General Partner at 42CAP
Supporting the entrepreneurs who dare to build global ventures is important for u.ventures.
“We are focused on ambitious founders from Eastern Europe to support them at this critical period by developing sound economic policy and leadership. Expertise in combating disinformation by Osavul’s practices and leveraging AI will help businesses of both European and US markets to avoid reputational risks and navigate the complex landscape of brand integrity."
Andrii Sorohan
Venture Director at u.ventur
A year ago, Osavul was backed by the SMRK venture fund and raised $1 million in seed funding. Now, the VC joined the next round.
“We have been impressed by Osavul's results since our initial investment in 2023. It was not a question to support the company once again. We are happy to participate in Osavul's mission to protect society from disinformation and other information threats.”
Vlad Tislenko
Partner at SMRK V
Osavul’s Approach: AI for Positive Impact
According to the World Economic Forum, information threats are considered one of the key risks for the world. While AI may boost the scale and effectiveness of attacks, it can also be used to protect society from AI-driven misinformation and polarization.
Dmytro Plieshakov, co-founder and CEO of Osavul, notes that now is the perfect time to harness artificial intelligence to combat bad actors in the informational landscape.
“AI's influence in narrative attacks is particularly concerning, as it can be used to shape public opinion through misinformation. Osavul applied AI specifically to detect and address these sophisticated narrative attacks, ensuring a more resilient informational ecosystem. This significant investment empowers us to expand our tech experience and initiatives designed to make the digital world a safer and more trustworthy space for everyone.”
Dmytro Plieshakov
CEO of Osavul
Osavul brings security practices to business
Besides the governments, misinformation can damage company reputations, manipulate financial markets, and affect investor confidence, leading to economic instability and financial losses.
Dmytro Bilash, co-founder of Osavul, emphasizes three main points that Osavul helps with: detecting who spreads information, analyzing its impact, and laying the groundwork for decision-making.
“87% of business executives said that the spread of disinformation is one of the most significant reputational risks to businesses. And Gartner anticipates that by 2028, enterprise spending on battling this threat will surpass $500 billion, cannibalizing 50% of marketing and cybersecurity budgets. With the support of investors, we are now set to bring innovative ways for businesses to analyze narrative attacks and insights in digital media and open-source data in order to make the right decisions in time.”
Dmytro Bilash
Co-Founder and CBDO of Osavul
