Tel Aviv and NYC-based AI cybersecurity startup, Clarity, has successfully raised $16 million in Seed funding to bolster its operations and further enhance its development efforts.

The funding round was spearheaded by Walden Catalyst Ventures and Bessemer Venture Partners, with notable contributions from Secret Chord Ventures, Ascend Ventures, Fusion VC, and Flying Fish Partners. Over 70 angel investors and advisors, including luminaries such as Udi Mokady, Chairman of CyberArk, and Professor Larry Diamond of Stanford University, also joined the initiative.

Founded by a team of AI and cybersecurity experts hailing from prestigious institutions such as 8200, Stanford University, Georgetown University, Harvard University, and Israel’s National Security Council, Clarity is led by CEO Michael Matias. The company specializes in combating the proliferation of deepfakes and synthetic media, which pose significant security, financial, and reputational risks to organizations worldwide.

Utilizing patent-pending technology, Clarity enables rapid identification and elimination of AI manipulations present in videos, images, and audio. Additionally, the platform authenticates media content through encrypted watermarking, empowering organizations to safeguard their digital integrity and mitigate potential threats.

Commenting on the successful funding round, Michael Matias expressed enthusiasm about the company’s trajectory, stating, “These capital infusions and ongoing partnership with Walden Catalyst and Bessemer means that we can accelerate our R&D and market growth, both essential to our mission of preserving trust in the digital world.”

Furthermore, Clarity has cemented collaborations with major news organizations and governmental entities, including the government of Israel. Recently, the company partnered with Kaltura to verify and authenticate sensitive footage and testimonials related to the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas.

In an era where deepfakes continue to proliferate across various digital mediums, Clarity’s innovative approach stands as a beacon of hope in preserving the authenticity and trustworthiness of digital content, thereby safeguarding organizations and individuals against potential harm and deception.