Egregious, a London-based startup developing cutting-edge technologies to defend against AI misuse, has raised €936k in a Pre-Seed funding round in order to meet growing demand for AI threat detection.
The funding round was led by Fuel Ventures and Oxford Capital, as well as continued support from Rosc, Tiny Supercomputer Investment Company, Hatcher+ and Angel investors.
Rupert Small, PhD, CEO and Founder of Egregious said: “AI-powered bots and agents are powerful tools, but they also pose a growing threat. These AI agents give people superhuman powers to shape narratives, manipulate systems, and undermine trust at scale. At Egregious, we’re building a defence line for humanity.”
Founded in 2023 by Rupert Small, PhD, Egregious’s mission is to protect critical organisations from the growing threats posed by AI-powered deception, disinformation, and harmful content.
The company’s innovative Human AI platform employs advanced AI tools to tackle some of the most pressing challenges arising from AI misuse. Its solutions include Social Media Intelligence (SOCMINT) tools and Narrative Intelligence technologies, designed to identify, analyse, and counteract malign influence operations.
This approach addresses threats across multiple industries, including national security, finance, marketing, cybersecurity, and insurance.
The funding will accelerate Egregious’ product development and enhance its platform’s capabilities to meet the increasing demand for AI threat detection and mitigation. The startup has also joined the NVIDIA Inception Program, reinforcing its commitment to technological innovation and growth.
Mark Pearson, Founder of Fuel Ventures, expressed confidence in the startup’s potential: “Egregious represents a bold step forward in the AI space. Rupert and his team have demonstrated exceptional expertise and have an unwavering commitment to addressing some of the most critical challenges facing society today due to evolving technology in the world.”
Egregious is focusing on industries where the consequences of AI misuse are most pronounced, offering tailored applications of its platform to address these critical challenges.
In the realm of national security and defence, it provides secure Social Media Intelligence solutions to monitor and counteract disinformation campaigns. For finance and corporate security, the platform safeguards organisations against market manipulation, personnel risks, and AI-driven scams. In marketing and communications, Egregious enables AI-powered, multi-platform strategies to enhance productivity.
Its cybersecurity capabilities detect and mitigate open-source intelligence (OSINT) risks to fortify digital security, while in the insurance sector, it supports insurers by identifying and assessing global security threats through AI-driven insights.
The urgency of Egregious’ mission is underscored by the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Risks Report, which ranks misinformation and disinformation as top global risks, alongside cyber espionage and societal polarisation. As AI capabilities continue to evolve, the arms race between AI misuse and detection intensifies, making Egregious’ role increasingly critical.
Egregious’ approach to narrative security and information resilience looks to place it at the forefront of the AI defence landscape. Its platform counters AI-generated misinformation and empowerss organisations to strengthen their information security infrastructure.
Mark Pearson added: “We’re thrilled to support Egregious as they lead the charge in Human AI innovation and look forward to supporting their growth in 2025.”