Neural Defend, a deepfake detection and cybersecurity startup, has raised over USD 600,000 in a Pre-Seed funding round led by Inflection Point Ventures (IPV), with participation from MIT SBXI (Boston-based), Techstars San Francisco, and Soonicorn Ventures.

The funding will be used to advance the company’s agentic AI capabilities for real-time, multimodal deepfake detection, accelerating research and product development. Founded in 2024, Neural Defend is at the forefront of AI-powered cybersecurity, working on cutting-edge solutions to combat AI-driven digital deception. The startup is already piloting projects in New York and Singapore, addressing growing cybersecurity threats.

Led by Piyush Verma (CEO), Sivashankar Selvarajan (CTO), and Sumit Singh (Chief Data Officer), the company aims to redefine identity protection and fraud prevention worldwide. Vikram Ramasubramanian, Partner and CIO at IPV, highlighted the significance of Neural Defend’s technology, stating, “Cyber threats are evolving rapidly, posing risks to businesses and individuals. Neural Defend’s AI-driven real-time detection technology addresses a critical need in cybersecurity and identity protection.”

Currently in the pre-revenue stage, Neural Defend is collaborating with global enterprises, fintech firms, and financial institutions to validate its proprietary AI models. The startup’s technology detects deepfakes across video, images, audio, and real-time streams, ensuring robust fraud prevention mechanisms.

“Our goal is to protect real identities against digital deception through innovative AI agentic technology,” said Piyush Verma, CEO of Neural Defend.

With the rising threat of deepfake fraud and cybersecurity breaches, Neural Defend’s advanced AI solutions position it as a key player in the cybersecurity industry, driving adoption among enterprises and governments worldwide.