BITE Data Raises $2.5 Million Series Seed to Expand AI-Powered Global Trade Compliance Platform
BITE Data, an AI‑native SaaS startup focused on automating global trade compliance workflows, has raised new venture funding that positions the company for accelerated growth as global supply chains face increasing regulatory complexity. In November 2025, the company closed a $2.5 million Series Seed funding round — bringing its total capital raised to $3 million after an earlier $500,000 pre‑seed round earlier in the year.
The Series Seed round was led by Las Olas Venture Capital (LOVC), an early‑stage venture capital firm that specializes in backing B2B software and AI startups building vertical SaaS platforms. Joining Las Olas in the round were investors New Dominion Angels and Blue Impact Venture Capital, reflecting a mix of venture and angel support for the company’s vision to transform how compliance teams navigate import, export and risk regulation in global commerce.
BITE Data was founded in 2023 by Thariq Kara and Anne Riitho with a mission to modernize a traditionally manual and labor-intensive segment of trade operations. The company leverages artificial intelligence and automation to simplify complex import and export compliance tasks — such as screening restricted parties, classifying products for tariff codes and monitoring regulatory changes — through an integrated platform that helps companies reduce risk and improve operational efficiency.
The most recent funding will be used to expand BITE’s engineering and sales teams as the startup scales its platform and accelerates product development. With rising geopolitical tensions, evolving sanctions regimes and an increasingly fragmented regulatory environment, BITE’s founders believe there is urgent demand among businesses for tools that can help trade compliance professionals work more quickly and reliably than existing manual approaches allow.
In addition to the $2.5 million Seed round, BITE Data’s prior $500,000 pre‑seed round — closed in June — included major contributions from Techstars, the global accelerator network, and Refashiond Ventures, an early‑stage investor focused on data and software-driven companies. That initial capital helped BITE refine its product roadmap and lay the groundwork for its current venture-backed expansion.
Based in Leesburg, Virginia, the company’s leadership brings deep domain expertise to the problem of global compliance automation. Kara’s background includes senior technical roles in U.S. customs and trade enforcement, while Riitho has experience leading supply chain investigations for federal agencies. Their insights into regulatory processes have informed BITE’s product design, which emphasizes accuracy, scalability and the ability to streamline workflows previously handled through spreadsheets and manual research.
Investor enthusiasm for BITE Data’s approach highlights growing interest in AI-driven solutions for compliance and risk management. Las Olas Venture Capital, in particular, has positioned itself as a key backer of early-stage software companies that apply AI and automation to complex enterprise problems. New Dominion Angels and Blue Impact Venture Capital bring additional depth to the round, offering both capital and strategic perspectives that can help BITE scale its technology and go-to-market efforts.
BITE Data’s technology aims to transform how companies deal with global trade requirements — a function that is critical but often underserved by modern software. By automating repetitive tasks and leveraging machine learning to interpret regulatory data, the startup seeks to reduce compliance risk, cut operational costs and enable trade teams to focus on higher-value strategic work.
The combined financing — $2.5 million in the Seed round and $500,000 earlier in the pre‑seed — brings the company’s total funding to approximately $3 million, providing runway to support product enhancements, new hires and expanded marketing efforts as BITE targets growing adoption among import/export professionals and supply chain teams.
As BITE Data enters 2026 with a strengthened balance sheet and a clear growth plan, its founders aim to leverage investor backing to capture opportunities in a regulatory landscape marked by intensifying trade scrutiny and compliance pressures. The company’s focus on integrating AI into an essential yet overlooked aspect of global commerce underscores a broader trend of technology innovation aimed at unlocking efficiency and resilience for businesses operating across borders.
