Falkin Raises $2M Pre-Seed Round to Help Banks Stop AI-Powered Scams Before Payments Are Made

London-based digital safety company Falkin has raised $2 million in pre-seed funding to accelerate the development of its technology aimed at protecting bank customers from AI-powered scams. The funding highlights growing investor interest in proactive fraud prevention tools as financial institutions face increasing pressure to stop scams before money leaves customer accounts.

Founded in 2024, Falkin focuses on identifying scam activity at the point of persuasion rather than after a fraudulent payment has already been made. The company’s platform uses artificial intelligence to analyse behavioural and contextual signals associated with social engineering, enabling banks to warn customers in real time when they are being manipulated. By embedding its technology directly into banking applications and customer communication channels, Falkin aims to stop scams at the earliest possible stage.

The pre-seed round was led by TriplePoint Ventures, which has a history of backing early-stage fintech and financial infrastructure companies. TriplePoint’s participation reflects a broader belief that scams have become one of the most significant and fast-growing threats facing banks and consumers, driven by increasingly sophisticated fraud tactics and the misuse of generative AI.

The round also attracted support from several established venture capital firms. These included Notion Capital, a European investor known for its focus on software and cloud-based businesses, and BackFuture Ventures, which backs founders building technology designed to address long-term structural challenges. Aviva/Founders Factory also participated, continuing its strategy of supporting startups that enhance safety and trust across financial services. Early-stage investment firm Haatch joined the round as well, reinforcing its commitment to backing emerging technology companies across Europe.

Additional capital came from Found Capital and Founders Capital, rounding out a diverse group of backers with experience in early-stage technology and financial services. Together, the investors bring not only funding but also strategic expertise that Falkin plans to leverage as it expands its product and customer base.

The round also included participation from angel investors with deep industry experience. Among them were Pierre Decote, Group Chief Risk Officer at Revolut, and Ben Enckevort, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Metomic. Their involvement adds operational and technical insight from leaders who have firsthand experience dealing with complex risk, security and compliance challenges at scale.

Falkin’s founders argue that existing fraud prevention systems focus too heavily on transactions, rather than on the psychological manipulation that leads victims to authorise payments. Co-founder Boaz Valkin has said that the company’s approach is designed to move fraud detection earlier in the user journey, intervening while customers are still being influenced rather than after losses have occurred. Falkin’s technology analyses multiple signals simultaneously to build a more complete picture of deception, rather than relying on a single indicator.

The timing of the funding comes as banks across multiple markets face mounting regulatory obligations to reimburse victims of authorised push payment fraud. This has turned scam prevention into both a consumer protection issue and a significant cost concern for financial institutions. As a result, demand is growing for tools that can reduce fraud losses while preserving a smooth customer experience.

Falkin plans to use the $2 million pre-seed capital to further develop its AI platform, expand commercial partnerships with banks and fintechs, and grow its team. With scams becoming more convincing and more difficult to detect, the company aims to position itself as a key player in the next generation of digital trust and fraud prevention technology.