đź“ť Summary Points:
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Startup Name: Neural Defend
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Founded in: 2024 by Piyush Verma, Sivashankar Selvarajan, and Sumit Singh
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Solution: API-based deepfake detection across images, video, and audio
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Target Sectors: Fintech, eKYC, hiring platforms, video conferencing tools
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Business Model: Usage-based pricing per API call/minute
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Goal: $10 Mn ARR within a year, global expansion
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USP: Proprietary algorithm, four patents, not dependent on open-source
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Funding: Raised $600K in pre-seed round led by Inflection Point Ventures
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Problem Statement: Rising deepfake frauds costing Indian businesses â‚ą70,000 Cr in 2024
India’s Deepfake Crisis: A Digital Battleground Emerges
From business tycoons like Narayana Murthy and Mukesh Ambani to Bollywood stars like Rashmika Mandanna, no one is safe from the growing menace of deepfakes. Whether it’s fraudulent trading apps or manipulated online court hearings, cybercriminals are using AI-powered deepfake technology to deceive millions. The rise is stark—India alone is expected to witness â‚ą70,000 Cr in deepfake-related frauds in 2024, a staggering 550% increase since 2019.
With this alarming trend, Delhi NCR-based startup Neural Defend has stepped up to counter this technological threat with an equally potent AI-powered defense.
Neural Defend: Built To Safeguard Digital Identities
Founded in 2024 by Piyush Verma, Sivashankar Selvarajan, and Sumit Singh, Neural Defend is on a mission to make deepfake detection as simple and seamless as an API call. The startup offers AI-based tools that identify manipulated images, videos, and audio, helping industries prevent identity theft and fraudulent activities.
“The idea was never just to build another AI product,” said cofounder Selvarajan. “It was about restoring trust in digital content.”
The Founders’ Shared Vision: AI For Good
The story of Neural Defend began when Selvarajan, an AI specialist who had worked with Intel via USD Global, connected with Singh and Verma. The trio quickly aligned over the alarming use of generative AI to manipulate personal identities.
Their concern wasn’t limited to financial fraud. From bypassing eKYC systems to manipulating voice and gesture in video calls, AI-generated impersonations were rapidly becoming a global threat, second only to climate change in terms of impact, according to Selvarajan.
The World Economic Forum also confirms this urgency, projecting global cybercrime to reach $10.5 trillion by 2025, up from $3 trillion in 2015.
The Technology: Proprietary, Patent-Backed, and Plug-and-Play
Unlike other startups relying on open-source tools, Neural Defend has built a proprietary deepfake detection algorithm and secured four patents. Its solution is designed as an API, not a standalone application, allowing easy integration with existing systems.
Companies can send an image, video, or audio file via the API and receive real-time results on whether the content has been manipulated.
Use Cases Include:
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eKYC Providers: Detect fake identities during customer onboarding.
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Fintech & Small Banks: Secure financial transactions and digital verification.
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Video Conferencing Tools: Real-time verification plugin for Zoom, Google Meet.
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Hiring Platforms: Prevent impersonation in virtual interviews using AI-generated avatars.
Business Model: Scaling With Each API Call
Neural Defend follows a usage-based pricing model, charging clients per API verification or per minute for real-time video analysis. According to Selvarajan, a single client could generate millions of API requests daily, making the solution highly scalable and profitable with even a handful of clients.
Market Opportunity & Road Ahead
With the global deepfake detection market expected to grow from $1.3 Bn in 2024 to $4.1 Bn by 2032, Neural Defend is racing to capture market share and hit $10 Mn in ARR within the next 12 months. The startup plans to onboard at least 10 major clients, including Fortune 500 companies and global verification platforms.
To fuel its next growth phase, Neural Defend is preparing for a seed funding round after successfully raising $600K in pre-seed funding from Inflection Point Ventures.
Despite competition from giants like McAfee, which recently launched its deepfake detection tools in India, Neural Defend is confident in its specialised, industry-specific solutions and agile tech stack.
Conclusion: An AI vs AI Battle for the Future
As scammers weaponize AI to impersonate public figures, conduct fake legal hearings, and create convincing phishing attacks, Neural Defend stands on the frontlines of this digital war. Its mission? To protect individuals and institutions from losing control over their identity in an increasingly synthetic world.
Whether it’s a ₹95 Lakh scam involving fake Ambani photos or an $830K fraud with AI-driven court hearings—Neural Defend wants to ensure that deepfakes don’t go undetected