Clearspeed Tops $110M Funding from Gen Petraeus to Combat Fraud with Voice AI

Clearspeed, a company specializing in voice-based risk assessment technology, has announced the completion of a $60 million Series D funding round. This investment brings the company's total funding to $110 million. Clearspeed's technology identifies potential risk in speech by analyzing vocal characteristics, enabling faster decision-making in high-stakes environments for both government and commercial sectors.

The round was led by Align Private Capital. Participating investors included IronGate Capital Advisors, Bravo Victor Venture Capital, and KBW Ventures. General David H. Petraeus (US Army, Ret.), former CIA Director, also joined as a multi-round investor. In conjunction with the funding, Anna Nekoranec, Co-Founder and CEO of Align Private Capital, will join Clearspeed's Board of Directors.

Clearspeed's technology is applied across various sectors, including government, defense, insurance, and banking. In the insurance industry, the company reports a consistent return on investment exceeding 30X by assessing risk early in claims and underwriting processes. This has led to faster, more accurate decisions, including a reduction in claims handling time by half and an increase in immediate payments to customers by 40%. Zurich Insurance, a global multi-line insurer, has implemented Clearspeed to accelerate claims payments.

For government stakeholders, Clearspeed's technology supports efforts to combat fraud, waste, and abuse, and advances national security priorities such as countering threat financing, drug testing, personnel vetting, and partner force screening. Agencies utilizing Clearspeed have reported a 95% reduction in vetting cycle time and a 65% decrease in investigation costs.

"Clearspeed’s AI-enabled voice analytics delivers outsized value for personnel vetting, insider threat mitigation, and enterprise security—where building trust quickly is paramount," commented General David H. Petraeus, Private Investor and former CIA Director.

The company, founded in 2016 and headquartered in San Diego, operates in 37 countries and supports over 60 languages. Clearspeed's proprietary voice analytics technology was initially developed for the U.S. Department of Defense. Its commercial applications help insurers, financial institutions, and other enterprises assess risks such as fraud and insider threats, generate operational savings, and enhance customer experience. The technology aims to provide bias-free, individual risk assessment where establishing trust at scale is critical.

The voice-based risk assessment and fraud detection market includes several players. Pindrop offers voice intelligence and security solutions to detect fraud and authenticate users based on voice biometrics. LexisNexis Risk Solutions provides data and analytics for fraud prevention and identity verification across various industries. NICE Actimize also offers financial crime and compliance solutions, including fraud detection, which can incorporate voice analytics.