Has GetReal Cracked the Code on AI Deepfakes - $18M and an Impressive Client List Say Yes

The rapid rise of AI-powered deepfakes has introduced a dangerous new frontier in cybersecurity. Fraudulent media—whether in video, audio, or still images—is costing businesses millions and posing significant threats to national security. Now, a startup led by one of the foremost experts in deepfake detection, GetReal, is taking on this challenge with a $17.5 million Series A funding round and a growing roster of high-profile customers.

GetReal’s Mission: Fighting Deepfake Threats at Scale

GetReal, co-founded by Hany Farid, a UC Berkeley professor and pioneer in digital forensics, is tackling the increasing sophistication of AI-generated deception. The company provides a forensics platform as a service aimed at governments, financial institutions, and enterprises, offering tools to detect and prevent deepfake-related fraud and misinformation.

The platform includes:

• Threat Exposure Dashboard: Analyzes risk levels for organizations.

• Inspect: Protects high-profile individuals from impersonation.

• Protect: Screens media for authenticity.

• Respond: A human-led analysis team for deeper investigations.

Big-Name Backers and Clients

The Series A funding round is led by Forgepoint Capital, with Ballistic Ventures, Evolution Equity, and K2 Access Fund participating. Notably, Ballistic Ventures played a foundational role in incubating GetReal before its official launch in 2024.

Additionally, strategic investors like Cisco Investments, Capital One Ventures, and In-Q-Tel (a CIA-linked investment firm) are backing GetReal. Their involvement underscores the pressing need for deepfake countermeasures in both the private sector and national security.

Among GetReal’s growing list of customers are John Deere and Visa, highlighting the demand for deepfake detection tools in financial services and major industries.

A Veteran at the Helm

While Farid is the intellectual force behind GetReal, the company is led by CEO Matt Moynahan, a cybersecurity veteran with leadership experience at Symantec, Arbor Networks, Veracode, and Forcepoint. Moynahan compares the rise of deepfakes to previous cybersecurity threats, calling them "the most ubiquitous threat" he has encountered.

“Viruses were a novel challenge at first,” he says. “Now, the threat is shifting toward individuals. AI-powered scams, impersonations, and misinformation are targeting end users with alarming precision.”

The Road Ahead: Expanding Beyond Audio and Video

While GetReal’s current focus is on multimedia deepfakes, there is growing concern over text-based impersonation scams. This issue gained global attention when The Atlantic’s editor mistakenly joined a Signal group chat planning a military attack in Yemen, initially assuming it was a hoax—only to discover it was real.

For now, GetReal is not tackling text-based deepfakes, but Farid hints at plans to expand in the future.

“Text is a different beast,” he says, but “over time, we plan to cover all forms of AI-driven deception.”

Why GetReal Matters

With the rise of deepfake-related fraud, businesses and governments need robust solutions to safeguard their operations. GetReal’s funding, client base, and leadership team position it as a key player in the AI cybersecurity arms race.

As the digital landscape evolves, the fight against AI deception is only just beginning—and GetReal aims to lead the charge.