Led · Seed · Jun 2023

Pyrra Technologies builds AI-powered tools to identify threats emanating from alternative social media. Its commercial products include Discover and Protect, and the company recently launched a new API solution to surface emerging risks. Pyrra launched in late 2021 as an R&D project of Human Rights First. Over the past two years demand for its commercial offerings has grown, and the platform is currently used by almost twenty organizations, including security teams at Fortune 500 companies, media outlets, NGOs, and academic researchers. The company focuses on detecting hate speech, disinformation, and indicators of financial, reputational, operational and physical attacks so customers can mitigate harm before it materializes. The $2.3 million seed financing will be deployed to accelerate Pyrra’s technical roadmap and market expansion into additional underserved markets. Pyrra builds a threat intelligence platform designed to detect and protect against threats on alternative and dark social media, providing actionable intelligence for customers. The company says its solution addresses needs across government, media companies and enterprises. Pyrra is veteran-founded and was represented by Co‑Founder and Army veteran Welton Chang at the event. In September 2022 Pyrra won $50,000 in non-dilutive funding at TFX Capital’s Veteran Startup Showcase to help grow the business. The award followed Pyrra being selected from five vetted veteran-led startup finalists. The company aims to expand its reach and use the prize to scale operations and customer engagement.