Modulate Raises $25M to Scale Small-Model Voice AI for Deepfake Detection and Agent Compliance
aiinsider ·
Boston-based startup Modulate has secured $25 million in new funding led by Future Ventures, with additional participation from Hyperplane and Lakestar. This investment builds upon the company's previous $41 million raise, which valued it at $170 million. Founded in 2017 by MIT alumni Mike Pappas and Carter Huffman, Modulate has evolved from providing voice modulation for gaming to focusing on AI safety and compliance. The company utilizes over 100 small models to detect synthetic voices, analyze emotional tone, and identify intent or rule violations in spoken interactions. This architecture allows for efficient training without relying on specialized hardware or heavy compute resources. Modulate currently serves organizations such as call centers by detecting deepfakes and monitoring AI agents for regulatory compliance and service quality. With a current workforce of 40 to 45 employees, the company plans to hire ten more staff members to strengthen its model development capabilities. Additionally, Modulate is expanding its deployment options to include on-premises and on-device solutions to enhance data privacy.
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