A.I. platform Signal Media raises $16m to help fund US expansion

Signal Media, the AI-powered reputation management and decision support platform, has raised $16m (£12m) in a Series B round.

The London-based tech firm manages the information overload facing executives as they seek information they need to help shape their decisions.

Signal applies a layer of machine learning to extract insight from over 2.8m global online, print, television, radio and regulatory sources, translated in real time in over 100 languages from 200 markets.

This insight is placed in a self-serve application, giving executives personalised real-time awareness into the conversations, market movements and issues affecting their sectors.

Signal is now expanding into risk management for tax and compliance, as well as business development in financial and legal services.

The funding round was led and priced by GMG Ventures LP, the independent VC fund whose limited partner is The Scott Trust, owner of The Guardian news organisation.

MMC Ventures was the largest investor in the round, which included a debt facility from Kreos Capital. Other investors include Frontline, Hearst Ventures, Reed Elsevier Ventures and LocalGlobe.

Signal currently has over 200 clients including Allen & Overy, Amnesty International, British Airways, E.ON, TalkTalk, Thomas Cook and Whitbread– among many others.

The firm’s headcount has doubled to almost 100 people in a year, and more than quadrupled revenues since its Series A round in September 2016.

The $16m investment will be used to expand further into the US.

David Benigson, Signal’s CEO and founder, said: “We have a system that’s constantly evolving and getting smarter and more intuitive for our customers as they use it.

“Most businesses above a certain size already have a business intelligence tool that enables them to analyse their internal data in considerable depth. Our objective is to provide senior leaders with as much clarity and transparency about what’s happening outside of their organization as they have inside it.”

Alan Hudson, founder and Managing Partner at GMG Ventures, added: “GMG Ventures’ investment strategy is to focus on talented management teams and innovative companies that are disrupting the news and digital media sector.

“Signal’s sophisticated A.I. engine is changing how people consume news and information and is redefining how businesses and organisations leverage insight as part of their long term strategy.

“Signal has a focused management team who we believe are going to win in this emerging space. We are delighted to lead this new investment round alongside world-class investors.”

Simon Menashy, partner at MMC Ventures, also commented: “We first backed Signal to develop their market-leading AI media monitoring tool, innovating in a space where every large company has a solution but few are happy with it.

“It’s now become clear that their technology can be applied to solve all kinds of other information problems businesses face. We’re delighted to be significantly increasing our investment and backing Signal’s next phase of growth.”

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