Nisien.AI to accelerate mission to make online world safer after Investment Fund for Wales funding

Press release 04 April 2025

Nisien.AI was founded in 2023 and is already working with social media platforms and major brands to detect and respond to online harms in real time 

Funding and key appointments set to unlock new product growth at the Cardiff-based innovator including a tool to support moderation of conflict between social media users, fostering healthy conversations and user/customer retention

Cardiff, February 2025: Nisien.AI a pioneering Welsh artificial intelligence start-up based in Cardiff, has received investment from the British Business Bank’s £130m Investment Fund for Wales via Foresight Group and the Development Bank of Wales, in a joint investment.

Founded less than two years ago by two Cardiff University academics, Professors Matt Williams (Criminology) and Pete Burnap (Data Science, AI), Nisien.AI uses scientifically informed cutting-edge technology to detect and respond to online harms, such as online conflict, to support healthy debate and conversations.

The investment comes just over a year since the Investment Fund for Wales was launched in November 2023, by the government-backed British Business Bank, to boost the supply of early-stage finance to small and medium-sized businesses across Wales.

Nisien.AI, which already has 14 employees, is working with key customers ranging from the top five social media platforms to global brands

The new investment will enable the company to continue to innovate and scale, making key hires and accelerating R&D to develop and bring to market novel and disruptive products, like its maiden revenue generating product HERO Detect, which deploys AI algorithms to accurately detect and classify harms across online platforms in real-time.

In addition to identifying and responding to online harms, the company is also working on new AI products based on emerging scientific evidence on ‘what works’, in building cohesive integrated online spaces. These distinctive products address user/customer retention issues on social media platforms and brand channels, by using a non-censorship approach that protects freedom of expression.

These products will support content moderation and longer term healthy online conversation and community integration. This functionality is essential given the polarising debate around issues of freedom of speech, where the current option to censor content is sub-optimal for users, platforms and brands.

Alongside the investment, Foresight has introduced an experienced Chairman, Tony Stockham, to the business. Tony has worked with Foresight in the past to scale technology businesses and was formerly both an academic and successful entrepreneur in the field of AI.

The founders, who are taking on the roles of Chief Science Officer (Williams) and Chief AI Officer (Burnap) at Nisien, will also remain employees of Cardiff University. They are supported by senior industry hires, including Lee Gainer, former CFO of Wealthify who has joined as CEO; Dean Doyle, former Head of Delivery at HateLab, who has joined as Chief Operating Officer; and Rhodri Hewitson, former Principal Engineer at AM Digital, who has joined as Head of Engineering.
 

It's an incredibly exciting time to be growing a challenger business in this sector. With the Online Safety Act being implemented soon, we believe the growth potential for Nisien.AI is huge. With the support of Foresight, the Development Bank of Wales and the British Business Bank, we look forward to accelerating the great start the business has made since its formation and continuing to grow, creating sustainable new tech jobs here in Cardiff. - Lee Gainer CEO at Nisien.AI
We are excited to be working with the Development Bank of Wales on our first joint investment into Nisien AI. We are keen to see the improvements Nisien.AI will provide to online safety and look forward to working together with the Nisien team. - Ruby Godrich Investment Manager at Foresight
The Investment Fund for Wales was established to provide the financial backing that pioneering and ambitious companies like Nisien.AI so often need, and we are pleased to support their growth plans as they continue to innovate and scale. The company has certainly established itself as one-to-watch on the Welsh tech scene and we’re looking forward to tracking their success as they continue on their journey. - Bethan Bannister Senior Investment Manager at the British Business Bank
Nisien is a great example of a Welsh business working at the cutting edge of a rapidly developing field. Part of our aim at the Development Bank is to support businesses in Wales with strong growth potential and a positive social impact. Nisien’s work will be increasingly important in the rapidly evolving and increasingly topical world of social media, and we’re glad to have supported them during this round. We look forward to working with Foresight to support the business. - Hannah Mallen Assistant Investment Executive at the Development Bank of Wales

Further Information

For more information, please contact:

Lauren Tunnicliffe, Senior Communications Manager, British Business Bank, [email protected]

Lydia Lambert, Working Word, [email protected]

Notes to editors

About the Investment Fund for Wales

Operated by the British Business Bank, the Investment Fund for Wales (IFW) provides a mix of debt and equity funding. IFW will offer a range of commercial finance options with smaller loans from £25k to £100k, debt finance from £100k to £2m and equity investment up to £5 million. It works alongside the various support and funding organisations from Welsh Government as well as local intermediaries such as accountants, fund managers and banks, to support Wales’ smaller businesses at all stages of their development.

The funds in which the IFW invests are open to businesses with material operations, or planning to open material operations, in all areas of Wales, including but not limited to North Eastern Wales, North Western Wales, Mid Wales, South West Wales and South East Wales.

Supported by Nations and Regions Investments Limited, a subsidiary of British Business Bank plc, the Bank is a development bank wholly owned by HM Government. Neither Nations and Regions Investments Limited nor British Business Bank plc are authorised or regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) or the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

www.investmentfundwales.co.uk

 

About Foresight Group (“Foresight”)

Founded in 1984, Foresight is a leading investment manager in real assets and capital for growth, operating across UK, Europe, and Australia.

With decades of experience, Foresight offers investors access to attractive investment opportunities at the forefront of change.  Foresight actively builds and grows investment solutions to support the energy transition, decarbonise industry, enhance nature recovery and realise the economic potential of ambitious companies.

A constituent of the FTSE 250 index, Foresight’s diversified investment strategies combine financial and operational skillsets to maximise asset value and provide attractive returns to its investors. Its wide range of private and public funds is complemented with a variety of investment solutions designed for the retail market.

Foresight is united by a shared commitment to build a sustainable future and grow thriving companies and economies.

Visit https://foresight.group for more information.