Finance

A company that uses technology to help hedge funds and banks bust rogue employees just raised $70 million

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A visitor speaks to Baidu's robot Xiaodu at the 2015 Baidu World Conference in Beijing, China, September 8, 2015. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
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A New York-based startup that uses artificial intelligence to help banks and asset managers screen for rogue activity among their employees just raised $70 million. 

Software company Behavox, which is able to analyze massive amounts of data like employee emails, texts and calls through a technology known as natural language processing, raised 40% more money than it had initially targeted, according to a source familiar with the deal. 

It's the latest example of investor interest in fintechs focused on helping firms solve compliance issues, known as "regtech." 

As of the third quarter of 2018, investors had poured twice as much funding into regtech companies than in the entire prior year, according to research provider FinTech Global .

And regulations for financial institutions are only getting more complex. A recent survey conducted by Intertrust of 500 financial services executives found 85% expect regtech demand to grow until at least 2020. 

Behavox's investors were not disclosed. Citigroup previously led a $20 million round for Behavox in November 2017, which venture capital firm Index Ventures also participated. In November 2017, Behavox was valued at $200 million, though a more recent valuation could not be learned. 

A spokesperson for Behavox declined to comment on the funding round. 

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Dan DeFrancesco
Dan DeFrancesco
Dan is the lead writer for BI Today, Business Insider's flagship daily newsletter. Sometimes he interviews executives about everything from AI's impact on capitalism to robotics to the potential SaaSpocalypse. Sometimes he makes Mad Libs for AI-driven layoff announcements.Dan previously covered financial technology and market structure for BI as a reporter and editor. His work includes everything from inside Robinhood's failed "Checking and Savings" product that eventually led to Congress getting involved to the internal arguments over JPMorgan's failed attempt to launch a finance app for millennials.Before joining BI, Dan wrote about derivatives and commodities for Risk.net and fintech for WatersTechnology. If you played high school sports in the lower Hudson Valley between 2012 and 2014 there's a good chance he wrote about you during his first real journalism job at The Journal News. Got a tip? Contact this editor via email at ddefrancesco@bjinnox.com.