In a move to address the increasing geopolitical risk faced by businesses, London-based startup Hence AI has launched Hence Global, an AI-powered platform designed to help organizations monitor and mitigate geopolitical and business risk. The tool, which uses artificial intelligence to analyze vast amounts of data, provides businesses with critical insights to navigate the rapidly changing global landscape.

The launch of Hence Global comes at a time when companies are struggling to keep up with the rapid day-to-day changes in trade policies, tariffs, and regulations. According to Matthew Oresman, London managing partner of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, a global law firm, "We are drowning in trade updates every hour of every day." Hence Global aims to provide a solution to this problem by offering a comprehensive and affordable risk monitoring tool.

Hence Global is built on Palantir's Foundry and Artificial Intelligence Platform, which enables the startup to blend different AI models to understand, summarize, and analyze relevant information based on a customer's specific needs and industry. The system pulls in data from news headlines, Wikipedia, Securities and Exchange Commission filings, press releases, and other public data like sanctions lists or World Bank information. This allows Hence Global to provide customers with a daily briefing on relevant news and information, helping them stay ahead of potential risks.

Sean West, CEO and co-founder of Hence AI, described Hence Global as "an AI-powered business advisor that's riding alongside you." The platform is designed to be accessible to businesses of all sizes, with a base product priced at $1,500 per year. This democratization of access to critical information is a key goal for Hence AI, which believes that technology can serve the majority of the market, rather than just large corporations and high-net-worth individuals.

Hence Global has already attracted a range of clients, including TravelPerk, Diversifi Capital, and Three Crowns. Rohitesh Dhawan, CEO of the International Council on Metals and Mining, uses Hence Global to monitor market sentiment and policy, stating that the platform helps him "get to the 'So what?'" of complex geopolitical issues.

The launch of Hence Global marks a significant milestone for Hence AI, which has raised around $5.2 million to date and is actively seeking further investment to expand its product offerings. When asked about potential acquisition by larger research houses, consultancies, or law firms, West emphasized that Hence AI is focused on its mission to democratize access to critical information, rather than being absorbed into a larger organization.

The implications of Hence Global's launch are far-reaching, with the potential to transform the way businesses approach geopolitical risk management. As the global landscape continues to evolve, Hence AI's innovative platform is well-positioned to provide critical support to organizations seeking to navigate the complexities of international trade and politics.