As AI models and applications grow exponentially, the source of the data used to build and train these systems becomes incredibly important and feeds into issues emerging around accuracy, bias, and copyright. Prolific, a scaleup headquartered in London, offers a platform, which matches AI developers with engaged and verified people instead of bots to help improve and fine-tune their AI applications and address these challenges.
Snaps £25M Series A investment
Prolific has snapped £25 million in a Series A funding round co-led by global tech investment specialist Partech and Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE).
The new funding will help Prolific broaden its AI offerings and establish a stronger presence in the United States, home to over half of its current customer base, including industry giants like Google and prestigious institutions such as Stanford University. Prolific’s UK and European clients include the University of Oxford, King’s College London, and more.
Prolific will use the investment to further develop its AI proposition by further building highly specialised research groups, which will be accessible via its platform. Software developers can provide feedback on code generated by AI, improving its capabilities.
Phelim Bradley, CEO and co-Founder, Prolific, commented: “AI represents one of the biggest leaps forward in technology in recent years and our unique approach to data sourcing from humans positions us to make these systems more accountable and less biased. The funding we have secured will fuel our growth in the AI space, especially in the US, bolstering our commitment to human-guided AI development during this pivotal moment in the technology’s progression.”
Omri Benayoun, General Partner at Partech said, “Its roots in academia means that it has applied the highest standards to quality, while its technical expertise brings innovation that sets it apart from anything else out there. Where others rely on manual recruitment methods, Prolific has built a research infrastructure covering everything from the recruiting and vetting of participants to integration of research tools. Prolific is poised to conquer global leadership in academia and is also perfectly placed to aid the development of AI.”
Sam Harman, Investor Director, Oxford Science Enterprises, said, “We invest in companies with the potential to revolutionise their field and become market leaders, and that is why we’re incredibly proud to back the team at Prolific on their latest fundraise. Prolific is changing the way we build data-driven ecosystems, by empowering both researchers and participants alike, and we are excited to continue supporting the team in realising their mission of making trustworthy data accessible to everybody.”
Verifiable human insights to improve AI systems
Prolific was founded in 2014 by Phelim Bradley in London. It was founded out of frustration with how hard it was to find reliable and genuine participants for online research. Existing tools were said to be slow, and expensive and participants were not always who they said they were.
The company has built a sophisticated research infrastructure applying technology to the sourcing, pre screening, vetting, and paying of participants, as well as integrating research tools. Currently, Prolific offers convenient access to over 120,000 active participants, enabling insights to be gathered swiftly from diverse and specialised groups.
Prolific empowers great research. they enable fast, reliable, and high-quality data collection by connecting diverse people around the world. their mission is to make trustworthy data more accessible in order to help improve human knowledge and decision-making.
