Hawk
Hawk is a Munich-based AI-native anti-financial crime platform founded in 2018, serving banks, payment firms, fintechs, neobanks, and crypto businesses across 60+ countries with AML transaction monitoring, fraud prevention, screening, and unified FRAML solutions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersMunich, Germany
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Hawk does
Hawk (legal entity: Hawk AI GmbH) is a Munich-based software company founded in 2018 that provides an AI-native anti-financial crime (AFC) platform for banks, payment firms, fintechs, neobanks, and cryptocurrency businesses. The platform combines AML transaction monitoring, customer and payment screening, fraud prevention (transaction fraud, check fraud, scams and mules), and a unified FRAML solution under a modular, cloud-native, API-first architecture. Core AI capabilities include explainable machine learning, federated learning for cross-institution model training without data pooling, generative AI for SAR narrative drafting, and agentic AI for automated investigations, with every decision supported by regulatory-grade natural language explanations and audit trails. Hawk monetizes primarily through annual subscription-based SaaS licensing with quote-based enterprise pricing, supplemented by professional services and AI model development engagements delivered both directly and through an implementation partner network (Deloitte, PwC, Capco, Bates Group, Ankura).
Hawk sells primarily through direct enterprise field sales targeting compliance and risk leadership at global financial institutions, supplemented by inside sales for mid-market accounts and a self-serve inbound demo funnel. Distribution is amplified by a multi-layer channel ecosystem including Visa Fintech Partner Connect, core banking platform marketplaces (Mambu, Pismo, Modulr, SaaScada), regional banking channels (CSI), and Big Four consulting partners. The company operates from six offices (Munich HQ, London, New York, San Francisco, Singapore, Riyadh) and serves financial institutions in more than 60 countries, processing billions of transactions annually. As of April 2025, Hawk has raised approximately $83 million across three funding rounds (Series A $10M led by BlackFin, Series B $17M led by Sands Capital with extensions from Macquarie and Rabobank, Series C $56M led by One Peak), with reported historical revenue growth of 298% YoY in 2022 and analyst recognition from Forrester, Chartis, and Celent.
Hawk firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hawk
- Legal name
- Hawk AI GmbH
- Website
- https://hawk.ai
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Hawk is a Munich-based AI-native anti-financial crime platform founded in 2018, serving banks, payment firms, fintechs, neobanks, and crypto businesses across 60+ countries with AML transaction monitoring, fraud prevention, screening, and unified FRAML solutions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hawk industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Anti-Financial Crime / RegTech Software
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Finance Services (6199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Model Risk Management & AI Governance (validation, monitoring, explainability) (FSAGAFAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- AI Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Platforms (HDAAAMAA), Enterprise AI Governance, Risk & Compliance Platforms (Model Risk, Audit, Policies) (HDAEANAE), Risk, Compliance & Controls for Embedded Finance (KYB/KYC/AML, Fraud, Disputes) (FSAGALAK)
Keywords
Where Hawk is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Munich
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices6 records
Markets served
Hawk business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- SaaS / Cloud Platform Licensing: Hawk's primary revenue stream is subscription-based SaaS licensing of its AI-powered AFC platform, offered as a cloud-native solution with the option of private cloud deployment. Financial institutions (banks, payment firms, fintechs) pay recurring subscription fees for access to AML transaction monitoring, fraud prevention, screening, and FRAML modules.
- Professional Services & Implementation: Implementation, consulting, and professional services for system integration with existing core banking and compliance infrastructure. Delivered both directly and through implementation partner network (Deloitte, PwC, Capco, Bates Group).
- AI Model Development & Retraining Services: Hawk's world-leading data science services for initial model development, ongoing model maintenance, and retraining. Offered as part of the Analytics Studio lifecycle management solution and standalone professional engagements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Enterprise SaaS platform with modular solution packages for AML, screening, fraud, and FRAML |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Self-serve demo and evaluation process available prior to sales engagement |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels10 records
Hawk product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hawk (Hawk AI GmbH) sells a cloud-native, AI-powered anti-financial crime (AFC) platform for banks, payment firms, fintechs, neobanks, and crypto businesses. The platform combines explainable machine learning, anomaly detection, federated learning, and agentic AI to deliver AML transaction monitoring, customer risk rating, sanctions/watchlist and payment screening, transaction fraud, check fraud, scams/mule detection, entity risk detection, unified case management, SAR/CTR filing, and a unified FRAML (fraud + AML) solution. Deployments are SaaS or private-cloud with modular, API-first architecture and an AML AI Overlay that integrates with existing rule-based compliance infrastructure.
Product overview
Hawk offers an AI-native anti-financial crime platform with modular architecture. The core offering includes AML Transaction Monitoring, Customer Risk Rating, and Customer/Payment Screening, all powered by explainable AI. The platform includes platform modules for Unified Case Manager, Analytics Studio, Entity Risk Detection, and SAR/CTR Filing. Hawk provides dedicated fraud solutions for Transaction Fraud, Check Fraud, and Scams & Mules, plus a unified FRAML solution combining fraud and AML capabilities. Hawk's approach supports both standalone deployment and overlay integration with existing rule-based systems.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- AML Transaction Monitoring AI-powered AML transaction monitoring software for banks, payment firms, and fintechs that increases risk coverage and reduces false positives using explainable AI to detect money-laundering patterns across cards, P2P, and instant payments.
- Customer Risk Rating Dynamic and static customer risk scoring solution that maintains due diligence throughout the customer lifecycle using multiple data sources to maximize risk coverage for perpetual KYC.
- AML AI Overlay AI detection overlay that enhances existing rule-based AML systems without requiring replacement; delivers efficiency and effectiveness gains without lengthy development cycles via a modular integration layer.
- AML Investigative Agent Agentic AI solution that automates labor-intensive AML investigation tasks including data gathering, case summarization, typology identification, and SAR narrative drafting with regulatory-grade explainability, chain-of-thought visualization, and confidence scores.
- Unified Case Manager Centralized investigation workspace that streamlines case management across AML, fraud, and screening alerts with integrated workflows and audit trails, enabling investigators to handle all financial crime alerts in one place under one contract.
- Analytics Studio AI lifecycle management solution enabling financial institutions to build, validate, and govern AI models for financial crime detection, with expert-designed templates, copilot-guided creation, pre-built dashboards, and automated regulator-ready documentation.
- Entity Risk Detection Entity resolution and network analysis technology that identifies entity risk at onboarding, connections to higher-risk entities, shell company risk, and account opening fraud via real-time investigation.
- SAR / CTR Filing Suspicious Activity Report and Currency Transaction Report filing solution that streamlines regulatory reporting for AML compliance.
- Customer Screening Watchlist screening solution that screens customers against global sanctions lists, watchlists, PEP lists, and adverse media databases to identify high-risk individuals and entities for KYC and onboarding.
- Payment Screening Payment filtering solution that screens transactions to identify and prevent suspicious payments using powerful matching technology and configurable algorithms against sanctions lists.
- Transaction Fraud AI-powered fraud detection that monitors transaction behavior to detect fraudulent patterns across all payment channels and methods in real-time for banks and payment firms.
- Check Fraud Check fraud detection solution leveraging computer vision and behavioral biometrics to counter mail theft, dark web industrialization of stolen checks, mobile RDC exploitation, and AI-powered forgeries.
- Scams & Mules Detection solution for scam and mule account identification, analyzing patterns to identify both victim accounts and perpetrator accounts in fraud schemes.
- FRAML (Fraud and AML) Unified fraud and anti-money laundering solution that provides a holistic view of financial crime risks, breaking down data silos between fraud prevention and AML operations via a single integrated platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- 3–5x more threats identified through AI precision
- +8 more outcomes
Companies that use Hawk
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Hawk technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability10 records
Feature8 records
Hawk partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- AML IntelligencecoreHawk partnered with AML Intelligence to release an eBook on AI governance in anti-financial crime operations. The publication discusses challenges faced by financial institutions including ING, Rabobank, Apple Bank, and Credit Suisse, emphasizing resilient governance structures amid rapid AI adoption.
- CommerzbankflagshipCommerzbank formed a strategic collaboration with Hawk to implement AI technology for combating money laundering. Hawk's AML AI Extended Risk Model integrates with Commerzbank's existing rule-based compliance infrastructure through a dedicated integration layer. The bank has reported improved alert accuracy, fewer false positives, and better detection of novel money laundering and fraud cases since implementation.
- ACAMScoreHawk partnered with ACAMS (Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists) for webinars on building better AI models for financial crime compliance. Panelists included experts from ING, Wintrust Financial Corporation, and Grant Thornton.
- VakifBank InternationalcoreVakifBank International partnered with Hawk to strengthen its anti-money laundering operations, deploying Hawk's advanced anti-financial crime platform for AML compliance and perpetual KYC. This partnership set a new standard in compliance operations for the bank.
- DeloittecoreDeloitte and Hawk co-authored a whitepaper on how financial institutions can use AI overlays to leverage Hawk's technology without disrupting operations by avoiding rip-and-replace of legacy systems. Deloitte provides implementation advisory and consulting services for Hawk deployments.
- PwCcoreHawk and PwC formed a strategic partnership in November 2019 to help financial institutions quickly and reliably identify and investigate money laundering. Joint client projects combine Hawk's AI technology with PwC's consulting and forensic services. The partnership emphasized explainable AI and regulatory compliance (BaFin requirements).
- CapcocoreCapco, a Wipro company, is a global technology and management consultancy specializing in digital transformation for financial services. Capco provides implementation services for Hawk deployments as part of its end-to-end compliance solutions.
- Bates GroupminorBates Group is a financial services consulting firm providing BSA/AML services for MSBs, banks, non-banks, fintech and cryptocurrency consulting, and corporate training. Hawk partners with Bates Group for specialized AML implementation advisory.
- Ankura (Chartwell Compliance)minorAnkura provides compliance services including onboarding due diligence (KYC/KYB/CDD/EDD), transaction and fraud monitoring, state license acquisition, and AML advisory. Hawk partners with Chartwell Compliance (an Ankura company) for compliance implementation services.
- RADDminorRADD helps businesses optimize returns, mitigate risk, and protect brand reputation, with consulting for BSA/AML, cannabis banking, money service business, IT, SOX, and FDICIA compliance. Hawk partners with RADD for specialized compliance implementation.
- VisaflagshipHawk is listed in Visa Fintech Partner Connect, enabling Visa's financial institution clients to discover and engage with Hawk's AFC solutions through the Visa partner ecosystem. This marketplace presence extends Hawk's distribution to Visa's global banking network.
- MambucoreMambu is the world's only true SaaS cloud banking platform enabling banks, fintechs, and retailers to build financial offerings. Hawk is a partner on the Mambu marketplace, enabling fintech customers to access Hawk's AFC solutions through the Mambu ecosystem.
- ModulrcoreModulr is a fintech providing API-based payment infrastructure. Hawk partners with Modulr to provide AFC compliance solutions to Modulr's financial institution and fintech customers.
- PismocorePismo is an all-in-one processing platform for banking and payments used by large banks, marketplaces, and fintechs. Hawk is integrated with Pismo's cloud-native microservices platform to deliver AFC solutions to Pismo's customer base.
- SaaScadaminorSaaScada is a cloud-native data-driven core banking engine enabling financial institutions and challengers to build banking products. Hawk partners with SaaScada to provide AFC compliance for SaaScada's banking customers.
- TuumminorTuum is an API-first next-generation core banking platform enabling businesses to launch financial products rapidly. Hawk partners with Tuum to provide AFC compliance capabilities to Tuum's platform customers.
- SkaleetminorSkaleet is an international FinTech providing a core banking platform for financial institutions to launch new banking products. Hawk integrates with Skaleet to provide AML and fraud prevention for Skaleet's banking customers.
- Diebold NixdorfminorDiebold Nixdorf is a world leader in connected commerce for banking and retail, serving the majority of the world's top 100 financial institutions. Hawk partners with Diebold Nixdorf to extend AFC solutions to their banking customer base.
- AUXminorAUX is a Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO) owned by 53 credit unions serving over 200 credit unions nationwide with back-office solutions including compliance and data analytics.
- CSI (Computer Services, Inc.)coreCSI is a forward-thinking software provider helping community and regional banks solve their needs through open and agile technologies. Hawk partners with CSI to provide AFC compliance solutions to CSI's bank customer base.
- Specific-GroupminorSpecific-Group is an established IT company with over 26 years of experience providing software and product development, smart nearshoring, and IT services globally.
- RPY InnovationsminorRPY Innovations is a global payment consulting firm serving as a trusted advisor to leading businesses, financial technology firms, banks, acquirers, and equity firms in the payments ecosystem.
- Regulation AsiaminorHawk partners with Regulation Asia for webinars, events, and awards programs focused on financial crime compliance technology in the Asia-Pacific region.
- NeonomicscoreNeonomics streamlined its AML monitoring by adopting Hawk's compliance technology to deliver next-generation payments and financial services across Europe. Neonomics is an open banking payments provider.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Hawk competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- NICE Actimize: NICE Actimize is the largest enterprise AML, fraud, and financial crime compliance vendor globally, serving tier-1 banks with end-to-end transaction monitoring, screening, and case management. It is the most direct incumbent Hawk competes against for displacement deals at large global banks.
- SAS Anti-Money Laundering: SAS offers a long-standing enterprise AML and fraud analytics suite used by many global banks and regulators. It competes with Hawk on the transaction monitoring and AI-detection layer, though typically with a more legacy analytics stack than Hawk's cloud-native platform.
- Oracle Financial Services Anti Money Laundering: Oracle's FCCM (Financial Crime and Compliance Management) suite provides AML, KYC, and fraud detection tightly integrated with Oracle core banking. It is an incumbent Hawk competes with at large banks running Oracle technology stacks.
- FICO (Falcon / AML): FICO provides enterprise fraud and AML analytics, including Falcon fraud platform, used by many of the world's largest card issuers and banks. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping AI-detection capabilities to Hawk's transaction fraud and AML modules.
Direct peers
- ComplyAdvantage: ComplyAdvantage is a UK-headquartered AI-native AML and KYC platform offering transaction monitoring, customer screening, and adverse media. It is a direct peer to Hawk, particularly in fintech and mid-market financial institutions, with comparable cloud-native architecture and target customers.
- Featurespace: Featurespace provides adaptive behavioral analytics for fraud and risk management, serving card issuers, banks, and payment providers. It is a direct peer in AI-native transaction monitoring with overlapping use cases in card fraud and AML detection.
- ThetaRay: ThetaRay offers AI-based transaction monitoring and sanctions screening focused on cross-border payments and correspondent banking. It is a direct peer in AI-native AML, particularly relevant to Hawk's payments and remittance use cases.
- Feedzai: Feedzai is an AI-native financial crime and fraud prevention platform serving banks and payment providers with transaction monitoring, account opening fraud, and AML. It is a direct peer with a similar cloud-native, AI-first architecture and overlapping customer segments.
- Silent Eight: Silent Eight provides AI-driven name and transaction screening for AML and sanctions compliance, used by global banks and fintechs. It is a direct peer in screening and investigation automation, competing with Hawk's Customer Screening and AML Investigative Agent modules.
Emerging players
- Resistant AI: Resistant AI provides AI and document forensics for AML and fraud prevention, including transaction monitoring and synthetic identity detection. It is an emerging peer with overlapping use cases in AI-driven financial crime detection for banks and fintechs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hawk social profiles
Digital presenceHawk compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Hawk financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hawk leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Hawk funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors9 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hawk M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hawk
What does Hawk do?
Hawk (Hawk AI GmbH) sells a cloud-native, AI-powered anti-financial crime (AFC) platform for banks, payment firms, fintechs, neobanks, and crypto businesses. The platform combines explainable machine learning, anomaly detection, federated learning, and agentic AI to deliver AML transaction monitoring, customer risk rating, sanctions/watchlist and payment screening, transaction fraud, check fraud, scams/mule detection, entity risk detection, unified case management, SAR/CTR filing, and a unified FRAML (fraud + AML) solution. Deployments are SaaS or private-cloud with modular, API-first architecture and an AML AI Overlay that integrates with existing rule-based compliance infrastructure.
Is Hawk a public or private company?
Hawk is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Hawk founded?
Hawk was founded in 2018. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Hawk based?
Hawk is headquartered in Munich, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Hawk make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. SaaS / Cloud Platform Licensing is the primary driver. The others are professional Services & Implementation and AI Model Development & Retraining Services.
Who are Hawk's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are NICE Actimize, SAS Anti-Money Laundering, Oracle Financial Services Anti Money Laundering and FICO (Falcon / AML). Direct peers are ComplyAdvantage, Featurespace, ThetaRay, Feedzai and Silent Eight. Resistant AI is listed as an emerging player.
Does Hawk have an API?
Yes. Hawk offers API infrastructure and data integration capabilities as part of its platform. The API architecture enables flexible response to evolving threats, seamless integration with existing core banking and data management systems, and modular platform design. Hawk's solution supports modern API architecture with integrated view of client risk across AML, screening, and fraud.
What industry is Hawk in?
Hawk's product category is Anti-Financial Crime / RegTech Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAGAFAL, Model Risk Management & AI Governance (validation, monitoring, explainability), with a secondary code of HDAAAMAA, AI Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Platforms. Its NAICS code is 54151 and its SIC code is 7373.