smartKYC
smartKYC is a London-based enterprise SaaS RegTech company founded in 2014 that uses AI and multilingual NLP to automate KYC, AML, and adverse media screening for banks, wealth managers, and multinational corporations globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What smartKYC does
smartKYC is a London-headquartered RegTech company that builds an enterprise SaaS platform for automating KYC and AML due diligence. Founded in 2014, the company applies AI-led multilingual natural language processing to extract open source intelligence from web, news archives, watchlists, and corporate databases, processing documents in their native language across 45+ languages including non-Latin scripts. Its product portfolio comprises the core smartKYC platform, the smartEYE perpetual adverse media monitoring suite (variants for banks and corporates monitoring 4 million articles per day), the smartLISTS internal watchlist module, and a catalogue of specialised capabilities covering adverse media screening, AML watchlist screening and entity resolution, network mapping, source of wealth verification, ESG risk intelligence, periodic and perpetual KYC refresh, robo onboarding, and batch remediation.
The technology stack centres on a proprietary federated search layer integrating 50+ public, professional, and private data sources; sophisticated name handling with cultural and script sensitivity; and identity matching using multiple attributes to suppress false positives. Architecture is API-first, supporting multi-tenant, on-premise, or cloud deployment, and the platform holds ISO 27001 certification for information security management.
smartKYC sells to five primary verticals: private banking and wealth management, corporate and investment banking, retail banking, compliance advisory and support services, and multinational corporations. Distribution is via direct enterprise field sales with a 'Book a Demo' conversion model on the website, supplemented by partnerships with global compliance consultancies delivering managed services. Pricing is quote-based, structured as multi-year enterprise subscriptions tailored to deployment, data sources, and screening volumes.
smartKYC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- smartKYC
- Legal name
- smartKYC Limited
- Website
- https://smartkyc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- smartKYC is a London-based enterprise SaaS RegTech company founded in 2014 that uses AI and multilingual NLP to automate KYC, AML, and adverse media screening for banks, wealth managers, and multinational corporations globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
smartKYC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- RegTech / KYC-AML Compliance Software
- NAICS
- Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- KYC/KYB & Customer Onboarding (CIP, beneficial ownership, screening) (FSAGAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Data, Evidence & Document Verification (IDV) for KYC (FSAMAMAN), Identity Verification, Proofing & KYC (IDV) (HDAEAJAI), Fraud Prevention & Identity Verification (IDV/KYC) (BPAMAEAI)
Keywords
Where smartKYC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
smartKYC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Enterprise SaaS Subscription: smartKYC operates as an enterprise B2B SaaS platform offering subscription-based access to their KYC automation software. Pricing is quote-based, tailored to client requirements, deployment preferences, and scale of operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Enterprise subscription - Custom pricing based on requirements |
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
smartKYC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
smartKYC provides an AI-enabled enterprise platform that automates KYC and AML due diligence background checks on companies and people. It applies multilingual NLP, federated search across 50+ data sources, and sophisticated name/identity matching to deliver modules for adverse media screening, watchlist screening, perpetual monitoring, source of wealth, ESG risk, network mapping, robo onboarding, batch remediation and lead generation for financial institutions and corporates.
Product overview
smartKYC offers a unified platform architecture combining a core KYC due diligence automation platform with multiple specialized product modules. The platform applies AI to automate third-party risk intelligence collection and identification. Key products include: smartEYE (perpetual adverse media monitoring in two variants for banks and corporates), smartLISTS (internal watchlist management), and specialized modules for adverse media screening, watchlist screening, network mapping, source of wealth, ESG risk intelligence, periodic/perpetual KYC refresh, robo onboarding, batch remediation, and lead generation. The modular design allows financial institutions and corporates to select components addressing their specific compliance and risk management requirements.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- smartEYE: 24/7 perpetual adverse media screening solution that scans for adverse media in real-time using advanced multilingual NLP technology.
- smartLISTS
Products and services
- smartKYC Platform Enterprise AI-powered KYC due diligence automation platform that extracts precise open-source intelligence from vast corpuses (internet, deep web, news archives, watchlists, corporate databases). Used by financial institutions and corporates to automate deep KYC background checks on companies and people.
- smartEYE for Banks Perpetual adverse media screening solution offering 24/7 risk vigilance for banks. Uses advanced multilingual NLP to scan for adverse media in real-time, monitoring 4 million articles per day across 16 languages with precise name matching and minimal news repetition.
- smartEYE for Corporates
Quantifiable outcome
- Remediation of 6,000,000 individuals in 53 hours (vs 120,000 man hours manually)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use smartKYC
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
smartKYC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability7 records
Feature7 records
smartKYC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Compliance Consultancy PartnerscoresmartKYC works with some of the leading consultancies globally to support efficient due diligence and partner to deliver managed services. These partnerships help drive time and cost efficiencies based on a precise and less labour intensive approach to KYC.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
smartKYC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ComplyAdvantage: ComplyAdvantage provides AI-driven AML transaction monitoring, customer screening and adverse media. It targets the same mid-to-large bank and fintech buyer as smartKYC and competes directly for perpetual KYC and adverse-media budgets.
- GBG: GBG provides identity verification, AML/KYC screening and onboarding solutions globally, with strong UK heritage. It competes with smartKYC's robo-onboarding, ID verification and watchlist screening modules.
- Encompass Corporation: Encompass provides automated KYC and customer due-diligence orchestration, including entity resolution, UBO discovery and adverse media. It targets the same global bank buyer with a similar automation-first positioning.
- Northrow: Northrow is a UK-based RegTech offering KYC, AML and client onboarding automation to banks and financial services. It competes with smartKYC in the same UK/EU buyer segment, particularly for perpetual KYC and onboarding.
- Dow Jones Risk & Compliance: Dow Jones offers watchlist, PEP, beneficial ownership and adverse media data and tools used by global banks. It competes head-to-head with smartKYC in adverse-media monitoring and entity resolution workflows.
- Sayari: Sayari provides corporate transparency, beneficial ownership and third-party risk intelligence for banks, corporates and governments. It competes directly with smartKYC's network mapping, UBO discovery and third-party risk modules.
- Refinitiv World-Check (LSEG): Refinitiv's World-Check is the dominant KYC/AML screening platform covering watchlists, PEP and adverse media. It is the closest direct competitor to smartKYC in adverse-media and watchlist screening for global banks.
- Arachnys (NICE Actimize): Arachnys (now part of NICE Actimize) provides multilingual adverse media and customer due-diligence screening. It is a direct technological and commercial peer, particularly in non-English media screening.
Broad incumbents
- LexisNexis Risk Solutions: LexisNexis Risk Solutions offers broad identity verification, watchlist, beneficial ownership and adverse media solutions. As a broad incumbent with deep regulatory data assets, it is a competitor across smartKYC's full stack and is also relevant given CEO Corrigan's prior tenure at LexisNexis.
- Moody's (Orbis, Compliance Catalyst): Moody's, via Bureau van Dijk (Orbis) and Compliance Catalyst, offers global entity data, UBO discovery and AML/KYC compliance. As a broad incumbent, it competes with smartKYC across banking and corporate due diligence workflows.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
smartKYC social profiles
Digital presencesmartKYC compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
smartKYC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
smartKYC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
smartKYC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
smartKYC 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 smartKYC
What does smartKYC do?
smartKYC provides an AI-enabled enterprise platform that automates KYC and AML due diligence background checks on companies and people. It applies multilingual NLP, federated search across 50+ data sources, and sophisticated name/identity matching to deliver modules for adverse media screening, watchlist screening, perpetual monitoring, source of wealth, ESG risk, network mapping, robo onboarding, batch remediation and lead generation for financial institutions and corporates.
Is smartKYC a public or private company?
smartKYC is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was smartKYC founded?
smartKYC was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is smartKYC based?
smartKYC is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does smartKYC make money?
One revenue line is on record: enterprise SaaS Subscription.
Who are smartKYC's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ComplyAdvantage, GBG, Encompass Corporation, Northrow, Dow Jones Risk & Compliance, Sayari, Refinitiv World-Check (LSEG) and Arachnys (NICE Actimize). Broad incumbents are LexisNexis Risk Solutions and Moody's (Orbis, Compliance Catalyst).
Does smartKYC have an API?
Yes. smartKYC is API-first by design, allowing all software outputs to be injected into other tools such as client lifecycle management systems. The API enables integration with onboarding, workflow and case management platforms. However, no specific technical documentation, authentication methods, rate limits, or developer portal URL is publicly available.
What industry is smartKYC in?
smartKYC's product category is RegTech / KYC-AML Compliance Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAGAFAB, KYC/KYB & Customer Onboarding (CIP, beneficial ownership, screening), with a secondary code of FSAMAMAN, Data, Evidence & Document Verification (IDV) for KYC. Its NAICS code is 561611 and its SIC code is 7372.