DataLEADS
DataLEADS is a New Delhi-based digital media and technology company operating fact-checking, media literacy, and AI readiness platforms (First Check, Asian Dispatch, FactShala, Shakti, Kruxd) for journalists, newsrooms, and educators across India and Asia, funded primarily through grants and partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersNew Delhi, India
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What DataLEADS does
DataLEADS, legally OW DataLEADS Private Limited, is a digital media and technology company headquartered in New Delhi, India, with a secondary presence in Singapore. Founded in 2014 and operating with 11-50 employees, the company works at the intersection of information integrity, media literacy, fact-checking, and AI readiness. Its portfolio is organized around flagship platforms including First Check (IFCN-verified health misinformation initiative), Asian Dispatch (pan-Asia journalism network with 18 member newsrooms), FactShala (media literacy network supported by Google News Initiative), Shakti Collective (election fact-checking coalition that mobilized 50+ organizations and 260+ fact-checkers for the 2024 Indian elections), Kruxd (trust and safety monitoring platform), and DL Academy (capacity-building including AI readiness training). Complementary programs address climate misinformation (OCRI with CIJ-London), health infodemic management (GIMCH), school-based media literacy (BIMLI), migration information (Jagruk Jao with IOM-UN Migration), and women's leadership in journalism (SheLEADS).
The underlying technology stack combines data analysis and visualization, digital platform development, and AI-driven detection tooling layered onto a partnership-and-network architecture. DataLEADS integrates third-party AI tools such as Itisaar (IIT Jodhpur) and contrails.ai for deepfake and voice-clone detection, rather than developing proprietary models, and applies design thinking and behavioral science to build information platforms. The business model is grant-and-partnership driven rather than commercial: no public pricing or revenue is disclosed, and the company appears bootstrapped and founder-led (Syed Nazakat, CEO and Founder; Dr. Sabba Mehmood, Co-Founder). Customer segments span journalists and fact-checkers, media organizations and newsrooms, students and educators, migrant workers, and government/public institutions, with distribution primarily through partner publishers, training networks, and membership models such as Asian Dispatch's newsroom membership.
DataLEADS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DataLEADS
- Legal name
- OW DATALEADS PVT LTD
- Website
- https://dataleads.co.in
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DataLEADS is a New Delhi-based digital media and technology company operating fact-checking, media literacy, and AI readiness platforms (First Check, Asian Dispatch, FactShala, Shakti, Kruxd) for journalists, newsrooms, and educators across India and Asia, funded primarily through grants and partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DataLEADS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Media Literacy and Fact-Checking Services
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621), Information (51), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192)
- SIC
- Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711), Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation (7374)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Data Journalism & News Intelligence Publishers (Indexes, Election/Market Data) (MPAJADAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Data Science & Analytics (Data Literacy, SQL, Visualization) (EDAMACAF), Data & Information Literacy (Search, Evaluation, Misinformation) (EDAAAIAI)
Keywords
Where DataLEADS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Delhi
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
DataLEADS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
DataLEADS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DataLEADS operates a portfolio of fact-checking, media literacy, and information integrity platforms including First Check (health fact-checking), Asian Dispatch (pan-Asian journalism network), FactShala (media literacy network), and Shakti Collective (election fact-checking). The company delivers training, collaborative journalism networks, trust-and-safety tools, and research programs primarily to journalists, newsrooms, educators, and public institutions across India and Asia.
Product overview
DataLEADS is an award-winning digital media and technology company operating a multi-platform portfolio focused on information integrity, media literacy, and fact-checking. The company offers a platform-plus-modules architecture centered around flagship products including First Check (health fact-checking), Asian Dispatch (pan-Asian journalism network), FactShala (media literacy network), Shakti Collective (election fact-checking), and Kruxd (trust and safety). These core offerings are complemented by capacity-building programs (DL Academy, Adira), creative development initiatives (TravelLEADS, Kolahai), community programs (DL Foundation, SheLEADS), specialized initiatives addressing climate misinformation (OCRI), health misinformation (GIMCH), and media literacy in schools (BIMLI), as well as event platforms (Health of India Summit, Trust & Safety Dialogue). The company also runs migration awareness initiatives (Jagruk Jao) in partnership with international organizations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- First Check: Flagship fact-checking initiative powered by global collaboration bringing together medical professionals, researchers, journalists, and technologists to combat health misinformation.
- Asian Dispatch
- FactShala
- Shakti
- GNI India Training Network
- Global Data Dialogue
- Kruxd
- DL Academy
Products and services
- First Check Flagship fact-checking initiative powered by global collaboration bringing together medical professionals, researchers, journalists, and technologists to combat health misinformation. It is a verified signatory of the IFCN Code of Principles.
- Asian Dispatch Pan-Asian newsroom and network focused on cross-border, public interest journalism, comprising The Newsroom, The Network (membership model for newsrooms), and Biennial Media Festival. Inaugural cohort includes 18 member newsrooms across Asia.
- FactShala India's largest media literacy training network and news and information literacy programme, providing tools and approaches to consume information critically and responsibly.
- Shakti Collective India Election Fact Checking Collective connecting fact-checkers and news publishers to combat election misinformation, supporting detection of deepfakes during India's 2024 elections.
- Kruxd Trust and safety platform focused on monitoring digital content, analyzing trends, and producing insights on developments shaping the online information ecosystem.
- DL Academy Educational platform offering capacity building and training programs including AI readiness training, with sub-platforms such as Adira for professional development.
- Global Data Dialogue Platform integrating design thinking, data analysis, visualization expertise, behavioral science, and collaborative approaches to craft information platforms and media solutions.
- Global Infodemic Management Course (GIMCH) Course addressing health misinformation and infodemic management, designed for health professionals and communicators combating false health information.
- BIMLI (Bihar Information and Media Literacy Initiative) Media literacy field experiment in North Indian schools evaluating inoculation against inaccurate health information through grassroots training programs for secondary school students.
- TravelLEADS Creative development vertical focused on travel journalism and storytelling content production.
Quantifiable outcome
- India now has 17 IFCN-certified fact-checking organizations, the most of any country globally, compared to just 2-3 in 2018
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use DataLEADS
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
DataLEADS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature5 records
DataLEADS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Google News InitiativecoreMajor partner supporting multiple initiatives including GNI India Training Network, FactShala media literacy program, and Shakti election fact-checking collective. Provides funding and programmatic support for capacity building across India's fact-checking ecosystem.
- International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN)coreFirst Check is a verified signatory of IFCN Code of Principles, providing credibility and alignment with global fact-checking standards.
- Misinformation Combat Alliance (MCA)corePartner in Shakti Collective, bringing together fact-checkers and publishers to combat election misinformation during India's 2024 elections.
- BOOMcoreLeading fact-checking organization and partner in Shakti Collective for coordinated election misinformation combat.
- The QuintcoreNews publisher and fact-checker partner in Shakti Collective, also partnered for FactShala Ambassador Programme.
- Vishvas NewscoreFact-checking partner in Shakti Collective during 2024 Indian elections.
- FactlycoreFact-checking organization partner in Shakti Collective.
- NewscheckercoreFact-checking partner in Shakti Collective.
- India TodaycoreMajor news publisher that amplified fact-check content during elections as part of Shakti Collective.
- Press Trust of IndiacoreLeading news agency that partnered in Shakti Collective for election fact-checking.
- JEEViKA (Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society)coreGovernment of Bihar entity partnering on BIMLI (Bihar Information and Media Literacy Initiative) for media literacy field experiment in schools.
- The Mercury ProjectcoreResearch partner for BIMLI initiative evaluating inoculation against inaccurate health information.
- Centre for Investigative Journalism, LondoncoreImplementing Open Climate Reporting Initiative (OCRI) partnership to emphasize climate change reporting.
- International Organization for Migration (IOM) - UN MigrationcoreUN Migration agency supporting Jagruk Jao initiative, managing Migrant Information and Awareness Centres (MIAC) for safe migration information.
- VFS Global AcademycoreHost partner for MIAC Delhi, providing venue and infrastructure for migrant information centre under Jagruk Jao initiative.
- MediaWise / Poynter InstitutecorePartnership with Poynter Institute's MediaWise program for FactShala Ambassador Programme, offering educational video series on media literacy.
- THE WEEK / Malayala Manorama GroupcorePartnership to build tech-driven, digital-first news products and host live journalism events in India, UAE, and global hubs. 137-year-old media group.
- Global India AI SummitminorMinistry of Electronics & Information Technology initiative where DataLEADS participates in AI governance discussions.
- Forum on Information and DemocracycoreWorking group member on AI, contributing to international frameworks for AI regulation in information space.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
DataLEADS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Malaysiakini: Malaysian digital news publisher and Asian Dispatch member newsroom. Comparable in regional digital journalism and cross-border reporting focus.
- Full Fact: UK-based pioneering fact-checking organization and IFCN signatory. Comparable in mission, methodology, and AI-driven fact-checking tooling development.
- BOOM: Leading Indian fact-checking organization and IFCN-certified signatory. Direct peer and Shakti Collective partner, competing for the same audience and partner ecosystem in Indian-language misinformation combat.
- The Quint (WebQoof): Indian digital media publisher with a dedicated fact-checking vertical (WebQoof) and Shakti Collective partner. Directly comparable in fact-checking output, training programs, and IFCN-certified status.
- Vishvas News: IFCN-certified Indian fact-checking organization operating across multiple Indian languages. Shakti Collective partner competing for the same multilingual fact-checking audience.
- Factly: Indian data-driven fact-checking and media research organization. Shakti Collective partner with similar focus on data journalism and public-interest verification.
- Newschecker: IFCN-certified Indian fact-checking news platform operating across multiple languages. Direct peer and Shakti Collective partner in misinformation combat.
- Prothom Alo: Bangladesh's leading newspaper and Asian Dispatch member newsroom. Comparable in operating at the intersection of news publishing and fact-checking in South Asia.
Emerging players
- Meedan: Technology nonprofit building collaborative verification and translation tools (Check) for newsrooms and fact-checkers globally. Comparable in providing fact-checking infrastructure and cross-border journalism tooling.
Broad incumbents
- Poynter Institute (MediaWise): Established US-based journalism education institute running MediaWise media literacy program. Direct partner via FactShala Ambassador Programme and broader comparable in media literacy capacity building.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DataLEADS social profiles
Digital presenceDataLEADS compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
DataLEADS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DataLEADS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
DataLEADS subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
DataLEADS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DataLEADS 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 DataLEADS
What does DataLEADS do?
DataLEADS operates a portfolio of fact-checking, media literacy, and information integrity platforms including First Check (health fact-checking), Asian Dispatch (pan-Asian journalism network), FactShala (media literacy network), and Shakti Collective (election fact-checking). The company delivers training, collaborative journalism networks, trust-and-safety tools, and research programs primarily to journalists, newsrooms, educators, and public institutions across India and Asia.
Is DataLEADS a public or private company?
DataLEADS is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was DataLEADS founded?
DataLEADS was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is DataLEADS based?
DataLEADS is headquartered in New Delhi, India, in the Asia region.
Who are DataLEADS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Malaysiakini, Full Fact, BOOM, The Quint (WebQoof), Vishvas News, Factly, Newschecker and Prothom Alo. Meedan is listed as an emerging player. Poynter Institute (MediaWise) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does DataLEADS have an API?
No public API is recorded for DataLEADS.
What industry is DataLEADS in?
DataLEADS's product category is Media Literacy and Fact-Checking Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJADAK, Data Journalism & News Intelligence Publishers (Indexes, Election/Market Data), with a secondary code of EDAMACAF, Data Science & Analytics (Data Literacy, SQL, Visualization). Its NAICS code is 51621 and its SIC code is 2711.