Factal

High-Level Overview

Factal is a Seattle-based risk intelligence and breaking news platform that combines AI-driven machine learning with experienced journalists to verify, geolocate, and deliver real-time trusted data on global incidents like wildfires, shootings, severe weather, and outbreaks[1][2][3]. It serves Fortune 500 corporations, NGOs, global security teams, travel safety operations, business continuity groups, crisis management, and media newsrooms by converting unverified social media reports into actionable intelligence, enabling faster responses to protect people, avoid disruptions, and support automation like self-driving navigation[1][2][6]. With 11-50 employees and over $5M in funding (including a $3.3M Series A in 2021 after doubling 2020 revenue), Factal operates a subscription-based enterprise product from a 24/7 newsroom, showing strong early traction via private beta with dozens of large clients[1][2][3].

Origin Story

Factal was founded in 2018 by veterans of BreakingNews.com, including Cory Bergman (Co-founder, formerly NBC News), Ben Tesch (Co-founder and VP of Technology), and others from the eight-year Breaking News team, which led in real-time verification and public safety alerting[1][2]. The idea emerged after Breaking News' success, with the founders spending 1.5 years building Factal to shift focus from public alerts to enterprise risk intelligence, blending journalism ethics with new AI tech for corporate needs[1]. Key early milestones include a private beta launch in 2018 testing with over two dozen Fortune 500 companies, full public rollout in October 2018, and a $3.3M Series A in 2021 amid revenue growth, establishing it as a trusted player in physical security and operational resilience[1][3].

Core Differentiators

Factal stands out in the risk intelligence market through these key strengths:

• Hybrid Verification Model: Uniquely merges instant social media discovery with human journalists and machine learning for unprecedented speed and accuracy in geolocating and fact-checking incidents, outperforming pure AI or manual systems[1][2][3].
• Enterprise-Grade Platform: Delivers real-time, geotargeted feeds with 360-degree coverage from eyewitnesses, officials, and outlets, integrating seamlessly into risk management, analytics, and decision systems for corporate security, travel, and disaster response[2][4][6].
• Journalism-Driven Trust: Operates as a "journalism company" with 24/7 newsroom adhering to high ethical standards on transparency, privacy, and civil liberties, focused on life-saving facts rather than political disinformation[1].
• Proven Scalability: Subscription model with global reach, serving security teams and newsrooms; recent integrations (e.g., EVERYWHERE platform) and podcasts on events like DANA storms highlight ongoing product evolution[2][4].

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Factal rides the surge in real-time risk intelligence amid rising global disruptions from climate events, geopolitical tensions, and supply chain vulnerabilities, where enterprises need verified data at social media speed to enable proactive decisions[1][2][3]. Its timing aligns with AI advancements in verification and the post-2018 boom in enterprise safety tech, filling gaps left by consumer-focused alerts like Breaking News by targeting B2B needs in a market pressured by misinformation and operational resilience demands[1]. Factal influences the ecosystem by powering integrations for navigation, crisis comms, and analytics platforms (e.g., EVERYWHERE), helping organizations like remote teams and investors mitigate threats while advancing ethical AI-journalism hybrids that combat unverified social data[4][6].

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Factal is poised to expand beyond corporate security into consumer products and deeper integrations for autonomous systems, fueled by its funding base and revenue momentum[1][3]. Trends like escalating natural disasters, AI ethics scrutiny, and hybrid human-machine verification will propel growth, potentially scaling its network for broader adoption in insurance, logistics, and government. As global incidents intensify, Factal's fact-first mission could redefine enterprise alertness, evolving from a Breaking News successor into a cornerstone of trusted, real-time risk data—delivering the clarity that truly saves lives[1].