Ukrainian VC firm ZAS Ventures has invested in Mantis Analytics, a Ukrainian AI platform. The deal was concluded in December 2023, however, it has been announced on March 26, 2024. The investment amount was $50,000, as the parties of the agreement informed AIN.
- Mantis Analytics was founded by Maksym Tereshchenko (CEO), Ostap Vykhopen (STO), and Anton Tarasyuk (Director of Expertise). It is a platform based on artificial intelligence, which allows you to monitor and analyze the information space, detecting manipulations and fakes.
- The idea to create Mantis Analytics came after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Already in February 2023, the idea grew into a full-fledged startup, and the founders began corporatization processes.
- For a long time, the startup was developed on its own funds. In 2023, the startup managed to receive $25,000 from Brave1, which was used to improve the platform.
- Mantis Analytics cooperates with the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine and several other government agencies in Ukraine.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Mantis Analytics has been providing data to National Security specialists. It helps to make quick decisions: hold a briefing, refute information or launch a counternarrative,
Mykhailo Fedorov, the Minister of Digital Transformation, states.
- The developers say that they have strengthened the capabilities of the National Security Council, because they have automated the process of monitoring the Russian information space. 80% of Mantis Analytics reports are accepted by the National Security Council without additional changes by the analyst.
About ZAS Ventures
ZAS Ventures was founded by Ukrainians Andriy Zinchuk and Artem Volkhonskyi. Both are in Kyiv. The official launch took place in September 2023. The venture firm is incorporated in the USA with offices in San Francisco and Kyiv. In addition to Ukrainians, ZAS Ventures also has American partners.
ZAS Ventures plans to invest in 30 Ukrainian startups with a check of up to $100,000 at the pre-seed stage and hopefully help them raise a seed round in a year. ZAS Ventures will recommend its portfolio companies to more than 20 other partner funds in the US and Europe, and is also ready to make additional investments on its own.
Also, ZAS Ventures practices office hours, during which you can pitch your project and get advice from fund partners.
