The AI-powered startup specializing in social media scrutiny, Ferretly, has successfully gathered $2.5 million during its seed funding phase and is unveiling a novel platform aimed at vetting individuals involved in elections. Established in 2019, Ferretly employs artificial intelligence to analyze social media and other publicly accessible online information, identifying potential red flags and behaviors that might be missed by conventional background examination methods.
Entrepreneur Darrin Lipscomb, known for his previous ventures Pipestream and Avrio — acquired by BMC Software and Hitachi respectively — is the visionary behind this startup.
In a conversation with TechCrunch, Lipscomb explained that Ferretly aims to aid recruitment officials in hiring candidates who are not only skilled but also exhibit values in alignment with the organization’s ethos. The tool is particularly effective in filtering out individuals with a history of making threats, posting racially insensitive comments online, or engaging in criminal activities.
“Character is the cornerstone of our assessment,” Lipscomb shared. “Traditional background checks focus largely on one’s physical world actions. But as our lives migrate more online, understanding someone’s digital presence becomes crucial. We deliver insights that can reveal much about an individual’s character, aiding hiring managers in making informed decisions.”
With the 2024 presidential campaign drawing near, Ferretly is introducing an Election Personnel Screening Platform aimed at candidates, poll workers, canvassers, and others involved in elections to minimize the risk of disruptive activities.
This screening solution scrutinizes various online red flags, such as aggressive or hateful speech, demeaning or bullying actions, dubious behavior like drug consumption, nudity, or violence, and ties to extremist organizations or figures.

Recently, Ferretly has upgraded its image analysis tool to identify negative gestures like the middle finger, along with extremist symbols, including Nazi emblems and terrorist organization flags. The technology also detects imagery of weaponry such as guns, blades, and bombs.
Beyond social media platforms, Ferretly extends its scanning capabilities to websites and news portals, enriching its analysis with additional context.
Upon completing a scan, Ferretly compiles its findings into a comprehensible report for hiring managers, highlighting risk indicators, flagged content, and behavior analysis, facilitating a swift assessment of the candidate’s online persona.
Ferretly is cautious to stay within the legal boundaries of federal and state/provincial regulations concerning pre-employment social media evaluations and data protection. Despite the potential perception of its approach as invasive, the platform emphasizes the permanence of online activities and the contemporary reality where online behavior can impact employment.
The venture is now servicing clients in 32 countries, boasting over 1,000 corporate customers from various sectors, including notable names like Deloitte, Blizzard Entertainment, and Paramount Global. Its clientele spreads across the nonprofit sector, governmental bodies such as law enforcement, and political parties in countries like the U.K., New Zealand, and Canada.
Lipscomb highlighted the startup’s role in vetting influencers for brands, ensuring they reflect the brand’s values without engaging in harmful online conduct. The technology has also found applications among NFL teams for assessing potential drafts.
Regarding the newly acquired funds, Lipscomb plans to allocate the majority towards promotional activities to enhance Ferretly’s market presence, with the remainder supporting ongoing research and development initiatives.
This financial injection was spearheaded by David Dickerson, Chairman and Founder of Accurate Background, a reputable employment background screening service provider.
Compiled by Techarena.au.
Fanpage: TechArena.au
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