Rulebase, a London-based AI startup revolutionizing financial services back-office automation, today announced it has raised $2.1 million in a pre-seed round. The funding, led by Bowery Capital with participation from Y Combinator, Commerce Ventures, Transpose Platform VC, Tekedia Capital, and prominent angel investors, will accelerate product development, expand engineering teams, and scale adoption of its AI-powered “Coworker” suite across global financial institutions.
Founded in 2024 by Nigerian engineers Gideon Ebose (CEO, ex-Microsoft) and Chidi Williams (CTO, ex-Goldman Sachs), Rulebase is tackling one of the most overlooked yet critical areas in fintech: back-office operations. From compliance monitoring to fraud detection and dispute resolution, Rulebase leverages artificial intelligence to automate processes that traditionally consume hours of manual labor—reducing costs by up to 70% and cutting escalations by 30%.
“The AI Coworker Every Bank Needs”
For decades, financial institutions have invested heavily in customer-facing tools—from sleek mobile apps to instant payments, while the back-office, the engine room of compliance and customer trust, has lagged behind. Rulebase flips this script with AI coworkers that handle tedious, regulation-heavy workflows with unmatched precision.
Its flagship product, Coworker, reviews 100% of customer interactions (calls, chats, and emails) in real time, flags compliance risks, generates audit-ready reports, and automates dispute filing with payment networks. Unlike manual QA processes that review only 1–5% of interactions, Rulebase ensures full coverage and faster resolution, empowering compliance and CX teams to operate at scale.
“With AI, you don’t just optimize; you reimagine,” said Gideon Ebose, CEO of Rulebase. “Back-office work has been seen as boring and costly. We see it as mission-critical. Rulebase is that dependable coworker who never misses a detail, never gets tired, and keeps your institution ahead of regulators and fraudsters.”
Reimagining Compliance and Fraud Detection with AI
Rulebase’s growing product ecosystem includes:
◽ Coworker – Automates QA, compliance checks, and dispute workflows.
◽ Beam – A real-time copilot for CX agents, reducing handle time and compliance violations.
◽ Sentinel – AI QA system delivering instant coaching and performance insights.
◽ Scan – Website compliance analyzer for fintech marketing teams.
◽ Radar & Voice Fraud Defense – Detects fraud in real time, blocks deepfake voice phishing, and prevents impersonation attacks.
These tools integrate seamlessly with Zendesk, Salesforce, Intercom, Jira, and Slack, bringing fragmented processes under one roof. Rulebase also emphasizes enterprise-grade security, with SOC 2 compliance, GDPR readiness, and AES-256 encryption.
“Financial services are under constant attack from fraud, regulatory pressure, and reputational risk,” added Chidi Williams, CTO of Rulebase. “Our AI coworkers are not just assistants—they’re guardians. From Mastercard dispute timelines to CFPB rules, we’ve embedded domain expertise into our products so banks don’t just keep up—they stay ahead.”
Investor Confidence in Rulebase’s Vision
Rulebase’s pre-seed round reflects growing investor confidence in AI-powered RegTech. The round was led by Bowery Capital, joined by Y Combinator, Commerce Ventures, Transpose Platform VC, and Tekedia Capital. Strategic angels include Theo (founder of t3 chat), Raphael Schaad (Cron, acquired by Notion), and Atrium alumni, bringing operational and fintech expertise.
“Rulebase has built a true domain moat by combining regulatory knowledge with AI automation,” said Loren Straub, Partner at Bowery Capital. “The founders’ mix of Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, and African fintech experience positions them to solve a global pain point: scaling compliance and fraud prevention without exploding costs.”
From Y Combinator to Fortune 50 Clients
After joining Y Combinator’s first-ever Fall 2024 batch, Rulebase quickly secured clients such as U.S. business bank Rho—where it cut escalations by 30%—and an unnamed Fortune 50 financial institution. The startup also works with African fintechs, including Interswitch, demonstrating cross-market adaptability.
Rulebase operates on a usage-based business model, charging per interaction reviewed or workflow automated. This approach has fueled double-digit month-over-month revenue growth since its YC graduation.
Why Back-Office Automation is the Next Frontier in Fintech
The financial services industry spends billions annually on compliance, fraud prevention, and dispute management, yet these processes remain labor-intensive, error-prone, and reactive. With the rise of voice deepfakes, synthetic fraud, and tightening regulations, the need for AI-powered solutions has never been greater.
Industry analysts project the RegTech market to surpass $28 billion by 2027, driven by the demand for real-time compliance monitoring and fraud defense. Rulebase is well-positioned to lead this shift, offering financial institutions the dual promise of efficiency and security.
Looking Ahead: Rulebase’s Future Plans
With its new funding, Rulebase plans to:
◽ Expand its engineering team in London and Lagos.
◽ Advance fraud investigation and audit preparation features.
◽ Strengthen integrations with global CX and banking systems.
◽ Enter adjacent markets like insurance compliance automation.
“Our mission is bold but simple: automate the invisible work that keeps financial institutions compliant and customers protected,” Ebose said. “We see Rulebase as the AI coworker for every bank, neobank, and fintech worldwide.”
About Rulebase
Founded in 2024, Rulebase is a London-based AI startup that builds intelligent agents to automate back-office operations for financial services. Its flagship product, Coworker, reviews 100% of customer interactions in real time, flags compliance issues, automates dispute resolution, and integrates seamlessly with leading platforms like Zendesk, Salesforce, and Intercom.
Rulebase was co-founded by Gideon Ebose (CEO, ex-Microsoft) and Chidi Williams (CTO, ex-Goldman Sachs), both Nigerian engineers with deep experience in fintech and enterprise software. The company is part of Y Combinator’s Fall 2024 batch and serves clients across Africa, Europe, and the U.S.
To learn more, visit https://rulebase.co.
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