Napier AI Secures $57M to Redefine Global Compliance with Explainable AI
In the high-pressure world of financial crime prevention, Napier AI has quietly grown into a serious global player. The company is based in London. It specializes in compliance technology. This technology uses artificial intelligence to help banks, fintechs, and wealth managers stay ahead of regulatory demands. Napier AI recently secured a fresh $57 million investment. Its footprint is rapidly expanding. Napier AI is positioning itself as a leader in the next generation of RegTech.
A Vote of Confidence from Investors
In February 2025, private equity firm Marlin Equity Partners took a majority growth stake in Napier AI. That followed a £45 million round in 2024 from Crestline Investors. This investment gave the company the capital needed to expand both its product and geographic reach.
Greg Watson, CEO of Napier AI, described the moment as the perfect time to scale. Financial institutions face mounting pressure from regulators. They also confront increasingly sophisticated threats. Marlin’s managing director, Mike Wilkinson, praised the platform’s strategic focus and customer-centric design, calling it well positioned for long-term growth.
The Compliance Engine Behind the Growth
At the center of Napier AI’s offering is its platform, Continuum. This cloud-native system uses machine learning to monitor transactions, screen clients, and automate anti-money laundering processes. What sets it apart is its use of explainable AI. Rather than delivering cryptic alerts, Continuum provides transparent reasoning for its decisions, something regulators are increasingly demanding.
For compliance teams drowning in false positives, Continuum offers relief. In some deployments, clients have reported a 97% reduction in irrelevant alerts. This means fewer wasted hours and more focus on genuine risks.
The platform also supports sandbox testing, so institutions can trial rule changes before pushing them live. With regulatory environments constantly shifting, that flexibility matters.
Expansion in Motion
With fresh capital in hand, Napier AI is expanding quickly into the Americas and Asia-Pacific. In April 2025, the company announced the rollout of regional teams dedicated to go-to-market efforts and on-the-ground support. Ron Mullins is leading efforts in Asia-Pacific from Sydney. In the Americas, operations are led by Brandon Lee, supported by product specialists Jeff Jones and Michael Joseph.
The Continuum platform was designed to be modular and API-first, making it easier to integrate across different tech environments. Institutions operating in multiple jurisdictions can deploy it globally without overhauling their infrastructure.
A Growing List of Major Clients
Napier AI’s technology is already being used by more than 150 financial institutions. Clients include global players like HSBC, Mizuho, State Street, and digital challengers such as Starling and Salt Bank. Some have gone live with the system in under six weeks. This speed is considered fast in a sector known for lengthy onboarding cycles.
The platform’s combination of speed, transparency, and adaptability has helped Napier stand out in a crowded RegTech market.
New Leadership to Drive Innovation
In June 2025, Napier AI announced the appointment of Noel King as Chief Technology Officer. King brings deep experience in enterprise software and AI development. He is expected to lead the next phase of product evolution. Areas of focus include real-time sanctions screening, adaptive client risk scoring, and continuous KYC.
This comes on the back of strong financial performance. The company grew revenue by more than 30% annually from 2021 through 2024. That momentum, combined with Marlin’s investment, sets the stage for another leap forward.
Raising the Bar for Compliance
Financial services firms around the world are facing a new compliance reality. Regulators are increasing expectations, while criminals are moving faster and using more sophisticated tools. Legacy systems can’t keep up, and manual processes leave too much room for error.
Napier AI offers a system that does more than just flag suspicious activity. It explains why the activity is suspicious. The system adapts to new risks and integrates easily with existing operations. It’s a compliance platform designed for people who actually have to use it. It reflects a more modern, strategic approach to regulatory technology.
This isn’t about checking boxes. It’s about making compliance smarter, faster, and better suited to how the world actually works now.
