Mantis Analytics

It has been more than half a year since Mantis Analytics graduated from the Ukrainian accelerator program Mediengeist 2.0, launched by Kunsht and the Goethe-Institut e.V. to combat disinformation. The program was an incredible experience that introduced us to an ecosystem of bloggers, influencers, journalists, NGOs, and tech projects, all working to strengthen Ukraine’s information resilience in the face of foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) threats. We’re pleased to see that at the end of October, Mediengeist 3.0 was launched in a new format, as a media literacy hackathon designed to unite communities and projects in countering disinformation amidst Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. As representatives of the previous cohort, Mantis Analytics was invited to reflect on the program’s impact and discuss the current FIMI-related challenges facing the ecosystem. Our Risk Insights Associate, Orest Slyvenko, shared his thoughts: “Addressing these challenges requires a collective effort. As an AI-first analytics company, we have our specific area of focus. However, there are also those who spread the message, create content, and contribute in many other vital ways. Together, these roles form a unified effort. While there will undoubtedly be ups and downs, the path ahead holds the promise of remarkable insights,” Orest highlighted. As Mantis Analytics continues to grow, we are thrilled to see the projects and ecosystem builders that supported us on our journey thriving alongside us. Thanks to Kunsht and the Goethe Institute for their outstanding work!

October was a month filled with significant moments for Mantis Analytics, so we continue to reflect on the impactful events we participated in. At the end of October, Mantis Analytics took part in TechCrunch Disrupt 2024, one of the largest start-up events in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Our co-founders, Maksym Tereshchenko and Ostap Vykhopen, along with Artem D., had the privilege of showcasing our innovative approach to organizational resilience and risk management on stage. In addition to our pitch, we had the opportunity to attend a special investor event organized by Dnipro VC, where we engaged with potential partners and investors. We also connected with industry giants like Carta and Google, further expanding our network. The experience was enriched with visits to institutions such as Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business, where we interacted with leading minds in tech and academia. We are proud to have represented the growing Ukrainian tech ecosystem at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024, joining 11 other start-ups from the Ukrainian-born cohort. TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 became a reality for us thanks to the USAID Competitive Economy Program in Ukraine (USAID CEP), the Ukrainian Startup Fund, and the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, for which we are grateful.

With the recent elections in Moldova and Georgia, the question of limiting and containing foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) has taken on new urgency. Something is amiss with the information resilience infrastructure. Mantis Analytics is at the forefront of combating informational risks related to FIMI with the help of AI. At the end of October, Dr. Veronika Solopova, an NLP Engineer at Mantis Analytics, gave a talk as part of the BLISS Winter 2024/25 AI Speaker Series for BLISS e.V. Her presentation, titled “The Role of AI in Disinformation Resilience,” explored how AI can be effectively utilized to contain the spread of attacks driven by harmful intent and misleading information. During her talk, Veronika highlighted the application of various technologies for social media moderation, the detection of nation-state-backed propaganda, and the potential benefits of new technologies for academia, government, the fact-checking community, and the private sector, also focusing on specific use cases by Mantis Analytics. Curious about how AI can foster informational resilience? Watch the video in the first comment below.

At the end of October, our Co-Founder and Expertise Lead, Anton Tarasyuk, participated in the Google for Startups Ukraine Support Fund Summit 2024 in Warsaw—a gathering of some of the most innovative Ukrainian-born start-ups driving change today. As a company at the forefront of AI-driven risk management, Mantis Analytics is proud to be part of this group, selected and supported with a $100K grant by Google for Startups. Their mission is to empower dynamic, diverse, and inclusive start-up ecosystems worldwide. Over several high-impact days, Ukrainian founders tackled critical challenges with top-tier mentors, engaged in rigorous training, and forged connections through networking. From refining sales strategies to training on building a cognitively safe and inspiring work environment, the experience was truly valuable. Being part of this initiative is a commitment to shaping the future alongside an extraordinary community of resilient, forward-thinking companies. Thank you to the teams at Google, Ukrainian Startup Fund and 1991 Accelerator for this unparalleled opportunity. Let’s keep building.

As the Moldovan presidential election nears its conclusion, the referendum held during the first round has already set the course for the nation’s immediate future. At Mantis Analytics, we deploy AI to analyze the dominant security-related narratives within Moldova’s information landscape. Before the October 20th referendum—held alongside the election’s first round—mentions challenging Moldova's EU integration surged by an astonishing 64x. The referendum’s results (50.46% for, 49.54% against) suggest a potential uncertainty in public sentiment regarding constitutional amendments. By analyzing both informational and physical risks, we refine rapid-response strategies, enabling our clients to secure their scaling and growth.

Russian sources, including state-owned media and public discussions, have shown a significant shift in sentiment toward specific US policy proposals: negative views on Indo-Pacific policy have risen by 20%, regardless of candidate. This trend has persisted for some time and has recently shown signs of acceleration. Our analysis highlights the relation of this shift to potential uncertainties in the region tied to the election outcome, driven by rising Russian interest and an increasingly tense geopolitical climate. At Mantis Analytics, we use our AI platform to monitor conversations around the 2024 US elections, drawing from both US and Russian sources to offer a strategic view of narratives and public sentiment. Staying informed on these trends is essential as the election draws closer, helping navigate the challenges around major events. Explore our US Election 2024 offering here: https://lnkd.in/eW9GMXMS.

October 28 and TechCrunch Disrupt are fast approaching! Mantis Analytics is excited to showcase our start-up that is shaping the future of organizational resilience and risk management in San Francisco. Join us at booth “A3”. As part of a collective of 12 Ukrainian-born start-ups, we are proud to present our innovations at one of the largest technology conferences in the world. Will you be there? Don’t miss out on the opportunity to connect. Contact our co-founders, Maksym Tereshchenko and Ostap Vykhopen, who are ready to explore how we can drive impact together. #TCDisrupt2024

Join Mantis Analytics at SF Tech Week's “Be Brave Like Ukraine & Rave for Freedom’s Reign” We are excited to announce that our CEO and Co-Founder, Maksym Tereshchenko, will participate in “Be Brave Like Ukraine & Rave for Freedom’s Reign” during SF Tech Week. This event highlights the resilience, innovation, and sheer determination of Ukrainian tech talent—and we’re honored to be a part of it. The story of Mantis Analytics began in 2022 as a volunteer initiative. We naturally transitioned into a start-up focused on risk management. Not only were we born out of crisis, but this also became our professional focus. During the talk, Maksym will discuss our journey, the resilience of Ukrainian tech, the future of AI, and the risk management industry. At this high-energy event, we’ll join innovators from across the globe, fusing Ukrainian resilience with Silicon Valley brainpower. ? Location: SF Tech Week ? Event: Be Brave Like Ukraine & Rave for Freedom’s Reign ? Date: October 8 ? Time: 9:10 PM To find more details and the exact location of the event, please register via the link in the first comment.

Six months ago, we embarked on a journey we were confident would elevate Mantis Analytics and accelerate our growth. After a thorough selection process and an interview with Ravi Belani, we were accepted into the Alchemist Accelerator. What happened next? Let’s just say it surpassed our expectations. The Alchemist program isn’t for everyone—and it’s certainly not easy to get into. The program selects only a handful of start-ups that demonstrate the potential for market success. We did a lot to get in. After months of virtual work—lectures, mentoring sessions, and coaching—we finally arrived in San Francisco, determined to make the most of every moment. Four days filled with workshops, company visits, and Demo Day—it was intense, fast-paced, and laser-focused. What made Demo Day, although mostly online, a thrilling experience? The opportunity to sit with our cohort members and experience their new pitches firsthand. Each start-up had undergone months of transformation, and every pitch carried a unique story. The Alchemist program didn’t just connect us with key players—it elevated us in every way. We sharpened our understanding of product development, refined our market strategies, and mastered client negotiations. After the Demo Day, we already have more than two dozen VCs interested in talking.

How has the Russia–Ukraine conflict redefined risk management? Why is AI at the center of this transformation? And how is Mantis Analytics involved? We're sharing more highlights from our CEO Maksym Tereshchenko's discussion with John Bicknell on the Cognitive Crucible podcast, powered by the Information Professionals Association. They explored AI's role in the evolving risk landscape, where speed and real-time data are shaping the future of security—and how Mantis Analytics fits into this transformation: “Mantis Analytics is a modern AI-powered real-time platform specifically designed to manage risks in turbulent environments. It helps governments and corporations become more resilient, quickly detect incidents, and understand their impact. By incidents, I mean both physical and informational risks. Based on our experience during the Russo–Ukrainian conflict, we’ve seen that informational risks are as important as physical risks in the modern landscape and modern reality,” Maksym commented. Catch the full episode on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify, or via the link in the first comment.