We’re thrilled to have advised Refute on its £5m seed funding round led by deep tech specialist Amadeus Capital Partners with participation from Playfair, Episode 1, Osney Capital and the National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF).

Wiggin previously advised the AI-powered counter disinformation company on its pre-seed funding round in 2024. Since then, Refute has built military-grade AI capabilities which are now used by leading commercial and government organisations to protect them from the increased threat posed by hybrid warfare. With backgrounds in national security and cyber security, Refute founders Tom Garnett and Vlad Galu have over forty years of experience creating technologies to fight terrorist attacks, financial crime and elevate internet trust.

The Wiggin team was led by Corporate Partner, Tom Gastrell, who was primarily supported by Samantha Cheong.

Tom Gastrell said: “We’re delighted to have supported Tom and Vlad once again with their seed funding round. With the growing threat of hybrid warfare, Refute’s work in disinformation and responsive intelligence is increasingly important in protecting organisations from serious risks and reputational damage. We look forward to supporting the company’s continued development and success.”

Tom Garnett, Co-founder of Refute, commented: “Disinformation and hybrid warfare have risen sharply up the Board-level agenda, and Refute’s rapid growth reflects that shift. This funding enables us to protect more organisations and government agencies with our military-grade AI capabilities. Wiggin’s expertise has been invaluable in positioning us for continued success.”

Wiggin’s Corporate practice has been involved in many significant deals in the media, entertainment, technology and sport sectors in recent years. As well as investments, the team advises on a broad range of corporate and corporate finance matters, including M&A, joint ventures and restructurings.

Read more about the transaction here.