We are Crisp
The world is changing, but our vision of helping to create a digital world that is safe for everyone is more than 15 years in the making.
Crisp’s actor-centric journey
Our Actor Intelligence Stack (AIS) combines persona-based actor/group digital chatter collection with advanced risk extraction technologies all graphed in real-time to predict impacts as early as possible. Throughout our journey we’ve helped digital marketing, communications, trust & safety, security, HR, operations and corporate customers. Today we deliver vital risk intelligence across the entire organization.
Crisp is founded with a mission to end child exploitation online
Founded by Adam Hildreth, Crisp launches a platform designed to identify online harms against children.
Crisp launches its social media moderation platform
Crisp applies its initial solution to address the emergence and influence of online trolls, bad actors, and hate groups. In addition to securing social networks, apps, and games, Crisp expands to supporting global brands and their digital marketing functions.
Crisp expands to support PR and Communications
Crisp launches a managed digital risk monitoring service and builds a global team of experts available 24/7 who can respond to media and influencer crises within minutes.
Crisp is recognized for its innovation and leadership
Crisp goes on to secure a $25M investment from Baird Capital investment, giving Crisp the opportunity to build on its 100% year-over-year growth and double its headcount.
Crisp expands its AI/HI capabilities
The application of Crisp’s artificial and human intelligence expands to target terrorist, conspiracy, and election interference groups. Crisp configures its solution capabilities to support more dynamic trust and safety efforts.
Crisp becomes a founding member of OSTIA
Crisp joins The Online Safety Tech Industry Association and is cited as a key player in DCMS’ Safer Technology Report.
Crisp targets agenda-driven online groups
As online participation grows due to COVID-19, Crisp targets agenda-driven and fringe groups, managing even broader security and VIP threats and disinformation campaigns around elections and anti-vaccination issues impacting corporate communications, security, HR, and operations teams worldwide.
Our story
Established in 2005, Crisp began by protecting children and teenagers using online games, apps and social networks from pedophiles and child exploitation groups. Since then, our Actor Risk Intelligence capabilities have expanded to include trolling, hate, media, influencer, terrorist, conspiracy, election interference, bad actor, agenda-driven, fringe and community groups.
As a leading expert on the motivations, tactics and tradecraft of these groups, we have a unique understanding of their narratives and content, who they target and where they begin online. This expertise is powered by our continuously-trained Actor Intelligence Graph, which captures intelligence on every activist and bad actor group that could harm our customers.
Through a combination of AI, machine learning and human intelligence we’re able to analyze millions of digital conversations in real-time to reveal the hidden relationships between these individuals and their groups in order to predict their impact as early as possible, guaranteeing our customers are always first to know and first to act.
As a result, our customers gain an early-warning advantage over damaging content and narratives, giving them the critical time they need to react or respond. Today our Actor Risk Intelligence solution is trusted by leading brands, global enterprises and social media platforms.
We currently protect more than $6.5 trillion in aggregate market capital for our customers. Although our client base hails from around the world, our roots remain proudly planted in our Leeds HQ.
Crisp today
$6.5T market cap
Protects $6.5 trillion in combined customer market capitalization
2B+ users
Contributes to the safe, daily online experience of more than two billion users
400M children
Provides a safer online experience for more than 400 million children
650 analysts
Employs a global network of more than 650 risk analysts
50+ languages
More than 50 languages interpreted by native speakers
24/7/365
Coverage anywhere in the world, day or night
Meet our team
Board of Directors
Adam Hildreth
CEO/Founder and Board Member
Andrew Burke
Executive Chairman/CFO and Board Member
Andrew Ferguson
Baird Capital Board Member
Peter Maude
Chief Technology Officer and Board Member
Vikram Sharma
US President and Board Member
Advisory Board
Andrea Bonime-Blanc
Advisory Board Member
Paul Rand
Advisory Board Member
Rishad Tobaccowala
Advisory Board Member
Executive Team
Emma Monks
Chief Experience Officer
James Geary
Chief Production Officer
John-Orr Hanna
Chief Intelligence Officer
Kevin Fletcher
Chief Data Officer
Michael Stern
Chief Marketing Officer
Paul Dix
Finance Director
Richard Pasewark
Chief Revenue Officer
Extended Leadership Team
Emma Andrews
VP of Business Assurance
Jamie Dearnley
VP of Engineering
Kirsten Brumfitt
VP of People
Malcolm Taylor
VP of Human Intelligence
Rhyan Weston
General Counsel and Company Secretary
Shirley Stackhouse
VP of Organizational Development
Stuart Misell
VP of Program Delivery
Partnerships Team
Alan Copeland
VP of Sector
Andrew Jackson
VP of Sector
David Hunter
VP of Sales
Jimmie Berry
VP of Sales
Merrill Philips
VP of Sales
Michael Byrne
VP of Sales
Mike Hess
VP of Demand Gen
Naim Halloum
VP of Sector
Sarah Stead
VP of Sector
Interested in joining our team?
Crisp is a recognized industry leader in Actor Risk Intelligence
We’re honored to have been recognized for our relentless pursuit of excellence in risk intelligence and our pioneering actor-centric approach toward the motivations, tactics and tradecraft of bad actors, agenda-driven groups and communities online. Our entrepreneurial spirit remains core to our DNA. Our elite teams inspire us everyday. In other words, we’re just getting started.
Awards
- GP Bullhound Northern Tech Awards Top 15 Fastest Growing Larger Technology Companies
- GP Bullhound Northern Tech Awards Top 100 Fastest Growing Technology Companies
- Business Cloud 100 MediaTech Innovators
- PRWeek Dashboard 25
- IoD Director of the Year 2020
- Yorkshire Post Business in Excellence Award 2020
- Mills & Reeves Yorkshire Top Tech 20
- Yorkshire Business Desk Business Masters Awards 2020
- Digital Leaders 100
- Sunday Times Tech Track 100 League Table
- Tech Nation Future Fifty
Our commitment
Crisp is helping to create a digital world that is safe for everyone
Along with protecting more than $6.5 trillion in combined market capitalization for our customers, our Actor Risk Intelligence solution has contributed to the safe, daily online experiences of more than two billion users, covering an estimated 450 million children. As a founding member of OSTIA, the UK Government-backed industry body of UK companies working toward the common goal of a safer internet for everyone, our influence and network of online safety partners provide a voice of hope for what can be done to advance the cause of online safety.
This commitment extends to our active membership and involvement with INHOPE and WeProtect.
Crisp certifications and accreditations
To demonstrate our ongoing commitment to supporting our employees with their mental health wellbeing, and to bring awareness to this important issue, Crisp has signed the Mindful Employer Charter.
Cyber Essentials is a United Kingdom Government-backed scheme operated by the National Cyber Security Centre that helps organizations guard against cyber attacks.
ISO/IEC 27001 is the international standard for information security. Its Informational Security Management System provides a best practice approach that helps organizations manage their information security by addressing people, processes, and technology.
Our insights
Latest news and perspectives

Hijacking ESG: What risk professionals and their boards need to know

Time’s up: Five consequences of identifying a risk too late

CEOs train their attention on the risks that actors and groups pose via social media

New approaches needed to proactively protect children as online sexual exploitation and abuse continues to increase

Social media has supercharged stakeholder capitalism
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