UK Stealth AI Startup 22one Hits ~$400M Valuation Backed by Sequoia and Lux
London-based 22one, building AI tools for police, raised funds at a ~$400M valuation; deal size undisclosed.
According to a report by the Financial Times, London-based stealth AI startup 22one Technologies Limited has reached a valuation of approximately $400 million. The company is developing tools for law enforcement. Investors in the round include Sequoia Capital, General Catalyst, Lux Capital, and Creandum, though the total amount raised remains undisclosed.
The founder, Steven Richardson, served as a detective chief superintendent at Merseyside Police until 2021. He later worked as the UK policing lead at Amazon Web Services and at Palantir. Richardson also co-founded Riven, which makes AI software to strip personal data from police documents. 22one remains in stealth mode, with its website currently displaying only the word "investigate." Companies House lists 22one Technologies Limited as incorporated on December 9, 2025.
The funding arrives as the UK government's PoliceAI programme launches, allocating £75 million over three years for pilots in up to 10 police forces. While Richardson's previous venture, Riven, demonstrated high accuracy in data stripping for police documents in a Bedfordshire Police pilot, broader adoption of AI in policing faces scrutiny regarding bias and data handling, with the Information Commissioner calling for stronger oversight.