Helix secures $6.2M funding to advance on-device voice liveness verification

AI startup Helix has successfully raised $6.2 million in funding, with Chicago Ventures leading the investment round. Additional backers include BAM Ventures, Aglaé Ventures, and Corazon Capital. The company plans to deploy voice recognition technology that operates locally on user devices, aiming to supplement or replace traditional CAPTCHA methods by verifying human presence and estimating age without collecting sensitive personal data. Founded in 2025 by Alex Oberg, Anna Dorofiyenko, and Mike Hall, Helix is addressing growing vulnerabilities in identity verification as generative AI advances. The technology is capable of running on devices like the iPhone 13. Current client Zeel, a healthcare provider, utilizes the system to authenticate healthcare workers, and the firm is also exploring applications for taxi drivers and monitoring states like intoxication. Dag Kittlaus, a co-founder of Siri, has joined Helix as an advisor. Kittlaus noted that advancements in speech recognition and model compression provide Helix with a cost advantage. Helix clarifies that its technology confirms human presence but cannot identify a specific speaker or reliably detect deception or AI agents during live calls.