Checkstep Competitive Intelligence & Landscape

Checkstep (checkstep.com) is an AI content moderation platform dedicated to making the internet a safer place by detecting and actioning harmful user-generated content online. Founded in 2020 and registered in the UK, the company offers an integrated platform that allows businesses to scan content, enforce policies, and comply with regulations at scale, serving as a "trust and safety co-pilot" for its clients [https://checkstep.com/about, https://checkstep.com/our-platform, https://www.checkstep.com/security-statement]. Their mission is rooted in the belief that the internet should be safe for everyone, everywhere, and they are committed to upholding ethical business practices as outlined in their Corporate Social Responsibility statement [https://www.checkstep.com/about, https://www.checkstep.com/csr].

Checkstep's core product is its AI content moderation software, designed to deliver trusted content decisions. This platform streamlines the entire moderation process, from detection to compliance, utilizing best-in-class models and automation. They also provide features for policy and compliance management, helping companies meet regulatory requirements like the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) [https://checkstep.com/, https://www.checkstep.com/our-platform, https://www.checkstep.com/about/faqs]. The company emphasizes security, reliability, and integrity, with its systems developed by engineers and scientists experienced from major tech and financial institutions [https://www.checkstep.com/security-statement].

The target market for Checkstep includes a wide array of online industries facing challenges with user-generated content, such as Gaming, Marketplaces, Streaming, Dating, Social, and Review Sites [https://checkstep.com/]. They aim to be a strategic partner for their clients, working closely to understand challenges and guide them in staying ahead of evolving trust and safety needs [https://www.checkstep.com/about/working-with-us]. The company has garnered trust from global leaders in trust and safety and operates across Europe, North America, and Asia [https://checkstep.com/, https://www.checkstep.com/csr, https://www.checkstep.com/contact].

Checkstep is a fully remote business with a team of over 15 skilled engineers, innovators, and trust & safety experts, led by CEO Guillaume Bouchard [https://www.checkstep.com/about, https://www.checkstep.com/csr]. In a significant development, the company successfully raised £3 million in funding to scale its AI-powered trust & safety infrastructure globally, with investments from Alea Capital Partners, Slow Ventures, and LookAI [https://www.checkstep.com/checkstep-raises-3-million-alea-capital]. They prioritize privacy and data protection, adhering to regulations like the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 [https://www.checkstep.com/privacy-policy].

Checkstep (checkstep.com) offers an AI content moderation platform designed to be a trust and safety co-pilot, integrating cutting-edge AI and automation with human oversight. The platform's core features include Policy & Compliance Management, Content Scanning & Detection, Content Moderation & Automation, and Moderation & Transparency Reporting [checkstep.com/our-platform]. This comprehensive suite helps companies detect content of interest faster, enforce policies, and meet compliance obligations, such as those related to the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), which applies to most digital services operating within the EU [checkstep.com/about/faqs].

The Checkstep platform is built to help organizations scale moderation operations, reduce costs, and enhance user experience by instantly and automatically removing harmful content [checkstep.com/book-a-demo/]. A key feature is "ModBot," an automation tool that works in conjunction with defined policies to provide effective content moderation [checkstep.com/checkstep-platform-spotlight-policies-and-modbot]. The platform also offers flexible integration options, including a standard integration via API for sending content and receiving decisions via webhooks, and a headless variant for platforms with existing moderation tools [docs.checkstep.com].

Checkstep caters to a variety of industries, each with specific content moderation needs. For Gaming Platforms, it aims to stop harmful and toxic content to gain and retain players [checkstep.com/industries/gaming]. For Online Marketplaces, the focus is on preventing fraud, spam, and scams to keep buyers and sellers safe and protect reputation [checkstep.com/industries/marketplaces].

Review Sites utilize Checkstep for authentic review moderation, detecting fraud and filtering out bad actors with sub-50 millisecond latency for real-time processing [checkstep.com/industries/review-sites]. For Streaming Services, the platform detects critical themes to customize content, avoid cultural or legal issues, and help prevent fines, potentially up to $250,000 per violation [checkstep.com/industries/streaming].

While specific pricing plans and tiers are not explicitly detailed on the public-facing pages, Checkstep emphasizes cost reduction, aiming to reduce moderation costs by up to 90% through its automated solutions [checkstep.com/book-a-demo/]. The company encourages interested parties to book a demo to understand how their platform can specifically benefit their operations and to learn about the best AI scanning tools for their content [checkstep.com/book-a-demo/]. This suggests a customized pricing approach, likely based on the scope and specific needs of each client rather than a set, public pricing structure.

In 2024, Checkstep demonstrated significant growth in its workforce, expanding its team by 30% [https://www.checkstep.com/checkstep-2024-retrospective-trust-and-safety]. This surge in hiring brought in key leadership roles, including a Global Sales Director, Head of Product, Head of Trust and Safety and Partnerships, and Head of Marketing and Inbound Growth [https://www.checkstep.com/checkstep-2024-retrospective-trust-and-safety]. This strategic recruitment, especially in areas like sales, product, and trust and safety, indicates Checkstep's focus on scaling its AI content moderation platform and enhancing its market reach and operational capabilities. The company is actively seeking talented individuals for its fast-paced startup environment [https://www.checkstep.com/about].

The company emphasizes robust HR policies and security procedures for all employees, including thorough screening, background checks, and referencing both prior to and during employment [https://www.checkstep.com/security-statement]. This commitment to security underscores the sensitive nature of their work in content moderation and their dedication to maintaining a trustworthy team. While Checkstep actively recruits, there is no public information available regarding recent layoffs.

Checkstep's hiring trends signal a clear strategy focused on expansion and strengthening its core offerings in AI content moderation. The influx of talent in sales and marketing roles suggests an aggressive push for market penetration, while additions in product and trust and safety indicate a commitment to continuous improvement and innovation of their platform. Their ongoing recruitment efforts, combined with recent funding rounds, support a growth-oriented business strategy aimed at delivering safer and more inclusive online experiences for various industries [https://www.checkstep.com/checkstep-raises-3-million-alea-capital, https://www.checkstep.com/checkstep-raises-1-8m-seed-funding-to-combat-online-toxicity/].

Checkstep, an AI content moderation platform, has demonstrated strong financial progress through strategic funding rounds and a focus on cost efficiency and speed for its clients. The company successfully raised £3 million in funding, led by Alea Capital Partners, with additional participation from Slow Ventures and LookAI [checkstep.com/checkstep-raises-3-million-alea-capital]. This funding round aims to globally scale Checkstep's AI-powered Trust & Safety infrastructure. Previously, Checkstep secured $1.8 million in seed funding specifically for research and development to advance its contextual content moderation technology [checkstep.com/checkstep-raises-1-8m-seed-funding-to-combat-online-toxicity/].

While specific revenue figures or overall company valuations are not publicly disclosed, Checkstep's platform is designed to deliver significant financial benefits to its customers. The company claims to enable a 90% reduction in human moderation costs and a 78% faster moderation speed, contributing to boosted accuracy for online platforms [checkstep.com]. These metrics highlight Checkstep's value proposition in optimizing operational expenses for its clients.

Checkstep works with a diverse client base including prominent platforms like Trustpilot, JustGiving, Daily Mail, and MoneySavingExpert, safeguarding millions of users worldwide [checkstep.com/checkstep-raises-3-million-alea-capital]. The company's focus on compliance, particularly with regulations like the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), further underscores its commitment to providing a robust and future-proof solution for content moderation [checkstep.com/about/faqs]. Its platform acts as a "trust and safety co-pilot" for businesses seeking to streamline their digital content moderation processes [checkstep.com/our-platform].

Checkstep (checkstep.com) actively participates in various events, including webinars, conferences, and meet-ups, to engage with the trust and safety community and showcase its AI content moderation platform. The company hosts and co-hosts virtual discussions, such as the webinar "Moderating with Empathy at JustGiving" focusing on balancing AI and human judgment at scale, and "Designing Moderation Systems That Actually Work" to discuss AI and human oversight. Additionally, Checkstep collaborated with Modulate for a virtual discussion titled "From Reports to Results: Building Smarter Safety & Fraud Systems with Voice Intelligence," highlighting integrated voice and multi-modal AI moderation for detecting harmful behavior [https://www.checkstep.com/from-reports-to-results-building-smarter-safety-fraud-systems-with-voice-intelligence].

Checkstep is a sponsor and participant in key industry conferences. In 2025, the company will sponsor the DMA Fall Conference in Zurich from November 19-21, an event that gathers international leaders from digital marketplaces [https://www.checkstep.com/dma-fall-conference-2025]. They will also sponsor and speak on a panel at the Coalition for Trusted Reviews Annual Conference in New York on October 15, 2025, which focuses on enhancing trust in consumer reviews [https://www.checkstep.com/coalition-for-trusted-reviews-annual-conference-2025]. Furthermore, Checkstep is involved in the Marketplace Risk Global Summit 2025, a conference dedicated to risk management, trust & safety, compliance, regulatory, and legal strategies for marketplaces and digital platforms [https://www.checkstep.com/marketplace-risk-global-summit-2025].

Beyond conferences, Checkstep also fosters community engagement by hosting local meet-ups. For instance, they will host the London Trust & Safety Meet Up on October 22, 2025, at Ukie, providing an informal networking opportunity for trust and safety professionals, policy leads, compliance experts, and industry partners [https://www.checkstep.com/london-trust-and-safety-meet-up-oct-2025]. These events underscore Checkstep's commitment to thought leadership and collaboration within the trust and safety sector [https://www.checkstep.com/resources/events].