As global trade tensions escalate, London-based startup Hence AI has officially introduced its newest AI-powered risk advisory tool, aptly named Hence Global. The platform promises to help businesses, law firms, and consultants stay ahead of the whirlwind of geopolitical developments — all for a fraction of the price of traditional advisory services.
The rollout of Hence Global couldn’t have come at a more crucial time. With shifting tariffs and unpredictable policy changes rattling global markets, many organizations are struggling to filter actionable insights from the daily flood of news and data. That’s where Hence Global steps in.
Dubbed by co-founder and CEO Sean West as an “AI-powered business advisor that’s riding alongside you,” Hence Global uses artificial intelligence to sift through real-time information and offer forward-looking risk assessments tailored to each client’s business profile. Starting at just $1,500 annually, the platform is designed to be an accessible alternative to expensive consultants and legal retainers.
West, a former global deputy CEO of Eurasia Group and co-author of “Unruly: Fighting Back when Politics, AI, and Law Upend the Rules of Business,” believes Hence Global is democratizing expert risk intelligence. “We want to make sure that even startups, NGOs, and small businesses can tap into world-class geopolitical insight without breaking the bank,” West told TechCrunch.
The AI-powered system pulls its data from trusted public sources, including news headlines, SEC filings, press releases, Wikipedia, World Bank reports, and international sanctions lists. Built on Palantir’s Foundry and Artificial Intelligence Platform, Hence Global blends AI models to offer businesses tailored recommendations and risk alerts based on their specific industry and exposure.
For customers like international law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, the platform has already become an essential tool. According to Matthew Oresman, the firm’s London managing partner, the AI system transforms the overwhelming “fire hose” of global developments into precise, actionable updates.
But the value of Hence Global isn’t limited to traditional enterprises. Industry leaders like Rohitesh Dhawan, CEO of the International Council on Metals and Mining, highlight its usefulness in highly sensitive sectors like mining, agriculture, energy, and tech. Dhawan likened the software to a must-have app, noting, “It’s like Uber Eats for CEOs — you didn’t know you needed it until it arrived.”
One of the standout features of Hence Global is its ability to distinguish between different business relationships when generating reports. Whether tracking a client, a competitor, or a supplier, the system adjusts its analysis to reflect the nature of the connection — ensuring each alert or insight is business-relevant.
The startup’s growth has been fueled by an expanding client list that already includes TravelPerk, Diversifi Capital, and international law powerhouse Three Crowns. With its second major product now in the market — following the success of its legal-focused tool, Hence Legal — the company has raised $5.2 million to date and is actively seeking new investment.
While many startups dream of an acquisition by a corporate giant, West insists the vision for Hence Global is far broader. “We’re focused on empowering a global community that’s currently priced out of high-quality risk advice,” he said.
In a world where political shifts, trade wars, and regulatory crackdowns move markets in real time, Hence Global is offering businesses a much-needed shield against uncertainty — one daily update at a time.
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