Crowd Threat raises £1M for crowdsourced threat intelligence

A different model from desk-based analysis

Traditional threat intelligence relies on analysts who monitor media, social media and data feeds from a distance. Crowd Threat instead uses local contributors in each country, typically security or intelligence professionals, who are paid for every incident they report. Each report first receives a rating based on the contributor's trust level and is then verified by AI and human reviewers.

The approach is meant to cut costs, catch threats closer to the source and spot emerging risks earlier. McCabe says local people who understand the language and culture can report incidents faster and identify threats that Western analysts may miss. He got the idea in Iraq, where security professionals shared information in an online forum. "If an explosive device went off in the morning, by the end of the day we would know all the background," he said.

Growth plans

McCabe spent more than two decades in intelligence work with the British military and private security firms in Iraq, and also founded Intelligence Fusion, which Sigma7 acquired in 2022. He set up Crowd Threat in 2025 and built the platform with Newcastle company Wubbleyou. It went live in June, and today more than 200 contributors in 17 countries across six continents report to it.

The goal is to expand coverage, particularly in Africa, South America and Asia, and eventually reach up to 10,000 contributors. The funding will also create seven jobs and support a second product aimed at identifying community tensions and giving early warning of riots and outbreaks of violence.

The round comes from the North East Accelerate Fund, managed by Mercia Ventures, and from NPIF II – PXN Equity Finance, managed by PXN Ventures as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II.