AI Voice Scams Drive $100 Million Valuation for Australian Start-Up Operata
Australian Financial Review
ENRICHED
Details
- Date Published
- 9 Feb 2026
- Priority Score
- 2
- Australian
- Yes
- Created
- 10 Feb 2026, 02:00 am
Description
Operata is used by some of the world’s largest companies from Salesforce and Adobe to Barclays, and a recent capital raise valued it at $100 million.
Summary
The article highlights the $100 million valuation of Operata, an Australian software start-up specializing in monitoring and improving call center operations. Operata's technology addresses the rising challenge of AI-generated voice scams, which can easily deceive call center protocols. By providing advanced monitoring systems to companies like Salesforce and Barclays, Operata contributes to enhancing security in the global battle against AI-related fraud. While the article emphasizes Operata's market impact and valuation, it touches on AI safety implications concerning voice scams on a broader scale but does not delve deeply into existential or catastrophic AI risks.
Body
TechnologyFundingPrint articleAmelia McGuireBusiness reporterFeb 9, 2026 – 8.00pmDriven by the rise of realistic artificial intelligence voice-generated sales calls, Operata, an Australian software start-up used by some of the world’s biggest software companies to monitor their call centres, has hit a $100 million valuation after a fresh funding round.The start-up, founded by New Zealander Romilly Blackburn and Australians John Mitchem and Andy Scott, has developed software that monitors and tests a company’s call centre to identify problems. The seven-year-old business is now used by some of the world’s largest companies, from Salesforce, Adobe to major banks including Barclays.Loading...Amelia McGuire covers technology from the AFR's Sydney newsroom. She was previously the aviation, tourism and gambling reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Connect with Amelia on Twitter. Email Amelia at a.mcguire@afr.com.auSaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy linkCopiedEmailLinkedInTwitterFacebookCopy linkCopiedShare via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? LoginLicense articleFollow the topics, people and companies that matter to you.Find out moreRead MoreFundingAISoftwareVenture capitalLeigh JasperSydneyBarclaysAconex LimitedFetching latest articles