Rep Data Buys Anti-Fraud Platform Research Defender

In the US, data collection company Rep Data has acquired data quality and anti-fraud software platform Research Defender. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Previously known as SampleChain, New Orleans-based Research Defender, was founded in 2018 by former Lucid Chief of Staff Vignesh Krishnan. The firm builds technology used across sampling and MR, including tools for matching respondents to relevant surveys, excluding professional survey respondents, and otherwise preventing sample fraud and duplication.

As part of the deal, Krishnan will now serve as Rep Data's Chief Technology Officer. Matt Gershner, previously Research Defender's Chief Strategy and Revenue Officer, will move to be Rep Data's Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer; and Dan Fletcher, former Research Defender VP of Operations, will become Rep Data's VP of Client Success.

The takeover follows Rep Data's $6.25m Series A round of funding last November, and according to the company will create a 'one-stop shop' for research sampling and data fraud prevention technology. Patrick Stokes, Rep Data's founder and CEO, comments: 'AI and other threats continue to infiltrate research, our goal will always be to stay ahead of it, react quickly, and safeguard primary research data from current and future threats. We've been partnering with Research Defender to do exactly this since 2020. Our shared cultures, vision, and dedication to delivering the highest quality data make this acquisition the perfect next step along our growth journey'.

Web sites: www.repdata.com and www.researchdefender.com .