Authentication Platform Relik Raises Seed Round to Tackle Counterfeits

As counterfeits swell to an estimated $467 billion globally and generative technologies blur the line between real and artificial, UAE-based authentication platform Relik says it is building tools to verify, protect, and preserve the provenance of collectibles, art, and cultural treasures. The company has closed a seed round with participation from KBW Ventures, Naatt Holding, Fort Holding, and Ayman Sejiny.

Relik’s core product, the Relik Vault, is an AI-powered, tamper-proof authentication platform designed to give physical assets a unique “digital DNA” and make provenance verifiable within seconds using only a smart device. Crucially, it removes the need for external hardware such as NFC chips, RFID tags, or QR codes, bridging physical and digital verification for brands, artists, institutions, and consumers across sports, luxury, and heritage markets.

“We are ensuring authenticity in a fakeable world. Counterfeits don't just impact economies; they erase identity, creativity and truth. Along with our investors, we're building a movement to make the world's stories verifiable again,” said Walid Tarabih, founder and chief executive officer of Relik.

“Relik is creating a new global standard for truth and trust. At a time when counterfeiting and AI-generated content are rising, Relik's mission to protect authenticity carries both cultural and commercial value,” added HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, founder and chief executive officer of KBW Ventures.

Founded in 2023 by Tarabih and later joined by InstaShop founder John Tsioris as a pre-seed investor and co-founder, Relik says the investment will accelerate product rollout and market expansion. The company adds it has built an ecosystem of partnerships with sports legends, museums, and auction houses focused on safeguarding provenance and trust.