Handshakes Launches AI Agent for Corporate Due Diligence and Risk Screening
Singapore-based corporate intelligence provider Handshakes launched the beta version of Handshakes Agent on 26 August 2026, adding an AI-powered investigation layer for corporate due diligence, risk screening, vendor onboarding and conflicts-of-interest reviews.
According to Handshakes, the Agent can start from a simple entity-name query, retrieve company intelligence, map ownership and relationship networks, screen relevant risk databases and generate a synthesised summary for investigators and compliance teams. It is designed to complement the existing Handshakes App rather than operate as an open-web search tool.
Built on corporate registries, watchlists and enforcement data
Handshakes says the system is grounded in supported ASEAN corporate registries, Singapore and Malaysia capital-markets data, global sanctions and PEP watchlists, court litigation records, and the company’s Regulatory, Enforcement & Disciplinary database. The platform can also visualise ultimate beneficial ownership, intercompany relationships and other entity connections.
The company positions the Agent for workflows including KYC/KYB, enhanced due diligence, vendor onboarding, ownership analysis, relationship mapping and conflicts-of-interest reviews. Its official product materials state that users remain responsible for independently reviewing and verifying AI-generated outputs before relying on them.
AI-assisted due diligence moves closer to investigation workflows
The launch reflects a broader RegTech shift from static data retrieval toward workflow tools that combine corporate records, watchlist screening, ownership analysis and investigative reasoning in one interface. Handshakes also says the Agent uses large language models and Model Context Protocol connectors to support more complex cross-border ownership and due-diligence queries.
For compliance teams, the practical significance is not simply faster search. The value lies in bringing corporate ownership, sanctions and PEP screening, litigation and enforcement information into a traceable investigation workflow while keeping human review in the decision process.
