Northwestern Mutual backs Leela

AI compliance startup Leela  has emerged from stealth with $4.6 million in seed funding, co-led by Array Ventures and Female Founders Fund, with participation from Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures , The Council, and angel investors.

Founded by Preeti Krishnan, a former Davis Polk attorney who later held operating roles at DailyPay and Kafene, Leela develops AI agents for financial services compliance. Its platform translates regulations, policies, and sponsor-bank agreements into workflows, performs compliance tasks, and documents the work for auditors and regulators. Humans retain responsibility for consequential decisions.

Leela plans to use the funding to hire engineering and compliance staff and expand integrations with customers’ existing technology systems.