About Clause5afe Systems

Building the Trust Infrastructure for AI

We're building the world's first independent, third-party AI governance certification body. Not a consulting firm. Not a software vendor. An independent certification authority — the UL for artificial intelligence.

Empowering a future we can trust.

We exist because the AI governance ecosystem has produced an abundance of frameworks, principles, and self-assessment tools — but no independent mechanism for verifying that any of them are actually implemented.

The Problem

Organizations deploy AI systems that make consequential decisions affecting healthcare, finance, employment, and public safety — then attest to their own compliance. Regulators write requirements. Consultants advise. Software platforms provide dashboards. But no independent third party verifies the outcome.

Our Answer

Independent, third-party certification. The same structural model that created trust in financial auditing (Sarbanes-Oxley), product safety (UL), and cybersecurity (SOC 2) — applied to artificial intelligence. One certification covering every major AI regulatory framework simultaneously.

The Consulting Firewall

Our independence is non-negotiable. It's the entire value proposition. If we consult AND certify, we're auditing our own advice — the same conflict that destroyed Arthur Andersen and created Sarbanes-Oxley.

What We Provide

Detailed Findings Report with severity classifications
Specific control references that were not satisfied
Clear identification of gaps against each framework
Certification mark upon successful completion
Continuous monitoring and periodic re-certification

What We Never Provide

Remediation plans or implementation guidance
Consulting, advisory, or preparation services
Vendor recommendations or tool selection
Pre-certification readiness assessments
Any guidance on how to close identified gaps

The Team

A team of operators building certification infrastructure from the ground up — with 27+ years of experience in media, innovation, technology, operations, and financial management.

Matthew D'Amato

CEO & Founder

27 years in media and innovation. Created the Clause 5 Framework. Drives strategy, partnerships, and company vision.

Jose Villamil

VP of Sales & Co-Founder

Leads sales operations, pipeline development, and team building. Drives market engagement and revenue growth.

Kevin Woods

Co-Founder & COO

Operational leadership, methodology development, and internal processes. Oversees certification delivery infrastructure.

Ryan Sielis

Chief Financial Officer

Financial operations, budgeting, and reporting. Ensures fiscal discipline and financial transparency.

Guy Ceiley

Director of Certification Operations

Leads certification delivery, technical pre-sales, and audit execution. The operational engine of the certification process.

Ethics & Governance Advisory Board

Our advisory board brings institutional credibility and regulatory expertise from the organizations that define global AI governance standards. We're building a board of 6-8 members spanning AI ethics, regulatory enforcement, enterprise compliance, and certification standards.

Elena Gurevich

European Commission — EU AI Office

Member of the General Purpose AI Code of Practice Working Groups at the EU AI Office. Direct involvement in shaping the regulatory framework Clause5afe certifies against.

Additional Members

Actively Recruiting

We are building a board that spans international standards bodies, regulatory enforcement institutions, enterprise compliance leadership, and academic AI governance research. Interested candidates are welcome to connect.

Building From Day One

Clause5afe Systems was founded with a simple premise: the entity that verifies AI governance must be structurally independent from the entities building, deploying, or consulting on AI systems.

2025

Founded as a Delaware C-Corporation

Established with IP protection, trademark and copyright secured, and the Clause 5 Framework developed as proprietary methodology covering five major AI regulatory frameworks simultaneously.

Early 2026

Team & Infrastructure

Executive team assembled. Advisory board formation initiated with members from the European Commission and global AI governance institutions. HubSpot CRM deployed. Sales team recruitment began.

May 2026

Barcelona AI Conference Keynote

CEO Matthew D'Amato delivers keynote on independent AI certification at the Barcelona AI Conference — establishing Clause5afe on the international stage.

2026 — Present

Market Entry & Certification Operations

Active pipeline across healthcare AI, fintech, cybersecurity, insurance, legal tech, and HR/employment technology. Certification operations scaling to meet enterprise demand ahead of EU AI Act enforcement.

Ready to Certify?

Schedule a discovery call to understand your AI governance certification requirements.

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