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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A team of operators building certification infrastructure from the ground up — with 27+ years of experience in media, innovation, technology, operations, and financial management.
27 years in media and innovation. Created the Clause 5 Framework. Drives strategy, partnerships, and company vision.
Leads sales operations, pipeline development, and team building. Drives market engagement and revenue growth.
Operational leadership, methodology development, and internal processes. Oversees certification delivery infrastructure.
Financial operations, budgeting, and reporting. Ensures fiscal discipline and financial transparency.
Leads certification delivery, technical pre-sales, and audit execution. The operational engine of the certification process.
External validation of the work and the thesis.
Matthew D’Amato was named the 2026 Future Leaders Award winner for AI Safety Innovator of the Year, recognizing the founding of Clause5afe Systems and the development of the proprietary Clause 5® Framework as one of the most consequential contributions to the emerging architecture of independent AI certification.
Independent panel recap of the AI Next Conference Responsible AI session, anchored on Matthew D’Amato’s thesis: “Public trust in AI won’t come from vendor claims. It will come from independent verification.” The piece closes on the conclusion that trust is not a feature added to AI — it is a system built around it.
Three confirmed advisors bringing institutional credibility and regulatory depth from inside the European Commission, the OECD's GPAI Code of Practice working groups, and the responsible AI movement. The advisory board provides independent oversight of methodology, regulatory alignment, and ethical practice. The board will continue to grow toward 6–8 members spanning international standards bodies, regulatory enforcement, enterprise compliance, and academic research.
PhD in Philosophy. ISO/IEC 42001 Lead Implementer. Eleven-plus years as Ethics Evaluator for the European Commission, evaluating 250+ EU funding proposals across DG CONNECT and the Research Executive Agency. Specialized focus since 2024 on serious and complex AI ethics issues related to the EU AI Act. Global AI Ethics Officer at IWIB4AI. Chair of the Ethics Committee, Gaia-X Spain Hub.
U.S.-based attorney specializing in artificial intelligence law and intellectual property. Active participant in the General-Purpose AI Code of Practice working groups at the EU AI Office — directly inside the regulatory structure Clause5afe certifies against. Counsel to AI builders and policy institutions navigating the intersection of innovation and accountability.
Founder of MindHer and a leading voice on ethical AI, digital wellbeing, and the human dimensions of AI deployment. Brings the user-impact and societal-effects perspective to certification methodology — ensuring Clause5afe's framework remains grounded in the real-world consequences of AI on the people it touches.
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.
Established with IP protection, trademark and copyright secured, and the Clause 5 Framework developed as proprietary methodology covering five major AI regulatory frameworks simultaneously.
Executive team assembled. Three-member Ethics & Governance Advisory Board confirmed: Antonia Bierwirth (former European Commission), Elena Gurevich (OECD GPAI Code of Practice), and Laura Miller (MindHer). HubSpot CRM deployed. Sales team recruitment began.
Matthew D’Amato named the 2026 Future Leaders Award winner for AI Safety Innovator of the Year at the AI Next Conference in Las Vegas. Recognition centered on the founding of Clause5afe Systems and the development of the proprietary Clause 5® Framework.
CEO Matthew D'Amato delivers keynote on independent AI certification at the Barcelona AI Conference — establishing Clause5afe on the international stage.
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.