Members Spotlight: XYNQ

Leo Fakhrul is the co-founder and CEO of XYNQ; a Scotland-based tech start-up helping platforms and distributors understand compliance across the AI Act and wider digital regulation, and protect creators’ content in the process. We learn about the looming demand for their services since EU law changes have come into play, how investment has helped catapult the company’s potential, and why they’re going global with their product.

Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Leo, CEO of XYNQ. XYNQ builds governance infrastructure for the platforms and distributors that handle creators’ content, and offers an assessment tool that helps any creative business see where they stand under the AI Act. We’ve built ORIGIN – an evidence network for AI decisions. When a platform or distributor makes an automated call on someone’s music (a takedown, a fraud flag), ORIGIN produces an independent, signed record of why. You make the call; we issue the proof.

What are you currently working on?

Turning signed letters of intent from independent distributors into live pilots – real catalogues, shadow runs, evidence on real decisions. We’ve just submitted an Innovate UK R&D bid on cross-tenant governance for the creative industries, our read-only portal is live so anyone can test their own data, and we’re prepping an October trip to Silicon Valley to raise.

What has been your organisation’s proudest achievement?

Build Like a Pro, Manchester, January 2026 – the only Scottish team in a room full of English talent. I had clear visions the whole trip down: in the hotel, at dinner, on the train, that we would win. I thought maybe £250k, £500k. We took the entire £1m prize pool in investment interest. It meant that much because I’d envisioned it, and we did it. Then the Scottish EDGE Wildcard on top.

How is your organisation working to champion EDI within your sector?

Mostly by being it. Nearly everyone at XYNQ is from a group EDI programmes exist to include. The product does the rest: independent artists are the ones losing money to AI slop draining the streaming royalty pool, and they’re exactly who we’re built to protect.

What are three things you’re loving in your sector right now?

1) Regulation finally landing on AI, especially around content – children’s social media protections included. Media consumption has never been higher; we’ve never needed to know what’s real more.
2) The independent music industry.
3) Companies are prioritising policies – standardised now, instead of made up as they go.

And three things you’re not loving so much in your sector?

1) Cross-tenant fraud in music. Operators know about it, but there’s little they can do without collaboration and communication.
2) Fully AI-generated tracks – I love hearing human artistry.
3) Artists losing entire catalogues to takedowns with no explanation and no route to appeal.

Who would be your dream collaborator/collaboration?

I started in music by building one of the fastest-growing African music companies in the UK and Europe, and Odeal has always struck me as one of my favourite artists. So him, easily.

What does creativity mean to you?

Being vulnerable and expressive. It’s hard to reach that state, which is why it’s so powerful. Creativity is a language we use to speak to other humans – to show empathy, sympathy, understanding. I may not be you, but I understand you. I hear you. I see you.

What’s next for your organisation?

Our raise – Silicon Valley in October with Techscaler. And the AI Act assessment tool; we haven’t put the paywall behind it yet, so use it while it’s still free. If you’d like a discount when that changes, email me directly at leo@xynq.io.

What do you think needs to change in the UK’s Cultural and Creative Industries?

Ambition. That’s it. The UK’s creative industries should dream big, then times it by ten.

Keep up with what XYNQ are working on via LinkedIn.